Are you kidding me?

Check out these shocking auction sale price reports I received recently - a 1965 JD 4020 tractor in good condition sold for $3,250 in north-central Texas. A 1964 JD 4020, also in good condition, sold for $3,800 in southeast Alabama. What's the catch? Why did those 4020s sell so soft?

The catch is they sold on auctions held in the spring of 1968.

I received a note in the mail from a faithful Machinery Pete reader in Kansas recently. Along with his note, he included a couple sheets from a 1968 issue of an implement dealer magazine featuring a few auction sale prices. He thought I'd get a kick out of comparing auction prices from nearly 40 years ago to sale prices today.

He was right. I do get a kick out of comparing prices. I thought you would too. So here is a rundown on what some tractors sold for back then.

1962 AC D17, diesel, fair: $1,625

1961 AC D17, fair: $1,200

1949 AC WD, fair: $260

1963 Case 930, diesel, fair: $1,900

1961 JD 3010, diesel, fair: $2,200

1960 JD 3010, diesel, fair: $1,890

1959 JD 630, LP, fair: $930

1958 JD 720, diesel, good: $1,550

1955 JD 70, diesel, fair: $710

1948 JD G, fair: $275

1951 JD A, fair: $310

1950 JD B, fair: $210

1960 Ford 841, diesel, fair: $875

1956 Ford 850, good: $890

1951 Ford 8N, good: $510

1948 Ford 8N, fair: $330

1961 IHC 560, diesel, good: $1,950

1956 IHC 400, fair: $750

1954 IHC Super MTA, diesel, good: $800

1942 IHC H, fair: $140

1963 MF 65, diesel, good: $2,050

1957 MM 5 Star, LP, fair: $450

1962 Oliver 1800, LP, good: $2,500

1956 AC WD45, diesel, good: $500

1957 AC D14, fair: $670

1965 David Brown 990, diesel, excellent: $1,575

1964 David Brown 990, diesel, good: $1,210

1964 David Brown 990, diesel, fair: $1,025

1960 JD 4010, diesel, good: $3,100

1959 JD 730, diesel, good: $1,600

1952 JD A, good: $450

1949 JD MT, good: $230

1963 MF 65, diesel, good: $1,700

1944 Ford 9N, good: $205

1963 Ford 4000, diesel, good: $990

1959 IHC 560, diesel, fair (no PTO): $830

Nearly 40 years later, let's compare what these tractors are selling for at auctions around the country. Early model JD 4020s? Most seem to sell in the $6,000 to $6,500 range. Although they can go as high as $11,000 for a 1965 model in good condition, sold February 20, 2007, in east-central Nebraska. In March 2006, a 1965 model in good condition with 7,300 hours sold in northeast Nebraska for $12,000. It had 200 hours on an engine overhaul. (Click on the link below to view more current auction prices on JD 4020s.)

How about the 1963 Ford 4000 tractor in good condition sold for $990 on the 1968 sale in Alabama. What are Ford 4000s going for today? Seems like most are selling in the high $3K to low $5K neighborhood. See for yourself. (Click on the link below to view recent Ford 4000 auction prices.)

Check out the pair of IHC 560 tractors sold in 1968. . . a 1961 model in good condition sold in Texas for $1,950 and a 1959 model in fair condition sold in Alabama for $830. (Click on the link below to see what IHC 560s are selling for now.)