Ferguson TE20
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The Ferguson Model TE20 was a British agricultural tractor. It was Harry Ferguson's most successful design, commonly known as the Little Grey Fergie. It was manufactured from 1946 to 1956. It was a small but effective design and is a popular collectors item for enthusiasts today.
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[edit] History
The model name came from Tractor, England 20 horsepower (not the true power delivered but from a formula based on engine size, see tax horsepower). Harry designed the tractor after his partnership with Fordson turned sour over patent use. The tractors were built by Standard Motor Company at Coventry and exported to many nations of the world.
[edit] Variants
The first TE20's ran on petrol. There were later versions that ran on Tractor vapourising oil (TVO), sometimes called "petrol/paraffin" and diesel. Some were converted in the UK to use a 3-cylinder Perkins diesel engine.
- TE stood for Tractor England.
- TO stood for Tractor Overseas.
Between 1948 and 1951, the TO20 with a Continental engine was built in Detroit, Michigan.
Models and production years:
- TE-20 Continental Z-120 petrol engine 1946-1948
- TEA-20 Standard Motor Company petrol engine 1947-1956
- TEB-20 Continental Z-120 petrol engine - Narrow wheelbase 1946-1948
- TEC-20 Standard petrol - Narrow 1948-1956
- TED-20 TVO 1949-1956
- TEE-20 TV0 - Narrow 1949-1956
- TEF-20 diesel 1951-1956
- TEH-20 lamp oil engine 1950-1956
- TEJ-20 lamp oil engine - Narrow 1950-1956
- TEK-20 petrol - Vineyard 1952-1956
- TEL-20 TV0 - Vineyard 1952-1956
- TEM-20 lamp oil - Vineyard 1952-1956
- TEP-20 petrol - Industrial 1952-1956
- TER-20 TVO - Industrial 1952-1956
- TES-20 lamp oil - Industrial 1952-1956
- TET-20 Diesel - Industrial 1952-1956
Half a million TE20 tractors of all models were built. They were succeeded by the FE35, and then shortly after Ferguson merged with Massey to become Massey-Ferguson. For a time both Massey Harris and Ferguson brands continued alongside, until the FE35 became the MF (Massey Ferguson) 35.
[edit] Famous Fergies
- There is a monument in Wentworth on the junction of the Darling and Murray Rivers in Australia commemorating the time in 1956 when both rivers flooded and a fleet of little grey Fergies was used to build levee banks to save the town.
