My wife received a call from one of our friends and wanted to know if we knew anyone interested in buying an old tractor. They did not know if it ran because it had been sitting for about eight years. I decided to go look at it because I thought it would be a fun project for me with the help of my two sons. We fell in love with it even with the flat tires, the fact that it was not running, and rust everywhere. I told my wife I was bringing it home and her first question was “does it run?” and I said no and she said “well why are you bringing it home?” She asked how I got it on the trailer and I said by putting it in gear and using the hand crank to back it up a few inches at a time for which I got the awkward silence.
The rest is history we had a wonderful time learning as we went and watching Steiner videos on how to fix it up. I bought it in October and pulled it out of the garage on Christmas night when my oldest son was home from college. I waited so he could help me put the wheels back on.
There were a whole lot of late nights in between and a whole lot of head scratching. It turned out to be a 1956 Farmall Cub and I was only the third owner. I bought it from an elderly man’s family and his father bought it new. The best thing about the tractor was the family time we had restoring it. My wife even gave up her car’s spot in the garage because she did not want it in the rain either.
Jeff Starkey
Greensboro, North Carolina
Peggy Loftis Starkey says
Fantastic story. My son and his wife do for everybody and this was a project for them
They thoroughly enjoyed the process of restoring the beautiful tractor and made a family project
We saw the process and long hours but they did an amazing job.
We are so proud of Jeff and his family
Patti Starkey says
That’s one proud momma! I thank God everyday for your son and his wonderful family!! We are truly blessed!
Dwayne Washburn says
I guess all those midnight auto repairs rubbed off on you, cool project!
Jamie says
This is wonderful! What a fantastic way to bring the family together. Great job and sexy tractor!
Reginald Elliott says
That is one beautiful tractor . I have a soft spot for the cubs and A tractors. I have a super A with about the same store . It set in a barn for 8 years covered in blankets and flat tires. We ended up getting the neighbors where I purchased it lifting it up on my trailer . We got it home put some gas in it and it started right up . We did not repaint mine as it was orginal paint . There is something about these tractor that is magical when you see what they use for tractors today and these tractors did the same work that built what farming is today , it was an important time in farming history and know you own a part of the history .