Cheffins’ Cambridge Vintage Sale at Sutton, near Ely, took place last week, from 17 to 22 July. The July sale was the first to accept bids solely online or by proxy over a three-day period. With over 1,300 lots up for grabs, over 700 registered buyers from throughout the UK, USA and Europe were keen to get their hands on a bargain.

It is understood that a clearance rate of over 75% was achieved, with lots still selling by private treaty post sale. The Irish Farmers Journal understands that half a dozen vintage tractors at the sale were sold to Irish buyers.

This 1972 Massey Ferguson 135 three-cylinder was recently subject to a full restoration. With the old style logbook, it sold for £8,750 (€9,583).

The star lot of the auction was a Mercedes MB Trac 1100 dating back to 1990. With only 2,407 hours on the clock, Cheffins had a pre-sale estimate of £50,000-£60,000. However, after attracting 19 bids the lot finally sold at £72,000 (€78,821) plus VAT and commission.

A 1974 Massey Ferguson 188 Multipower saw very competitive bidding, attracting a total of 53 bids. It was described as very original from a small farming estate. Fitted with a Twose 272 hedge cutter and a Nuffield front weight, it made £14,250 (€15,607) plus VAT and commission, a UK record price for this make and model.

This 1974 Massey Ferguson 188 Multipower fitted with a Twose 272 hedge cutter and a Nuffield front weight sold for £14,250 (€15,607).

Other items that went under the hammer included vintage and classic tractors of varying makes and models dating from the 1940s and more recent classics from the 1990s. In our selection of pictures, we picked out some of the popular lots. All sale prices below are subject to 20% VAT (UK rate) and commission on tractors was charged at 7.5% plus VAT.

This tidy 1988 Ford TW25 had recorded just 5,942 hours. It sold for £18,000 (€19,706)

Bill King, chairman of Cheffins, said: “Coronavirus clearly has had no effect on the appetite for the best quality classic and vintage items in the market and we saw frantic bidding on a number of lots due to pent-up demand. This was the first time we have offered the sale in a timed online format and the final results go to show the feasibility of this format for further sales in future”.

This restored 1987 John Deere with 7,978 hours sold for £25,000 (€27,370).

This tidy 1993 Case IH 1455XL 6cyl ex-farm example, fitted with front weights sold for £23,000 (€25,180).