'Pop' has a long future ahead

While many family heirlooms come in the shape of jewellery, for the Linn family of Normanby it comes in the form of a 1955 Ferguson 24 Diesel tractor.

After almost 60 years in the family the tractor has been treated to a spruce up with a new paint job and cable replacements. Despite working hard for nearly 60 years, the tractor is in great working condition according to Alan Linn, who says the tractor's motor has never had to be fixed up "and it still runs just as well as the day we bought it".

In partnership with his two brothers, Alan Linn purchased the treasured tractor in 1956 which was one of only 98 sold in New Zealand.

For a little machine it has a lot of power. We were able to pull almost anything with it, logs, trees and even other tractors.

Alan Linn

As Alan moved into asparagus farming, he bought his brothers shares in the tractor from them and it became his most reliable piece of equipment. "I always thought it would be buried with me," he laughs.

In 2000 when Alan retired, his daughter Judy was quick to put her hand up to purchase the cherished tractor. "It has some quirks, it is a little tricky to start. I have seen mechanics who can't even get it going."

Like father, like daughter, Judy also farms asparagus and says she practically lives on the family tractor while on the farm.

My children have all learnt to drive it too, but only after they can start it on their own.

As an early Christmas present Judy's husband had the team from FieldTorque Taranaki restore the tractor and give it a new paint job. "It was a surprise, no one would tell Dad or I where the tractor had gone if we asked."

The pair were thrilled seeing the finished job, saying they were blown away at the quality of work completed by FieldTorque Taranaki.

The tractor, which has been painted a shade of grey close to the original colour, has had the original number plate restored on the back and has been affectionately nicknamed "Pop" after Alan.

Judy says the tractor still has a long future ahead of it and will only be sold on again to someone else in the family.