The Massey Ferguson 1080 was a 5.2-litre four-cylinder tractor introduced in 1967 to fill the gap between the 100 range and the big American 1100. It was built in Canada from 1967 to 1972 and at Beauvais in France from 1970 to 1974, and it never sold in the numbers Massey Ferguson had hoped for.
Massey Ferguson 1080 at a glance
| Maker | Massey Ferguson |
|---|---|
| Production | 1967–1972 (Canada); 1970–1974 (France) |
| Built at | Canada; Beauvais, France |
| Engine | Perkins four-cylinder in-line diesel, direct injection |
| Bore × stroke | 114 × 127 mm |
| Displacement | 5,211 cm³ |
| Power | 98 ch SAE / 86 ch DIN at the power take-off, 2,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 12 forward and 4 reverse, with Multi-Power |
| Weight | 4,140 kg (two-wheel drive); 4,600 kg (four-wheel drive) |
| Replaced by | 595 in France; 1085 in North America |
Based on one source: the French Wikipedia article on the 1080. English Wikipedia has no article on this model.
History of the Massey Ferguson 1080
A gap in the 100 range
Massey Ferguson presented its 100 range in 1964, with tractors running from 24 ch DIN in the 122 to 78 ch DIN in the 188. Above them stood the American 1100 with 105 ch DIN, and the space between the two families was left open while International Harvester and John Deere filled it. The answer was the 1080, rated at 86 ch DIN at the power take-off and sold as an 88 ch machine, which completed the range in the 80–100 ch class.
Canada and Beauvais
The 1080 was built in Canada from 1967 to 1972 and at Beauvais in France from 1970 to 1974. It sold poorly on both sides of the Atlantic: American farmers preferred the more powerful 1100, while in Europe the four-wheel-drive version that buyers wanted arrived only in 1971, and the hydraulic system was not reliable enough. French-built tractors differed from the Canadian ones in their hydraulics, European-pattern headlights, mudguards, exhaust and rear axle. The model was replaced by the 595 in France and by the 1085 in North America.
Design and features
- Flat-floor cab: the driver sat high on an entirely flat floor, with hydraulically assisted controls and steering.
- Multi-Power: the twelve-speed gearbox with torque amplifier was carried over from earlier 100-series tractors.
- Four-wheel drive from 1971: the version European buyers had asked for arrived late in the model’s life.
- Heavy build: 4,140 kg in two-wheel-drive form and 4,600 kg with four-wheel drive.
Massey Ferguson 1080 versions
- Canadian-built 1080 (1967–1972): the original version.
- French-built 1080 (1970–1974): different hydraulics, headlights, mudguards, exhaust and rear axle.
- Two- and four-wheel drive: the 4WD arrived in 1971.
- Successors: the 595 in France and the 1085 in North America.
The 1080 sat between the 178 and the American 1150 in the range. More tractors are in the Massey Ferguson collection.
Video: Massey Ferguson 1080
Video by Harrie824 on YouTube.
Sources
- Massey Ferguson 1080, French Wikipedia: production, engine, dimensions, sales
