American-built tractors have a special attraction for British enthusiasts. They tend to be rarer than home-produced models, and they often came here in times of national crisis such as the two World Wars. Both Minneapolis-Moline and Oliver were the result of mergers between the wars, and many arrived on British farms as part of the WW2 Lend-Lease deal between Britain and the USA.

The tractors in this production were filmed over two consecutive Carrinton Rallies in Lincolnshire, and many came with the stories of the farms they worked on and the people who worked with them. They include all four of the size types in the war-time MM range, as well as an LPG-powered GTC from the 1950s and an exotically styled Jetstar from the 60s. MM implements include the Tumblebug plough and a fully restored windrower. The Oliver tractors on display show how the company progressed from early Hart-Parr examples to the streamlined machines of the late 30s and 40s, as well as solid rowcrop and conventional workhorses. One rare example is a diesel-powered 80, one of a very small number built for the American market. These are among the tractors that helped feed Britain at a time of crisis, and found fans among both farm workers and tractor enthusiasts,

• Running time 56 minutes
• Colour, UK PAL DVD
• Aspect ratio 4:3
• Written and narrated by Alan Stennett