Over 1,400 lots of classic tractors, commercial vehicles, motorbikes and collectors’ items were offered for sale at the Cheffins Vintage Sale on Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd July. Taking place at the firm’s sale ground at Sutton, near Ely, this was one of the largest auctions in the vintage calendar in Europe, and saw high prices paid across all sections.

Highlights among the vintage and classic tractors and implements included a 2007 New Holland T6070 which sold for £53,000, followed by a Saunderson Tractor & Implement Co two-furrow ride-on tractor plough which achieved £34,720 when it sold to a local East Anglian collector. This was followed by a 1949 Field Marshall Series II Contractors tractor which sold for £24,120 against an estimate of £10,000 - £12,000 and a Marshall Model M tractor, which made £21,654, against an estimate of £15,000 - £18,000 and sold to a buyer from Leicestershire.

2007 New Holland T6070

The motorbike section saw over 70 outstanding vintage and collectors’ examples, consigned from private enthusiasts from across the UK. Ranging from as early as the 1920s through to the 2000s, highlights from the sale included a 1936 Norton International which sold for £16,440, a 1923 BSA Model F which made £11,836 and a 1976 Suzuki AP50 moped which sold for £5,700.

1923 BSA Model F

Among the commercial vehicles, a 1942 ERF C15 drop side lorry achieved £17,152 and a 1922 Ford Model T Wireless Repair van, consigned from Suffolk made £14,472. Other more unusual consignments included a fairground galloper carousel model which sold for £10,080 Automobilia items were also sought after, with a rare 1950s Raleigh illuminated dealer sign selling for £952 and a host of petroliana items, including petrol pump globes, air meters, oil cans and enamel and illuminated signs all achieving strong prices.

Saunderson Tractor & Implement Co two-furrow ride-on tractor plough

Bill King, Chairman at Cheffins comments: “Our mid-summer offering is usually smaller than the spring and autumn sales, but with over 170 vintage and classic tractors and some 70 motorcycles, this sale surpassed expectations. There was much pre-sale interest with a good selection of both Vintage, classic and modern classic tractors on offer. Prices achieved for later classics prove that the there is a very active market for these types of tractors. It is also clear that the more nuanced market for vintage tractors and machinery is still alive and kicking, with discerning buyers looking for something a bit special.

Despite the rain there was an excellent crowd with buyers in attendance from throughout Europe, and while the cost-of-living crisis rages on, there is still a robust market for vintage items, with tractors and motorbikes seeing particularly healthy prices. Collectors continue to flock to Cheffins as the market-leading auctioneer for vintage collectors’ pieces and big-ticket items, and we are looking forward to presenting another wide-ranging catalogue for the Harrogate collective auction in August, and here at Sutton in October.”

The next Cheffins vintage sale will take place at The Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, on Saturday 19th August.

For more information, contact the Machinery Division on 01353 777767, machinery@cheffins.co.uk