The Massey Ferguson 135 needs no introduction, arguably one of the best tractors ever produced and one of the top selling tractors of all time with more than 340,000 tractors produced. The successor to the Ferguson TE-20 and MF 35, the 135 was launched in 1964 as part of the new line up of the 100 series ‘Red Giant’ Massey Ferguson tractors produced at the Banner Lane production plant in Coventry.

Interestingly, a total of 1,098,025 MF 100 series were built over a 15-year period at Banner Lane. The first and only British built tractor range to pass the 1 million milestone, the 135 made up just over 30% of all units produced.

The Massey Ferguson 500 series was launched in 1976, incorporating an all new cab and pushing the horsepower ever closer to 100hp. To capitalise on the success of the 100 series, some of the range was updated to the 200 series in 1979, with the highly successful MF 135 replaced by the 240. Adopting the ‘if its not broken, don’t fix it approach’ the 240 was largely similar to the 135 and was fitted with a detachable Lambourn cab.

At the heart of the 240 is the tried and tested 3 cylinder Perkins AD3.152 developing 45hp. Hydraulic oil flow is rated at 38l/min while the rear linkage can lift 1.4tons. The tractor benefits from an 8F/2R with the optional ‘Multi-Power’ doubling the gears. A dual clutch provides live drive to the PTO.

A key asset to the Massey Ferguson was the Lambourn cab which was marketed as a quick detach unit. The cab is fixed to the tractor using 8 bolts. On removing these bolts, the electrical connection, and the cab cladding, the cab could be hoisted skywards using the four lifting points on each corner of the roof of the cab. The tractor could then be simply driven out from under the cab, leaving an open platform for use in low buildings or for summer work.

The cab was later replaced in the late 80’s to silver unit which was styled on the MF 300 series and provided greater visibility thanks to frameless doors and front windscreen.

Interestingly, the legacy of the MF135 lived on through the 240 which remained in production right through to 2011, manufactured for Massey Ferguson under licence. The simplistic tractor was a huge success, employing the trusty Perkins AD3.152 engine. In fact, the MF240 is still manufactured by Pakistani company Milliat (who hold 70% market share in Pakistan) under licence, and badged as Massey Ferguson- the modern day MF135.

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