SHABBONA, Ill. – On Sept. 21, Burgess Auction held a vintage tractor auction featuring numerous Minneapolis Moline tractors, showcasing the 30-year collection of Doug Bend. The live and online auction featured 110 lots, including tractors, implements, parts, and collectibles from the Bend collection along with several additional consigned tractors. A 5 percent buyer’s premium was in effect for online purchases.

In total, 52 vintage tractors were auctioned, spanning model years 1926-1972. Forty-four of them were Minneapolis Moline models. The star of the auction was a 1938 MM UDLX in great condition. It had been restored in the early 2000s, which included a motor overhaul, new tires, paint, glass, and upholstery. The impressive rig sold for $147,000.

Bidding went to $25,000 for a 1960 LP-gas-fueled MM G VI standard. Its 6-cylinder engine was overhauled and bored to 4.75 inches, .060 over 6-inch stroke. It was repainted and featured a hand clutch, PTO, two remotes, 18.4-38 rears, and 10.00-16 front tires. A 1965 diesel MM G1000 adjustable wide-front row crop tractor sold for $12,000. It was outfitted with a 3-point, dual PTO, two remotes, 18.4-34 rears on spin-out rims, and 11L-15 fronts.

Some unusual tractor models came up, including a McCormick OC-6 gas-powered standard orchard model. Restoration on the tractor included new rings, valve job, replacement carb, radiator, gauges, wiring, and new tires. It also sported Valspar Imron paint. The winning bid of $10,250 reflected its good condition. Two different late 1940s Love Manufacturing Friday 0-48 standard orchard models, sold for $7,300 and $2,100. Both were in running condition and had gas-fueled Chrysler industrial inline 6-cylinder engines paired to 5-speed transmissions with 2-speed rear ends. A Twin City 20-35 “Road King” tractor, believed to be a 1926 model, made it to $5,900. Its career started in Lee County, Ill., as a road maintainer. The non-running machine needed various repairs but had been stored inside.

The newest of the pack was a 1972 4-wheel drive Oliver 2655, which bid to a solid $8,500. The clean rig, with mostly original paint, had a 1000 PTO, two remotes, bolt-on duals with 18.4-34 tires, and a Crenlo factory cab. It was sold as-is with a broken camshaft but a parts crankcase and used shaft were included. Later came a gas-powered Ford 950 NF, featuring new paint and a 3-point PTO, then a Farmall M, with Char-Lynn power steering, PTO, single two-way remote, and two-wheel weights, that picked up $3,000 and $1,200 respectively.

Several “pulling” tractors (three of them alcohol-fueled) were offered. One alcohol-fueled machine, an MM G VI standard, nicknamed “Lil Alli,” won three ISP championships. It brought in $8,750. The 7,000-pound class machine had an 800-cubic-inch engine outfitted with custom-domed pistons by Arias, electro-motive electronic fuel injection with 6 injectors, custom intake and headers, Billet aluminum rocker arms, cam grind by Crower Cams, 4228 heads, and special valve springs for higher RPM, among its numerous enhancements. A gas-fueled MM G705 Standard pulling tractor, with a modified engine, hydraulic disk brakes, and a #9 aircraft carb, among other modifications, pulled a winning bid of $10,000.

After the tractors came a dozen lots of farm implements. Those included an MM 3X-14 pull-type 3 bottom plow with a hydraulic lift, which landed $2,000. Bidding went to $1,400 for a very-good condition John Deere 350 sickle mower, with a 3-point hitch and mounted 540 PTO. An MM H320 pull-type two-row corn picker, with an eight-row husking bed and 540 PTO, with some damaged tin on the elevator, made it to only $800.

Nine power units all sold modestly. Among them was an MM 605 long block that hit $1,500; a non-running MM 1210 cubic-inch unit, consisting of two early 605s connected to a single gearbox, that rang up $1,500; and an MM 800 HD short block that grabbed $850.

Collectibles included several pieces of Minneapolis Moline and other tractor memorabilia, including a 70-by-43-inch single-sided working “Minneapolis Moline Power & Machinery” neon dealership sign with new neon, that lit up a $6,750 bid. A 49-by-24-inch double-sided hanging sign, advertising, “Minneapolis Moline, World’s Finest Tractors” which originally hung at Doty Implement in Princeton, Ill., reached $3,100. And, a Gas Boy gas pump with an MM paint scheme and lighted MM plastic globe rang up $875.

For information on Burgess Auctions’ upcoming sales, visit:  www.burgessauctions.com