When Massey Ferguson launched the hugely successful 100 Series, otherwise known as the Red Giants by the merchandising people, it was always intended to expand on the original four models first introduced in 1964, and also to produce bespoke models for various different markets around the world. Here in Britain, the initial release saw the arrival of the MF 130, the 135, the 165 and the 175. The last three of these, in particular, were truly worldwide models produced for sale around the globe, with only small adaptations to the requirements for varying local conditions.
A big tractor
Here in the UK, the four-cylinder, 66hp MF 175 was a big tractor, but the best-selling of the whole range was the 135, followed by the 165. This wasn’t surprising given that these two machines were the direct replacements for the existing 35 and 65 models, which had been popular sellers with farmers since the end of 1957. The 175 was thus the first successful attempt to take the horsepower figure into a higher realm. However, in the end, this model didn’t prove as mechanically reliable as had been hoped, and it was replaced in late
