Our ‘Old Ford’

This is my 1948 Ford 8N, my grandfather bought second hand way back before my time. When I say this tractor did everything, it did everything, plowed the fields, plowed snow, and pulled firewood. You name It and this tractor has probably done it. I Remember being a young boy, sitting and watching Gramp plow the potato fields thinking  “How is that thing still going?” At that time the “Old Ford” as we called it, was in very rough shape, the paint was worn right off and it would spit and sputter everywhere it went. But it got everything it needed to do done and then some. 

Once my grandfather bought a new tractor, the old ford would sit more and more. I remember going up just to sit on its old seat, and dream about fixing it up. Until just recently, I decided it was time to resurrect it. We brought it down to the shop, took it all apart, painted everything, and bought a lot of new parts. Once it was all back together I decided it was time to see if the old ford would start. All I did was flick the key and it started right off, just like it used to. This 8N still goes strong today, still getting used daily, and parades from time to time. While it may still look a little rough, It tells a story.

Cameron M Day
Vermont

If you would like to send in a story with photo(s) about an experience with your tractor, interesting facts about its history, or a restoration project,  please go to Tractor Story Submissions. If your story is picked to appear on the blog you will receive a FREE Steiner hat.* Some stories will also go on to be published in our quarterly magazine. We look forward to hearing your story!

• Stories outside the US will be published, but due to shipping cost, hats will only be shipped inside the US.