VINTAGE tractor enthusiast Dylan Davies from Penparc has returned triumphant from a two-day indoor Tractor World Spring Show at Malvern, and this at his first attempt at a show of this standard.

He was awarded first in class and Best in Show with his prized possession – the David Brown 1412.

Dylan said: “I really enjoyed it. I’ve never been to that show before, let alone exhibit there. There were hundreds of tractors taking part and I really was chuffed to have won.”

Purchased on e-bay from a seller in Lancashire seven years ago, Dylan calculates that over 800 hours have been spent restoring his David Brown.

“We always had a David Brown on the farm at home, and as children, we used to drive it. My father would use it on the farm and that’s when the interest in the David Brown started. When I purchased this one, there was a lot of rust on it and in places when we shot blast the panels, we’d actually go through them, it really was that bad,” he said.

“I sent the tractor to Ieuan James of Letterson for the mechanical work and then to Ceri Richards of JC Shotblasting in Bryn Iwan to paint it. The project was a huge challenge as the cab needed 70 per cent restoration. We stripped the whole engine down as without an engine, it would be pointless.

“There was so much work involved, and even after hours and weeks of work, it didn’t look as if we’d done much, but we had. There was just so much to be done,” added Dylan, who will this Saturday take his David Brown to the Annual Barley Saturday parade in Cardigan.

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