 | |
Eastern North Carolina | 1954 model had the water pump, tall radiator, tall grill like the Super C. They were stamped Super A-1. It was sort of a go between the standard Super A and the 1955 Farmall 100. More about the last Super A's.....
The Super A-1 is a cross-over between the Letter Series and 100 Series tractors. It is made of parts from three different tractors. The undercarriage and drive train are the same as a 100, with all having the "Z" casting date and an FCM (123 ci) engine. The radiator, with water pump -- which the Super A does not have, is from a Super C. The sheet metal is from a Super A. The noticeable difference between the Super A and A-1 is the distance between the fuel tank and the hydrualic reservoir... the Super A has about a 3/4" space between the two, while the A-1 has about a 2" space. This is due to the taller radiator and grill, and the need to raise the fuel tank to keep the 'body lines' on the same level. From what I have been able to gather, the Super A-1 is a rare find. Some folks I have talked to, who have been involved with the IH letter series for a number (more than 40 years) have never seen one. Supposedly, the McCormick Farmall folks were trying to rush the 100 series to the farmers to compete with some other tractor manufacturers and didn't quite have the 100 series tractor complete in 1954, so they 'fashioned' the A-1 to get it out faster. As well, there may have been less a desire on the part of farmers to accept the 'new' 100 series tractor, since it still sported the Super A decals, and were very reluctant to buy the A-1. From what I know, the completed 100 was first sold in the latter part of 1954 (about 1200 tractors) thru 1956. As a result of slow sales of the A-1 in 1954, it has been suggested by some folks in IH circles, that the vast majority of the approximately 1957 A-1s produced were shipped / sold overseas (Australia, New Zealand, South America, Europe). With all that said, there may have been less than 200 A-1s that saw action in the USA. Again, I don't have factual / first-hand proof of what all I am saying, but I have spoken with IH collectors and enthusiasts, and that is what they say. I do have an A-1 and am near completion of restoring the tractor. I have done a lot of research and talked to a lot of folks and I know of only 7 A-1s that exist, for sure. I believe there are plenty others, but folks don't know what they have, because they don't know -- what they don't know. If anyone is looking for an A-1, I believe the best bets are wherever tobacco was raised during that period (KY, TN, NC, VA, SC). I got one of those last Super A-1's myself...!!
Edited by retento 3/29/2011 11:33
| |
|
Farmall Super A versus A
