Sugar (Cane) Daddy - 1948 McCormick-Deering Farmall MV

The sugar cane fields of southern Louisiana are some distance from St. Mary, Missouri, and even farther from Albia, Iowa, but that was the path this tractor took by the time Donald Tibbals purchased it in 2009 for $3200. An avid Farmall collector, Donald had only seen photos of rare MV models—only 1674 were built—but this would be a valued addition to his collection.

Responding to a for sale ad, Donald was dismayed to find the MV was in poor condition, a true basket case. He admitted later that his desire to own such a rare tractor may have clouded his thinking. Nevertheless, the nearly two-year restoration produced a showpiece that attracts attention at tractor shows.