40 SERIES RANGE-TOPPER

Ford’s 40 Series range was originally launched in October 1991, the same year that Fiat purchased 80% of Ford New Holland which, in turn, had been created by the merger of Sperry New Holland and Ford, in 1986. All 40 Series tractors carried a Ford badge until 1994 when the business was rebranded as New Holland, as the 40 Series tractors spanned the transition from Ford to New Holland.

Replacing the 10 Series tractors, the new Basildon-built Ford 40 Series machines were developed as the ‘P358’ programme and were introduced at the 1991 Smithfield Show. Of course, the 10 Series range had enjoyed huge success, selling well right across Europe. The ‘pocket rocket’, 100hp 7810 model, fitted with the Super Q cab, proved to be among the most enduring and popular of machines in that range. However, with the demand for more power and technical advancement growing ever-stronger,