Last Monday, July 3, saw the latest monthly Cambridge Machinery Sales auction take place at the Cheffins Auctioneers’ sale grounds in Sutton, Cambridge (England).
Each monthly sale typically attracts approximately 3,000 lots, including tractors, construction equipment and farm and horticultural machinery. Tractors, plant and machinery offered for sale are consigned from private vendors, dealers (UK and overseas), local authorities and national finance companies.
The Cambridge machinery auction itself recently celebrated 20 years in operation at the Sutton sale ground. Over the past two decades in operation, Cheffins has sold over 70,000 tractors and 600,000 lots; this tally is being added to with every passing month.
Cheffins has over 30,000 registered buyers worldwide, with lots regularly going to Spain, Ireland, Germany, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and North Africa. Over 60% of items are sent for export; over 20% of sales during the past 12 months have been to developing countries.
3,000 lots sold each month
Dating back to the 1940s and initially located in the centre of Cambridge, the sale has expanded from a few tractors and accessories to one of the largest of its type – with approximately 3,000 lots sold each month. Such was the increase, it necessitated the move in 1996 to a purpose-built, 40ac site, which Cheffins now occupies.
On Monday of last week, there was a wide and varied selection of different tractors on offer – classic and modern units. The live ‘drive through’ American-style auction kicked off at 10:00am and wound down at around 2:30pm – with most lots sold on the day. There were plant and machinery auctions taking place on-site simultaneously.
AgriLand was there to sample the atmosphere and jot down the key prices and specifications.
Please note that all of the prices referenced below are in euros. During the sale, prices are displayed on electronic boards in both sterling and euros; the euro price displayed is dependent on the prevailing exchange rate on the day of the auction.
All prices are subject to a ‘buyer’s premium’ of 2%. Prices are also subject to VAT at the local rate.
This 4WD Massey Ferguson 390, with a front loader and showing some rust, sold for €7,178
This aging 4WD Massey Ferguson 390T made €10,400
A very young and tidy TYM T1003 (4WD) with only 1,201 hours on the clock sold for €11,215
A rather unusual Ford 7610 ‘Row Crop’ just missed its reserve, with bids topping out at €5,600
A very tidy John Deere 3350 (4WD; Hi-Lift) sold for €10,654
This reasonably tidy Ford TW-20 didn’t sell. It missed the reserve, with bids topping out at a rather low €5,832
A striking, eye-catching John Deere 4040S went under the hammer for £10,766
For the Case IH fans out there: This smart-looking 5150 Pro, albeit with well-worn front tyres, made €9,385
This fine example of a Case IH MX135 went under the hammer for €12,785
A Claas Arion 630 CEBIS (50kph model), with 4,100 hours showing, sold for €24,224
This reasonably ‘square’ 1998 Renault Ares 630RZ Quadrishift didn’t sell. Bidding finished at a lowly €8,972
A rather unusual ‘black’ McCormick made an appearance in the shape of this 2009 TTX230. It didn’t make the reserve. Bidding maxed out at €22,430
Bidding for this fresh Case IH Puma 165, with only 2,500 hours and a front linkage, topped out at €37,000. It didn’t sell
A fine example of the popular CVX Series from Case IH. This gleaming CVX160 sold for €21,533
Cheap horsepower: This big, beefy Massey Ferguson 8140, which came from a local farm only two miles away, sold for just €11,551
Bidding maxed out at €24,673 for this 2010 Valtra T162 (4,051 hours). It didn’t make the reserve and, hence, wasn’t sold on the day
This 2003 New Holland TM190, with oversize tyres and a SuperSteer tight-turning front axle, sold for €15,140
A somewhat unusual beast: This lofty New Holland TG255, which is closely based on a Case IH Magnum of the same age, sold for €22,430
Better the devil you know: A Ford 7840 SLE, with no reserve, was snapped up for just €7,851
If she’s not ‘blue’ she just won’t do: A very nice New Holland TM135 (Range Command) went under the hammer at €15,925
This distinctive, terracotta-coloured New Holland / Fiatagri G210 didn’t make the cut. It didn’t reach its reserve; bidding maxed out at just €12,112 – not enough to secure this aging powerhouse
A New Holland TS115 (Dual Command), with a Trima loader, sold for €16,935
This fresh-faced and imposing 2011 New Holland T6090 (Power Command), with a front linkage, achieved a sale price of €25,570
American muscle: This US-built John Deere 4650 commanded a reasonable price, considering its age. It made €12,337
A beautiful example of a John Deere 6430 Premium (50kph): This tractor sold for €24,449
A 2011 John Deere 6830 Premium (50kph), with only 2,500 hours on the odometer, sold for €48,337
This John Deere 7230R, with a stepless AutoPowr transmission, went under the hammer and sold for €60,561
Not many of these in Ireland: This unusual 1999 rubber-tracked John Deere 8400T made €19,983. It had 8,000 hours on the clock but didn’t necessarily look it
A 2014 John Deere 6210R (DirectDrive; 50kph) with 2,872 hours on the clock sold for €66,729
This AutoTrac-ready John Deere 6910 (AutoPowr) with a front linkage and front axle suspension (TLS) sold for €17,047
This JCB Fastrac 1135 with, unusually, a Stoll front loader went under the hammer and sold for just €11,775
In a hurry? A 2009 high-speed JCB Fastrac 3200 sold for €27,140. This tractor boasts all-round suspension
Need to shift an immovable object? Star of the sale, though of limited relevance to Ireland, had to be this 2003 Case IH STX450 Quadtrac. It had 8,000 hours on the clock and came direct from a local farm. It sold for €44,860
