Classic tractor focus: Ferrari

A number of British manufacturers were making small four-wheel tractors for smallholdings where a pedestrian-controlled garden tractor was often used. Most 1950s and 1960s small four-wheeled tractors had air-cooled engines in the 6–15hp bracket, including the Martin Markham Colt, Gunsmith, Newman and Trusty Steed.

Fernando Ferrari, not connected with the famous car company of the same name, was already making two-wheeled garden tractors in 1957; a bogie seat for the tractor was added in the early 1960s.

The articulated four-wheel Ferrari 74 with an air-cooled diesel engine was current in the mid-1970s, followed by the Ferrari 75RS of the same design and the conventional four-wheeled 30W/SDT.

The specification for the articulated 75RS with four equal-sized wheels included a 30hp air cooled diesel engine, a seven forward and three reverse gearbox, and a diff -lock. The conventional 30W/SDT, available in two- or four-wheel drive, had a water-cooled diesel engine and the gearbox provided 12 forward and six reverse ratios. By the early 1980s, there were six Ferrari models on sale in the UK.

They included the four-wheel drive Ferrari 95, 85 and 75 articulated tractors. The 95 offered the choice of a 33hp twin cylinder or 34hp three-cylinder engine, six forward and three reverse gears, hydraulic linkage and ground speed power take-off.

Ferrari UK at Oldham was selling pedestrian-controlled garden tractors, four-wheel drive tractors and ride-on lawnmowers in the early 1990s. The top of the range four-wheel steer models had 49 and 64 hp diesel power units, a synchromesh gearbox and oil-immersed brakes.

They could be used in either direction by rotating the seat, steering wheel and controls through 180 degrees. The conventional 29 and 38hp Ferrari tractors in production at the time had a 12 forward and six reverse speed gearbox, power steering and two-speed power take-off. The 33hp cost £10,750 (plus VAT) in 1993.