AN ANNUAL classic tractor and commercial vehicle sale held at the Great Yorkshire showground attracted thousands of visitors and raised more than £342,000.

Cheffins auctioneers of East Anglia held the event on Saturday. More than 800 lots went under the hammer at what is one of the largest sales of its kind in Europe.

Of the 90 tractors entered, over 66 per cent were sold. One of the most-anticipated was a 1977 Massey Ferguson 135 which had only 969 hours on the clock. Sold by an enthusiast from East Yorkshire and was bought by a collector from Northern Ireland for £19,000.

It was the second-highest price ever paid for this model – the highest was sold by Cheffins in 2014, when a 135 with only five hours on the clock made £34,000.

A rare Roadless 780, thought to be one of only 12 ever made, sold post sale for £19,000, a world record price for this model.

Another highlight was a pair of Yorkshire-manufactured 1969 David Brown 780 Selectamatics, which had been kept together since their production over 47 years ago. The tractors have consecutive registration numbers and made £10,500 post sale.

Similarly, three original Roadless Ploughmasters saw enthusiastic bidding, with a 90 making £9,200, a 95 making £11,000 and a 65 made £8,200. A particularly rare and fully restored Scottish-manufactured Nuffield 465 made £9,500.

The classic vehicles included a Land Rover 80ins Series 1 which made £11,200 and, among the lorries, an Albion LEA 47 reached £6,800, a restored ERF A series sold for £10,500, whilst a Scania 82M hit £8,200.

More than 700 lots of spares, implements and rural bygones included a1950's Bedford enamel sign which made £570 and a pair of cast iron urns reached £1,050.

Oliver Godfrey, director at Cheffins Auctioneers said: "Our Harrogate Sale really has become one of the most anticipated events in the vintage machinery calendar and the turnout on the day was second-to-none. The market for vintage and classic tractors remains buoyant, with some stellar prices achieved on the day."

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