After reading this, you'll never again be confused about Ford's nomenclature for its legendary N-series tractors, the 9N, the 2N and the 8N.
If it's always seemed strange that the tractors were introduced in that order (the 9N first, then the 2N, followed by the 8N), here's why: The 9 stands for the last digit of the year 1939, the year of the 9N's debut; the 2 stands for 1942, the year of the 2N's intro; and the 8, for 1948, the 8N's inaugural model year. (The 8N actually first appeared in 1947, but there wasn't a 7N.)
The 2N doesn't boast any significant changes over the 9N. In fact, Ford didn't even bother to change the first two digits of the 2N's serial number from 9N to 2N during its five-year production run.
What is significant is that the 2N was introduced as the United States entered World War II, and due to wartime restrictions on certain materials, it was available with steel wheels and a magneto ignition, which minimized the complexity of the electrical system. The 2N is also significant because it was the last tractor to honor Ford's handshake agreement with Irish inventor Harry Ferguson, whose Ferguson System three-point hitch was hugely instrumental in making the N-series tractors popular.
According to Randy Leffingwell's book, Classic Farm Tractors
, Ford's tractor business had lost $20 million by the time Henry Ford II assumed control of the company after World War II. In a cost-cutting effort, Ford attempted to buy out Ferguson, who was selling tractors manufactured by Ford badged as Fergusons.
Negotiations foundered and, in July 1947, the 8N hit the market. It was equipped with the Ferguson three-point hitch, but the Ferguson System badges were gone, no royalties were paid to Ferguson and no tractors were shipped to him to market under the Ferguson banner. A protracted legal battle ensued, and in the end, Ferguson received a $9.25 million settlement from Ford.
Ford N-series tractors are widely collected and worked today. Their compact size makes them versatile for mowing or light farming, though they come up short on power when asked to tackle tougher jobs. (Ford's L-head four-cylinder engine produced just 23hp at the belt pulley.) The 9N and 2N used three-speed transmissions, while the 8N was equipped with a four-speed, but this doesn't seem to hamper the value of the older tractors. Prices typically range from $1,000 to $3,000, depending on condition.
This article originally appeared in the October, 2007 issue of Hemmings Motor News.
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