I first met Richard Collishaw about a year ago, when I visited his Leicestershire dairy farm to photograph his superbly-restored MF 165. While we were chatting on that occasion, he happened to mention that he also owned a 1996 MF 399, which he’d had from new. He said that the tractor was very original, adding that it was still in everyday use on the farm and, as such, remained a valued member of the farm’s vehicle fleet.
Now, 12 months on, I’m back at Richard’s door, this time to find out more about his modern classic and why he’s become so attached to it. Back in the day, the 399 quickly developed a reputation for being a reliable, well-built all-rounder, and was available in both two-wheel and four-wheel-drive versions. It was in production at Banner Lane for 10 years from 1986, and so Richard’s machine is one of the last.
A rare survivor
Like all professional users, Richard has seen a steady flow of working
