© Stags

A dispersal sale of no less than eight popular New Holland tractors attracted national interest, demonstrating that quality second-hand machinery is still in high demand.

The sale at Pithayes Farm, Whimple, was conducted by south-west auctioneer Stags for farmers RG Seward and Sons, who made the decision earlier this year to let the farm out.

More than 350 bidders had registered with the sales office prior to the auction.

See also: Legal tips for buying and selling second-hand machinery

Top of the tractor billing was a 2012 New Holland T7040 with just 3,300 hours on the clock.

It was the newest tractor on show and after some frenetic phone bidding from interested parties in Ireland and Cumbria, the tractor sold to a local bidder for £42,500.

All the other tractors up for grabs could be considered modern classics, with a popular 2000-year New Holland TM150 on high 12,000 hours finishing at £19,000; a New Holland/Ford 7740 reaching £18,400 sat on a modest 8,500 hours; while the well-liked 1993 Ford 7840 had a bit of cosmetic work needed after its 9,300 hours and fetched £13,900.

Four slightly older models began with a two-wheel drive Ford 7710 with 13,700 hours and made just £7,000, a Ford 5610 finished at £6,700, while just £5,000 bagged one punter a Ford 4100. The smallest tractor up for grabs, a Ford 3600, coincidentally made £3,600.

A 1995 Manitou 626 telehandler had covered 10,200 hours and made a respectable £10,800, while a 2007 Bobcat skid-steer loader looked good value at £7,800.

An as-new 2017 Honda TRX420 Fourtrax ATV with a paltry 15 hours on the clock sold for £5,800.

Pick of the trailers was an Irish-made 2015 Broughan B20 model, which topped out at £19,800.

Three 1997 Griffiths silage trailers made, £5,200, £5,000 and £4,800, while a 2003 AW Trailers 14t grain unit sold for £6,300.

A set of 2009 6.3m Dalbo rolls made £8,800, a Kverneland 9178C twin rotor rake fetched £7,000, and a zero-grazing forage harvester finished at £3,600.

All prices quoted are hammer and subject to further charges.