Over 3,500 classic tractors, motorbikes and collectors’ items will go under the hammer at the first Cheffins Cambridge Vintage Sale of 2025. With one of the biggest entries seen for the past decade, the sale will take place on the 25th and 26th April and will offer over 400 vintage and classic tractors, making this the largest auction of its type, Europe-wide.
Doe Triple-D
The highest value lots on offer are the two steam wagons, with a 1928 Foden D Type estimated to sell for between £230,000 and £250,000 and a 1928 Sentinel Super, which is set to make between £130,000 and £150,000. In addition, a half-size model of a 5nhp Foster Traction Engine named ‘The Little Gem,’ has an estimate of £of £35,000 - £40,000.
Among the tractors on offer, a 1982 County 774 which is fully restored, looks set to be popular and is estimated to sell for over £60,000, while a County 1004 Super-Six tractor with a 1950’s Morewear 10-ton gooseneck trailer, has an estimate of £50,000+. Among the earlier tractors, there is a 1919 Mogul 10-20 which has been in the same family for over 40 years, and is estimated to achieve between £50,000 and £60,000, and a Doe Triple-D has an estimate of £40,000 - £50,000.
County 774
The cars and vehicles are also set to draw large crowds as a 2016 Subaru WRX Sti which only has 124 miles on the clock is expected to make £20,000 - £25,000 and a 1988 BMW 318i in an original condition could achieve £4,000 – 6,000. For commercial enthusiasts, a 1985 Mercedes-Benz Unimog with only 18,000 miles on the clock has an estimate of £20,000 - £22,000.
For collectors, a remarkable archive containing original photographs and correspondence relating to the Ivel tractor and its inventor, Dan Albone, has an estimate of £5,000+. There is also a strong selection of motorbikes, with a couple of highlights being a 1915 BSA Model H Combination which is set to sell for £10,000 - £12,000 and a 1963 Norton café racer which has an estimate of £6,000 - £7,000.
The Ivel Archive
Tom Godsmark, Director, Cheffins says: “This is going to be a massive sale, and it’s got one of the largest entries we have seen to date. The April Vintage Sale really kicks off the vintage calendar for collectors worldwide, and this incredible catalogue will get the market off to a flying start for 2025. The County tractors will definitely create a lot of interest, and this continues to be the sector of the market which sees the highest prices, following the sale of the County 1474 which achieved over £200,000 a couple of years ago. The steam wagons are also always popular, due to their rarity, and these two on offer are both fantastic examples. One of the more unusual offerings is the Ivel archive, which is the most important tractor-related archive to ever come to auction and gives a fascinating insight into one of the earliest and most famous tractors to have been built in Britain. The archive has drawn interest from various museums and institutions nationwide, as well as among private collectors and tractor enthusiasts.”
The sale will take place on Friday 25th April (live and online auction for literature, models, bygones etc) and live on Saturday 26th April (tractors, motorcycles, automobilia, vehicles, implements etc) at the Cheffins Machinery Saleground, Sutton, near Ely, CB6 2QT.
For more information, email machinery@cheffins.co.uk or call Cheffins auctioneers on 01353 777767.