From the early 70's people started to collect older simple tractors like the Massey Feguson 35 and little "grey fergie", or the early Fordson's to use on small holdings and as garden hobby tractors. This lead to the Formation of owners clubs for different makes. Some of these tractors could be picked up for a few pounds, as farmers just left them at the bottom of the yard when they broke or they got anew more modern tractor in the late 70's. The Farm subsidies helping pump money into the industry to modernise it, and increased mechanisation with bigger machinery needed more horse power and less manpower. So farms moved to fewer but bigger tractors, and traded them in every few years, leading to lots of cheap small tractors. a lot were exported at times to Ireland and Africa, but this market was effected by political factors and monetary policies of world governments. There is still agood export trade, but the model of choice varies for differing markets. Some markets prefering more basic tractors, but overs have moved to 1980s Massey Ferguson & John Deere models. (Source:Cheffins auction report)