A 120-year-old vintage tractor restored by West Australian farmers has set an Australian auction record, selling for $375,000.
Constructed years before the term "tractor" was coined, the 1904 Ivel agricultural motor was the rarest item in John and Sue Illingworth’s collection.
For 50 years, the couple lovingly restored discarded tractors at their Arrino farm near Three Springs in the state's midwest.
It was Mr Illingworth’s wish that the tractors be sold after his death, with all 150-odd machines auctioned on Sunday.
The final hammer figure for the entire collection was $1.1 million, and the 1904 Ivel tractor sold for a record-breaking $375,000.
A 1925 Benz tractor made history in 2012 when it was snapped up for $102,000 in Bencubbin, the biggest auction sale for a tractor in Australia at the time.
That record later jumped to $215,000, but Donington Auctions’ Robbie Richard said the Illingworth’s 1904 Ivel was expected to trump this from the start.
"It is one of the rarest tractors in the world. There are only nine known to exist and a lot of them are in museums," he said.
"Even the word ‘tractor’ wasn’t really coined until 1906 in America, so it was called an agricultural motor and it was used for all sorts of agricultural purposes.
"It’s a wonderful piece of English history."
Mr Richards said international buyers had expressed interest in the tractor, but the machine was sold to an Australian collector.
"It’s gone to a local collector who has asked to remain nameless. He is a very private gentleman, but he is very excited. He is like a boy with a new toy," he said.
Mrs Illingworth said she was more than happy with the auction result.
"The family are very pleased with the auction and results. We hope the new owners get as much joy out of them as our family has," she said.
She plans to stay on the Arrino property and throw her energy into helping those in need.
