The 500 Series tractors played an important role in the Massey Ferguson line-up in Europe during the latter half of the 1970s and into the early 1980s. This series will take a close look at these models, their features and their evolution, and then consider why these machines have become ‘Marmite’ tractors, with enthusiasts either loving or hating them.
However, to get things started, we need to rewind to the early 1970s, to consider the origin of the species, as this was the time that the first model in the new range – the MF 595 – was launched.
Significant change
The 1970s was a decade of significant change with regard to farm tractor design. Power was on the increase; sophisticated innovations were making their presence felt and more choice was being offered. However, the biggest change was seen in the areas of driver comfort and safety.
In 1970, legislation in Britain demanded that new tractors were fitted with a proven safety cab to protect the operator in the advent of the machine rolling over. These new structures replaced the huge variety of ‘weather cabs’ used previously, but this was only the start. The second part of this legislation saw the introduction of ‘quiet cabs’ during 1976, designed to reduce interior noise levels dramatically.
As far as Massey Ferguson was concerned, these new requirements necessitated a two-step approach. The 100 Series tractors (the Red Giants), had
