Fordson New Major celebrates 75 years of farming history

Launched at the 1951 Smithfield Show and entering full production in 1952, the Fordson New Major – known by its E1A designation – replaced the ageing E27N and brought farmers a thoroughly updated, more powerful and more versatile machine.

Its new overhead‑valve four‑cylinder engines, particularly the ‘4D’ diesel, offered better reliability and fuel economy at around 40hp, while a six‑speed gearbox, hydraulic three‑point linkage and live PTO allowed it to handle a wider range of mounted and trailed implements far more efficiently than its predecessor.

The Major family became a familiar sight across British farms during the 1950s and early 1960s (Image: Tom Meaker)

For many mixed and arable farms in the 1950s, the New Major was the tractor that finally consigned the last working horses to history. Its combination of power, fuel economy and versatility meant it could plough, drill, power threshers and balers and then switch to haulage work, underpinning a step change in home‑grown food production as Britain moved out of the rationing era.

The Major’s relatively simple, robust engineering and wide dealer network also made it a favourite with farm mechanics, many of whom still recall how easy it was to keep running in everyday use.

The success of the original E1A laid the groundwork for the later Power Major and Super Major, which brought incremental improvements in power, hydraulics and comfort but retained the same basic layout that farmers trusted.

Together, these blue Fordsons became a common sight in British farmyards through the 1950s and early 1960s, bridging the gap between pre‑war technology and the high‑output, diesel‑powered farming that reshaped the post‑war countryside.

That legacy makes this year’s anniversary display a fitting tribute. At Austrey, near Atherstone in Warwickshire, visitors will find a dedicated line‑up of Fordson Majors, Power Majors and Super Majors drawn from across the country, forming the heart of a wider celebration of Britain’s farming heritage.

A dedicated Fordson display will celebrate the machinery that helped shape generations of British farming (Image: Getty Images)

Alongside the competition plots, they will sit among horse ploughs, steam engines and later classic tractors, telling the story of how cultivation has evolved and the part the New Major played in that journey.

The British National Ploughing Championships & Country Festival itself marks its 75th anniversary this October, with competition classes on October 10 and 11, and England’s representatives for the 2027 World and European Ploughing Championships to be selected over the weekend.

But for many enthusiasts and working farmers alike, the Fordson New Major will be the star of the show – a reminder of the tractor that helped define a generation on the land.