1997 Ford NH 1715

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,691]

I picked this up yesterday, a 1997 Ford New Holland 1715.  26 hp, 3 cylinder diesel, 9 forward speeds, 3 reverse.  I really like these Shibaura built Ford compacts.  This is my second one, I also have a 1986 1310 4WD.

 

If anyone has a chance to pick up one of these Ford compacts, I would recommend doing so.

 

For a little history lesson, around 1986 Ford bought New Holland.  Then in 1991, Ford decided to focus on car and truck production, and sold their ag line to Fiat.  The agreement was that Fiat could use the Ford name on the tractors, but to phase it out.  This tractor is a 1997, which might have been the last year the Ford name appeared on a New Holland.

 

In 1973, Ford brought their first compact, a Shibaura built Ford 1000.  Shibaura built all of Ford compacts, even after Fiat took control.  I believe 1998 was the last Shibaura build Ford or NH tractor.  Today LS makes the New Holland compacts and sub-compact.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[wh500special 2,359]

That’s a beautiful machine Terry.  I looked at the final run of those in the early 2000’s and nearly bought one new.  
 

You mentioned the model 1000.   I had the subsequent version - the model 1600 - for a while.   I think I remember mine being a 1978.  While a bit crude by more recent standards, it was a fantastic machine. It had a two cylinder diesel and was no more complicated than an old 8N.  
 

Also had a 1981 model 1700.  Significantly more user friendly and comfortable than the 1600.  It was my primarily mowing tractor for several years.  
 

What amazed me about the Fords from those eras was the attention to detail in the build quality.  I had to replace the water pump on the 1700 after the factory original finally gave out.  Having wrenched on old stuff enough I was prepared for a fight to get the thing off.  
 

nope. Shibura had antiseized or loctited every bolt and nut on that sucker.  Zero stuck fasteners and zero rust under the paint.  
 

Great tractors. 
 

Steve
 

 

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,691]

Hi, Steve.  I almost bought a 1000, and then a 1600, last year.  But both had issues.  And before I bought this 1715, I was looking at a 1700 and a 1500.  Right now, along with this 1715, I have a 1310 4WD.  I think these Shibaura built Fords are very underrated and often overlooked, as more people tend to gyrate towards the Kubotas and Yanmars.  I made a slideshow of the Ford compact tractors starting with the 1000 that came out in 1973.  Also, I'm attaching a picture of my 1310.

 

The most interesting one was the 1710 Offset, shades of a Farmall cultivision or a Ford 541 from back in the day.

 

 

Ford_Compact_Tractors_Presentation_merge.pdf