News story of the month: Fred Dibnah’s steam tractor stays ‘up north’ (20-Aug-10)

A 1912 Aveling & Porter Ltd steam tractor which belonged to the late Fred Dibnah was sold for £240,000 (plus 5% buyer’s premium) at Cheffins Vintage Auction Sale at Sutton near Ely, Cambridgeshire, on Saturday 24th July. The estimated price for the engine was £110,000-130,000.

It was bought by Michael Oliver, chairman of manufacturing company Oliver Valves, based at Knutsford, Cheshire, ensuring that the well-known engine remains in the north-west. The new owner has offered Fred’s son, Jack, the opportunity to drive the engine and it is intended that it will appear at vintage steam shows across the UK.

The steam tractor was one of four originally supplied to West Sussex Council and had apparently been abandoned for more than a decade before Fred purchased it in 1979 and set about restoring it to its former glory...

This excerpt is taken from the September issue of Collectors Gazette. To see which back issues are available, click here.