What year is this

[Roselvane]

 

[Roselvane]

Best I can figure this is a 1980 British built ford 550 with a side shift backhoe yet it doesn’t seem they manufactured 550 in 1980 built I understand till1984 in France but not in England

 

[Destroked 450]

Model DF211K is a 550
0A18B is a production date of 1980, January 18 on day shift
My info shows last year of the 550 was 1978
1980 should be a 555 but it’s model code is DF3

 

[Roselvane]

I’m thinking it’s a 550 hard to tell but I heard they were made in Europe till 1983 I think I believe this unit is a gray market European model that some how worked its way to the USA not sure but it the best idea I have since it doesn’t fit the USA build years again not sure looking for someone who has more insight on this kind of stuff I can’t make sense of it myself thanks

 

[Andy Wickiser]

I’m thinking it’s a 550 hard to tell but I heard they were made in Europe till 1983 I think I believe this unit is a gray market European model that some how worked its way to the USA not sure but it the best idea I have since it doesn’t fit the USA build years again not sure looking for someone who has more insight on this kind of stuff I can’t make sense of it myself thanks

The B at the beginning of the serial number means made at the Ford plant in Basildon England.

If you do an Google Advanced Search with a term such as "1980 Ford 550 digger" and specify region as "United Kingdom" you will find examples for sale with pictures to compare. I didn't find any pictures of data plates but there are some showing serial numbers close to yours.

Also if you go to the Messicks New Holland web page for the 550 (link below) and select "21-Backhoes Prior" and Diagram "19A02 19A02 MAIN FRAME & RELATED PARTS, SIDESHIFT, EUROPE (75/83)" you will see the diagrams. But the thing that applies to your question is that date - 75/83.

I'm not sure but yours might not even be gray market, could be that someone in the US wanted or needed a sideshift model and England is where they were made.

https://messicks.com/catalogs/new-holland/550-3-cyl-tractor-loader-backhoe-01-75-09-78

 

[Sean in PA]

I'm not sure but yours might not even be gray market, could be that someone in the US wanted or needed a sideshift model and England is where they were made.

They were called "World Tractors" after all.

 

[GChief]

"What year is this"

2026?

 

[Brown David]

"What year is this"

2026?

I thought I posted that yesterday.

I know I typed it out but must have not hit the post reply button.