When County tractors first went into production in 1948, the first machines to be built were track laying. It wasn’t until 1961 that the manufacture of the equal wheeled 4WD units started. The tractors were based on a Fordson Supermajor and badged the Super Four. The drive to the front wheels was via twin shafts which allowed the standard differential to work on all 4 wheels. In 1962 a 6 cylinder tractor was introduced and badged the Super Six, production continuing with a restyle to the bonnet and radiator grill in 1963 and then manufacture ceased in 1965. It used the Ford 590 engine and produced 95bhp. These first County tractors soon built a reputation for their unrivalled traction and stability, with many farmers buying them specifically for hillside work.

The second generation of County tractors were introduced in November 1964. The 4 cylinder model was given the 654 badge, which was replaced by the 754 (based on the Ford 5000) in May 1968. The 6 cylinder version introduced in March 1965 was the 954 which produced 95bhp using the Ford 2703E engine until the tractor was replaced by the uprated 1004. July 1967 saw the flagship 1124 introduced and developed 113bhp from the Ford 2714E engine. This engine had an unstressed block and so County had to fit their own sumps to give extra structural support to the engine. The last 1124’s rolled off the production line in July 1971 and were replaced by the 1164.

Latterly County produced the 974 which was based on the Ford 7610, the 1164, 1174 and 1184 which was launched in 1979. The 1184 was built around a TW10 at 120bhp from the Ford 401S engine and had a weight distribution of 3.5 tonnes on the front axle and 2 tonnes on the rear axle. The 1454 weighed 7 tonnes and produced 145bhp from the turbocharged version of the engine fitted to the 1184. In 1978 the 1454 was superseeded by the 1474 (based on the Ford 9700) which was given a longer wheelbase and 149bhp, before been uprated to 153bhp when the base unit was changed to the TW20.

County 1184 tractor

The final model to be introduced by County was the 1884. The Ford 401S engine was turbocharged and intercooled to develop 188bhp. This tractor was a giant of the field and was used by the largest arable farms. Weighing in at 8 tonnes and costing nearly £30,000 in 1980 it was a huge machine, but only about 20 were ever built before County tractors ran into financial trouble.

On the down side, the tractors had a large turning circle and weak power steering. Added to this spare parts have become hard to find as the company is now out of business. One specialist parts provider is Jas P Wilson of Scotland.

County also made unequal wheeled tractors. Production started in 1968 with the 4000 Four. Based on the Ford 4000 the front axle was driven by a single propshaft with this design. These tractors were built to offer customers better headland manouvrability, although the traction capabilities were not as good as the equal wheeled machines. Production continued with the 6600 Four, 7600 Four, 7700 Four, and the 7610 Four. County also made 4WD conversions of International and Leyland tractors, albeit in limited numbers. The 634 All Wheel Drive was based on the International 634 and about 50 were made between 1969 and 1972 - these tractors produced 63bhp.

County tractors have become very collectable and have now begun to rise in value, with some of the less common models commanding high prices when put up for auction. In October 2005 a short nose 1474 made £46,000, but this price was eclipsed by a 1987 1474TW Dual Power long nose which fetched £66,000. Only 7 of these long nose tractors are known to exist and that was reflected in the price.

Read Ron Swartz’s story of a County Super 4 working on his dairy farm.

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