Records continue to tumble at Cambridge Machinery Sales reports Bill Pepper

What a difference a couple of months make! Back in January I pessimistically predicted the forthcoming year was going to be a really tough and difficult one. I gloomily thought that perhaps during 2010 I’d never mention or hint about record sales – only, perhaps, when referring to past glories but, I couldn’t have been more wrong… so far.!

With January well and truly behind us, February was a cracking sale and March was even more so. Anybody who knows me can testify that I don’t refer to “record sales” easily, but my goodness, March was certainly one of those. Not only was it the best sale ever for March, but as far as tractors were concerned, it was also the best auction we’ve had in terms of total gross sales. With a mouth watering selection of such finery on display, the Euro exchange rate favouring overseas buyers and plenty of such buyers present, we knew we were in for a busy day.

Of the 491 tractors offered, 408 were new entries, probably a record new entry and once again our vendors did us justice by finding equipment which we know is becoming increasingly scarce. We certainly received a number of complimentary comments about the quality of tractors on offer and as the day continued, almost 65% of these found new homes in 25 or so different countries.

As has been the case these last few months, Spain headed the premiership league for buying John Deere tractors and our main man, ‘Zorro’, once again puffed his chest out and out bid much of the competition. Now maybe I’m wrong here, but any country whose national sport involves a Lycra-clad chappie tackling a rather large and angry snorting beastie with a set of very sharp horns does instil a certain amount of flair and charisma in its population and certainly “El Hombre” illustrates this nicely. Even some of his fellow country men’s bids were swept aside with the eloquence of a matador’s cape as each purchase was accompanied by a lot of card waving and noise!

A selection of the Deere’s which sold would include £51,000 for a well spec’d 6930, 2008 in the year and showing a modest 2800 hours, £43,000 bought a straight 2002 8420, a 6320 made over reserve at £26,000, fair money for a 2004 machine, a selection of the 6910, an ever popular model made between £12900 and £16,100 and a lumbering beast of a 4850 and approaching near classic status sold for £8600.

Other tractors which made the money included a 1991 Challenger 65B selling for a staggering £15,400, a farmer-entered MF 3115 topped £7200, a similar 3095 achieved £6600, an export quality Ford 6600 changed hands for £4250, a repainted Case 785XL 4wd sold for £4450 and a Deutz 3.65 sharpish order made a sharpish £6200.

Fendts were well represented and we had some sparkling examples to tempt anyone wanting such. A brace of 930 Varios sold. 2005 and 2006 in the year both went to Germany for £46,200 and £56,500 respectively, a very presentable 818 manufactured in 2005 achieved £41,800 and a scruffier example, two years older is Spain bound for a cost of £28,400.

Tractor sale 2 once again attracted furious bidding as both domestic and overseas buyers clashed over the 170 older Masseys, Fords and Zetors. MF 590 and most of the 600 series sold out with many making significantly over reserve and once again we have a bare yard ready for restocking next month. The older 100 series again sold very well indeed, mostly to African and Middle Eastern buyers who were unable to fill their order books last month.

Zetor trade has latterly been a little bit flat but certainly not on the 8th! “The Governor” Paul Gooderham performed his usual magic and sold 89% of these models on offer mostly to buyers originating from Poland. The selection included a 1996 7540 which topped £9200, an abused 6011 made all the money at £2100, a swish(!) 7745 topped £5900, a 5340, sharp in the paint and blunt in the tyres reached £8500 and a 4712 fit for wreckers row crawled to £550.

Our next sale at Cambridge is on 12th April and yet again, we have some big gaps which need filling. We are in the middle of our best selling season and I quite expect the excellent trade we currently enjoy will continue for the next couple of months or so.

Our Bristol Sale is on 31st March and again we need all entries for this great West Country Sale. We know some of the Spanish, Germans and Dutch are going so we should be set for another successful sale at Easter Compton.

Lastly but by no means least, I’m asking for sponsorship! I’m running the London Marathon on the 25th April for Children with Leukaemia, a charity chosen for personal reasons. Details can be found on www.virginmoneygiving.com/BillPepper. All donations no matter how big or small will be greatly appreciated and will help a more than worthy cause.