AN annual vintage sale of machinery and vehicles attracted big crowds at this year's Great Yorkshire Show.

At the Cheffins Harrogate Vintage Sale, more than 600 lots of historic and rare items went under the hammer. Following a break in the annual auction last year due to Covid-19, the sale saw large crowds and grossed more than £420,000.

Among the 100 vintage and classic tractors on offer, 80 per cent found new homes with the top price being £17,490 for a 1949 Field Marshall series two contractors’ model which had seen only two owners from new.

This was followed by a 1993 John Deere 2650 4wd, which sold for £15,105. Classic Fords were also in demand with a 1988 Ford 6610 Super Q selling for £14,840; a 1990 Ford 4630 4wd with only 1500 hours on the clock made £14,840; a Ford 6640 SLE made £14,620, while a 1969 Ford 5000, which had been fully restored, made £14,300.

The sale also saw a strong entry of stationary engines from a single owner collection. The top price for these was £6,600 for a 1910 Campbell 2.5 horsepower engine. Amongst the implements, a Ferguson three-ton tipping trailer made £1,650. Also on offer was a variety of bygones, collectables and related spares, with some top prices paid for enamel signs and other automobilia items, with top lots including a front nose cone for a Fordson Major, which made £820, a pair of Ford 5000 mudguards that were knocked down for a mighty £1190, and Massey Ferguson wheel weights at £615.

Bill King, chairman at Cheffins, said: “It was great to be back at the Harrogate Vintage Sale following a break in the event last year.

"We saw a quality entry, making this one of the best sales in recent memory as both buyers and sellers looked to make the most of this major auction.

"We saw a good crowd of buyers on site at the Yorkshire Showground who helped to create a buzzing atmosphere throughout all sections of the auction, while online bidders who joined us live accounted for 25 per cent of sales.

"As can be seen from the prices achieved, later classic tractors continue to be very much in demand, with Ford examples from the 1980s and 1990s all finding new homes with collectors and enthusiasts from across the UK and further afield.

"The Yorkshire Showground is a consistently fantastic venue from which to hold this event.”

For more information, visit www.cheffins.co.uk or call Cheffins auctioneers on 01353 777767.