The Italian firm Landini has been producing tractors since 1928, with specialist orchard and crawler tractors making up a substantial part of the brand’s portfolio.

In 1959, Massey Ferguson purchased the Landini company, as well as Perkins engines) and used Landini to manufacture specialist tractors in Massey Ferguson colours.

Massey Ferguson later went on to sell most of its Landini shares to the Italian ARGO brand which now encompasses McCormick and Landini tractors.

Keen to shake up its image in the 90’s of rebranded MF tractors, Landini launched the aptly named ‘Legend’ series tractors in 1994.

In 2002, Landini launched a revised version of the Legend encompassing the 120,130,140,160 and the range-topping 180, spanning 120-180hp.

Easily distinguished from its predecessors by its sloped bonnet, rounded nose and cab lights as well as curvy MF style wraparound rear windows.

In 2004, the Legend received a further revision, with the models numbers upgraded by five and also receiving the ‘TDI’ badging.

Key to this revision was the upgrading of the engine to the Perkins 1100, pushing out 185hp on the range-topping Landini Legend 185TDI.

Turbocharged and intercooled, the  six-litre engine was upgraded from the previous model due to emissions regulations.

The Legend 185 has an oil flow of 80l/min and has a rear linkage capacity of 8.4 tons, tipping the scales at6.25 tons.

The main gear lever is short and in a very convenient position tucked in beside the seat allowing for swift gear changes.

The gearbox provides 1-6 along with a splitter equating to 36 forward gears on the Top and Top-Tronic models, the former having a mechanical shuttle.

Furthermore, tractors can be fitted with the higher spec ‘Transport’ which delivers 54 forward gears through a 3 speed clutchless powershifts of the same gear box along with an electronic shuttle, not to forgetting front axle suspension.

The gears in all three gearbox specifications could be further doubled with a creeper gear option.

The Legend had an excellent reputation as a highly functional tractor with excellent pulling power backed by great reliability.

Mid-horsepower range models proved very popular, however the larger 165 and 185 sold in smaller numbers, with many worked exceptionally hard, making them a quite rare find today.

The third generation legends were manufactured for barely three years before they were revised again, rebranded as the ‘Landpower’ range before being discontinued.

If you have a Legend or big Landini, please get in touch!

Contact Peter at psob1987@gmail.com or see Instagram @flashphotoscork