When Dorset Valtra dealer Chris Cox arrived at his firm’s headquarters at Bagber, near Sturminster Newton, on 2 July for the charity tractor run that the business had organised to raise funds for Cancer Research, he wasn’t expecting to lead the 135 tractors by driving a tractor himself, reports Sandy Cox. But staff at C. J. Cox Ltd surprised him by presenting him with a restored 2002 Valtra 8950 to mark his 30 years as a Valtra dealer.
Neil Warr, the firm’s Service Manager, had been on the lookout for a suitable tractor to celebrate the anniversary when the 200hp Valtra 8950 was offered in a part-exchange deal in March.
“There are not many of them about and it was fairly tidy,” he says.
It came at the time that Chris has decided to organise the charity tractor run, so the staff decided to restore the tractor and present it to Chris as a surprise. Instead of heading to the firm’s Bagber premises, the 8950 went to a local farm where a shed was used as a secret restoration workshop.
“Mechanically it was pretty good, so it was given a good valet and then our engineers got to work,” says Neil.
“We were pretty busy, so had to juggle things to fit in the work. The panels were straightened and resprayed, and the wheels were repainted and fitted with new tyres. New wings and front mudguards were also fitted, together with a new seat. Other work included replacing track-rod ends and air bags for the front suspension.”
All the staff were in on the secret, apart from Chris and Val, the company directors. The refurbishment was completed the day before the tractor road run, just in time to surprise Chris.
The immaculate Valtra 8950 will now be displayed on the company’s stand at local shows.
Text and photo Classic Tractor Magazine
