Exactly what makes a tractor stand the test of time is up for debate. Some believe it is simply quality engineering which makes the tractor relevant years later, while others believe it is dynamic and intriguing designs.
One aspect of vintage and classic tractors that divides people is the importance of paint and colour on your tractor. Some would say, it is colour which uniquely links to the brand of tractor that makes tractors stand out. Speak to any toddler and they will either think of a tractor as being the iconic yellow and green colour of the John Deere or the red of a modern Massey Ferguson (although our kids will think of the Leyland Light blue colour if you ask them!!).
However, if you speak to somebody who owns a Nuffield tractor, and you tell them that you like their ‘red’ tractor they will quickly correct you that their Nuffield tractor is actually ‘Nuffield Orange.’
You only have to see a line-up of tractors at a show to notice that Nuffield tractors stand out as Poppy Orange and not a true red despite them sometimes being mistaken as such. The only tractor model of the Nuffield marque that was red is the BMC Mini tractor, which is Nuffield Poppy Red in colour. Having said this, it is debatable if the red is actually just a darker version of the Nuffield Orange paint as opposed to a traditional red.
Paint and colour are one of the unsung heroes of your retro tractor scene. Whether you have a Nuffield, Marshall, or a Leyland tractor, you can benefit from a dynamic paint job. So, let us touch on the importance of paint and colour for your tractor.
Making Your Tractor Vibrant or Keeping It Original
There is a big divide in the vintage tractor world about whether you should repaint a vintage tractor to a bright shiny finish or keep it original and run an oily rag over it to keep the patina.
We are always having long conversations with customers about which way to go – as well as sourcing original panels to help those who want to keep it original. While it is quite difficult to decide which tactic to opt for, there are actually benefits of both approaches.
Team paint
Painting a full tractor can be a timely and costly venture. Painting is all about the preparation and unless you have a dedicated clean area to use as a paint shop, then this can be difficult.
There is also a health and safety aspect to painting a tractor. Paint is classified as dangerous goods so the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) needs to be read, understood, and adhered to, to ensure safety of those painting and those close by.
The paints that we offer are Alkyd based enamel paints and are much better than the 2-pac paints, which need specialist equipment to use.
Tractor Spare Parts Ltd offer a spraying service in our workshop and we use 2-pac Nuffield Orange and Leyland Blue paint, as well as the Harvest Gold of the Marshall Tractor marques. We get the 2-pac paint laser matched in colour specifically to your tractor, as the colour did vary over time.
We will cover this aspect of what colour your Nuffield, Leyland or Marshall tractor should be in another blog.
Team original
An original tractor can be a real show-stopper. Imagine a Nuffield Universal Four in its original Nuffield Orange tinwork at a show, rubbed down with an oily rag. Just how you remember it when it was working on Grandad’s farm.
While an original tractor may seem like an easier option compared to painting the whole tractor it is not always the case. If panels need replacing then finding original panels in the condition you want for your finish can be like finding a needle in a haystack, but one that is worth the hunt as the results can be astonishing.
Making Your Tractor Stand Out
Without a doubt, colour will make your tractor stand out from the rest of the crowd. With something as simple as a splash of paint and colour, your tractor will be standing out, especially compared to similar tractors where colour has not been a focus.
Making Your Tractor Unique
Of course, there are always people who want their tractor to match their own colour scheme, and they do not worry about the colour scheme set by the manufacturer, or about tradition.
We have come across all sorts of colour variations throughout our time working at Tractor Spare Parts Ltd. Council or Industrial tractors are a typical example of this as they tend to be a yellow colour, but different from the Harvest Gold of the Marshall marques.
We are currently in the process of purchasing a Nuffield 4/65 which has been painted a green colour. While this might not seem like a significant change, the difference always makes you scratch your head. This is because the colour is usually the first visual identification of what brand the tractor belongs to.
One tractor in our personal collection is the first petrol prototype of the BMC Mini tractor which is decked out in the fashionable Ferguson grey. This tractor was developed in the Ferguson Research centre, as such, it took the typical Ferguson grey colour for its own. The tractor always turns heads as people initially struggle to identify why it is not in the Nuffield Poppy red paint colour which typically identifies the BMC Mini tractor.
Like other aesthetic improvements, you can customise your tractor in many different ways with colour and paint. Changing the colour of your tractor is a sure-fire way to make your tractor feel unique. There really are unlimited possibilities when it comes to colour on your tractor.
From a plethora of widely used colours to a wide variety of dynamic patterns. The chances are something will appeal to you on a personal level.
We Stock a Wide Range of Paints and Colours
At Tractor Spare Parts, we stock all manner of vibrant and beautiful paints ready to bring your tractor back to her former glory. If you are wanting to reinvigorate your tractor with an element of colour, please contact us. We are sure we will be able to help you.
Whether you have a Leyland tractor and require both the Leyland Light Blue paint for the tinwork, and the Leyland dark blue paint for the chassis, or any other make, we will have something to fit your requirements.
