The Massey Ferguson 1150 was the American answer to the demand for 150 hp tractors at the end of the 1960s. Built in Detroit from 1970 to 1972, it used a Perkins V8 of 8,300 cc rated at 146 ch DIN, and it remained a rare sight in Europe, where only a handful were sold new.
Massey Ferguson 1150 at a glance
| Maker | Massey Ferguson |
|---|---|
| Production | 1970–1972 |
| Built at | Detroit, United States |
| Based on | Massey Ferguson 1100 |
| Engine | Perkins AV8-510 V8 diesel |
| Bore × stroke | 108 × 114 mm |
| Displacement | 8,300 cm³ |
| Power | 146 ch DIN at 2,200 rpm |
| Transmission | 6 forward and 2 reverse; 12 and 4 with Multi-Power |
| Top speed | 27 km/h |
| Power take-off | 540 and 1,000 rpm |
| Drive | Two-wheel drive only |
Based on one source: the French Wikipedia article on the 1150. English Wikipedia has no article on this model.
History of the Massey Ferguson 1150
Why a V8
At the end of the 1960s North American farmers wanted tractors of about 150 hp. Turbodiesels were still considered too fragile, so the obvious route was to add cylinders, and Massey Ferguson designed the 1150 around a Perkins V8. The tractor kept the mechanical base of the 1100, which was strong enough to take the extra power, and it kept the angular bonnet of the 100 range with the model number in a circle on its flanks.
An American in Europe
The 1150 was built in Massey Ferguson’s Detroit plant from 1970 to 1972. It was not suited to the European market and only about ten appear to have been sold new in France, although collectors later imported used examples. It was replaced in 1974 by the Massey Ferguson 1155, which had the same V8 architecture, a restyled body and a little more power.
Design and features
- Perkins V8: 8,300 cc and 146 ch DIN at 2,200 rpm, an unusual layout in European tractors of the period.
- Multi-Power: the six-speed gearbox could be doubled to twelve forward speeds by the torque amplifier.
- Two PTO speeds: 540 and 1,000 rpm at the rear.
- Full cab: an optional fully enclosed cab, with a single door on the left and limited sound insulation; power steering was standard.
- Straightforward hitch: the linkage was simple and the drawbar minimal, which suited the heavy trailed implements the tractor was meant to pull.
Massey Ferguson 1150 versions
- 1150 (1970–1972): the standard two-wheel-drive tractor.
- Open or cab version: the cab was optional.
- Successor: the 1155 of 1974.
The 1150 was the step between the 1080 and the 1155. More tractors are in the Massey Ferguson collection.
Video: Massey Ferguson 1150 with new exhaust, before and after
Video by shelenius on YouTube.
Sources
- Massey Ferguson 1150, French Wikipedia: production, engine, transmission, cab
