Vintage collectors, history buffs and pretty much every red-blooded American farmer who enjoys a walk down the equipment memory lane will want to check out Mecum’s Gone Farmin auction. In 2010, Dan Mecum, son of Mecum Auctions’ President and Founder Dana Mecum, officially launched a tractor division to stand all on its own, and as a true-blue enthusiast himself, he recognized that the hobby would benefit with a louder voice and some legs.
Since it rolled out ten years ago in rural Walworth, Wisconsin, the tractor division of the auction behemoth Mecum, has seen enormous growth, and now with national television broadcasts on the RFD Network, you don’t have to miss a second of the action if you can’t be there. I’m told the offerings run the gamut from entry-level collector tractors that sell for just a couple thousand dollars to high-end ultra-rare machines like the 1938 Minneapolis Moline UDLX that sold for $200,000 in 2016, meaning the auction has something for every tractor enthusiast.
This year’s auction was originally scheduled for late March at the Mississippi Valley Fair Center in Davenport, Iowa, but like the rest of the world’s events, had to be pushed back, and is now scheduled for June 17-20 if all goes as planned. This year’s auction highlights include the first John Deere D Industrial sold to the public, a rare 1957 Farmall 350 Diesel and a 1972 John Deere 4320 that has undergone an expo-quality restoration. Offering an unparalleled array of vintage and collectible tractors is a uniquely Mecum trait and you can always count on a selection of hundreds of different tractors sporting either the red of International, the orange of Allis Chalmers, the green-and-yellow livery of John Deere, and even the bright blue-and-orange of Lamborghini.
Some of the cooler results from Davenport 2019 include, 1928 John Deere C from the Jim Mills Collection, which sold for $97,125, a 1926 Fordson Prototype which sold for $90,750, a Minneapolis 35-70 sold for $89,250 and a Gas Traction Company Big Four 30 which left the property after a winning bld of $315,000. You can see the rest of the 2019’s top 10 results HERE.
If you’re planning on attending, general admission tickets are just $10 and kids under 12 enter free. You can take the family and camp out at the facilities as Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds offer full camping hook-ups with electric and water, but it is a first come first serve process, with prices ranging from $20-$30 depending on your electrical needs. Bidders on-site who win need to plan on a 5% buyers premium and if you’re bidding from home and win, it 7%. There are a ton of great pics of the tractors as well as signs and memorabilia online HERE , where you can read more and register to bid. This is a don’t miss vintage tractor auction for sure! (Source: Mecum.com, goldeagle.com)
