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GP 6 cylinders

Does anyone have any concrete evidence on how many MH GP 6 cylinders were ""Made""?  There is an ad in the latest Massey Legacy which says there were 12 made and only two known to exist.  The one advertised is for a healthy $85,000!!!!

On my numerous travels in N America I have come across more 6 cylinders than this and we have one in the UK.  I have also come across many rumours about how many were ""made"", and some suggestions that they were prototypes.  I have come acroos no-one so far that has official documented MH evidence.  So the questions are:
1.  Were they official MH prototypes
2. Were they ever made by MH or were they after market engine switches?
3. If they were after market engine switches were they done offically by MH or by after market fixers?
4. If they were official MH original tractors or engine switches then did MH officially advertise them as originals or as available engine switches?

I stress that we need official MH documented evidence.  Is it out there with someone?

Hope we can clear up this mystery once and for all!
John

RE:GP 6 cylinders

Hi John, Good subject. I personally have not seen any advertisements or original information regarding a 6 cylinder 4wd. I do not think Massey built any with the 6 cylinder, and another great reason would be the exhaust manifold. Massey did produce a 6 cylinder hercules manifold that had Massey Harris cast on it just like the 4 cylinder 4wds. So wouldn't it make sense if one of these existing 4wd's were an original 6 cylinder they would have a Massey Harris Manifold? 
Here is a poor picture of a Massey Harris 6 cylinder Hercules manifold.
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RE:GP 6 cylinders

John:

Have you found room in your shed for that $85,000 tractor yet???  I too saw that ad and thought if this truely was a tractor worth $85,000.00 why not spend the money on a full page color ad with pictures???

I have seen about 8-9 Gps with the 6 cylinder engines in them now and have yet to see one single tractor that would convince me that it was a true factory made GP with a 6 cylinder engine.

I have yet to see any literature, parts books or Brochures indicating there was ever any made on the assembly line at Racine.

I do believe the Prototype GP I showed pictures of earlier on the site under the GP thread did have a Six cylinder engine in it. I think when they were testing out the prototype tractor they realised the engine was too heavy and possibly more expensive verses the four cylinder so they went with the four cylinder engine instead.

I would love to hear from others on the  subject as I have had this subject on my mind for years....

Joe




RE:GP 6 cylinders

John, I was going to post this on the Massey Harris General Purpose four wheel drive thread but it seems to not be giving any more reply buttons so I decided to put it on here. This is not a six cylinder tractor but now puts you in second running as far as I now on owning the newest flathead GP tractor. If I remember right yours is SN 302915-66 and this is SN 302941-66 being the newest Flathead GP that I know of so far of the supposed 3000 made. You still have a chance to own this tractor as it is on ebay right now and located in Canton, PA. Happy Bidding, Joe
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RE:GP 6 cylinders

John, I found a couple pictures of the $85,000.00 tractor. I believe it is the same tractor pictured in Randy Leffingwell's book several years back. If you look at the pictures it has since been painted grey but it still has 3 springs on the seat and a McCormick Deering four bar steering wheel and still has the brackets for the cultivator on the back axel. Here are some pictures of it and a scan from Randy Leffingwell's book showing the tractor years ago when it was owned by Clarke Hall of Elmwood, Nebraska. Joe
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RE:GP 6 cylinders

Joe,

Thanks for the info.  All very interesting and I note the rather categoric statemnet about there being 12 of these six cylinder GPs.  But where has that come from - we still need some original documentation!

John