In the same year it celebrates 60 years of tractor production, the New Holland plant at Basildon has just made its two millionth tractor.

The milestone tractor, a 225hp T7.225, has received a celebration livery comprising candy blue body panels, silver and black graphics with the Union Jack flag, a ‘2,000,000 Basildon Tractors’ logo, plus a New Holland leaf bonnet top. The tractor is finished with black wheels rims with candy blue rim edges.

“This is a major milestone in the life of our Basildon plant, and a mark of both the dedication of our skilled employees here and the loyalty of our customers worldwide, to whom we are extremely grateful,” said Carlo Lambro, New Holland brand president.

The two millionth tractor will appear at forthcoming events in the UK and will then be displayed in the Customer Centre at Basildon.

Basildon background ……

The Basildon factory opening in 1964 coincided with the launch of the 37-65hp Ford 6X tractor series which was to be made there, meaning the first of the two million tractors were 2000 Dexta, 3000 Super Dexta, 4000 Major and 5000 Super Major models.

Within two years the plant had produced 100,000 of these tractors, and these models later became known generally as the ‘Pre-Force’ series, following the 1968 launch of the ‘Ford Force’ 2/3/4/5000 tractors, which saw the long-serving names retired. Just a year later, the factory produced its 250,000th tractor.

In 1984, the 500,000th tractor was made, from the Q-cabbed Series 10 range launched three years previously, which ultimately spanned 2610 (44hp) to 8210 (116hp) models.

The plant produced its one millionth tractor five years later in 1989, which coincided with the launch of the Generation III evolution of the Series 10 range. The year also marked 25 years of manufacturing at the plant, celebrated with the release of a number of special edition Silver Jubilee 7810 tractors.

In 1995, the factory produced its 1,500,000th tractor, a Series 40 model, four years after it came under new ownership following the purchase of the Ford New Holland agricultural equipment business by Fiat, creating today’s New Holland brand.

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