Fordson Major
16 models in this series
Fordson Major – British Post-War Tractor From 1945 to the 1960s: four- to six-cylinder engines with 19.9 to 38.6 kW (27 to 52.5 hp), 3,610 to 4,728 cm³ displacement
The Fordson Major began in 1945 with the E27N model and was developed through several generations: the New Major (E1A) from 1951, then the Power Major from 1958. Over this span, engine output in the register grew from 19.9 to 38.6 kW, with models rated in horsepower spanning 27 to 52.5 hp, using four- to six-cylinder engines with displacement from 3,610 to 4,728 cm³.
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Recorded operating weight runs from 1,842 to 4,189 kg, wheelbase from 1,956 to 2,032 mm. Top speed of the listed models spans 8 to 22 km/h, typical of tractors from this era without gearing designed for road use.
The Fordson Major was one of the most widely used post-war tractors in Britain and many export markets, and it served as the base for numerous conversions, such as County or Roadless four-wheel-drive kits. For historic examples, the exact variant matters most: engine, gearbox and hydraulic system differ considerably between the early E27N and the later Major model years.
During this period, the Fordson Major was also characteristically available on the British market with carburettor engines running on petrol or the cheaper tractor vaporising oil (TVO, listed in the register as Petroleum), alongside the diesel version; the TVO system needed a preheated carburettor and a small petrol tank for cold starting, as the oil would not vaporise reliably in a cold engine.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Fordson Major
Models compared
12 of 12 models.
| County-Mark IV1960–1964 | E 27 N1945–1952 | E 27 N-D1948–1952 | MAJOR1955-1962 | MAJOR 20321958 | MAJOR mark 21957 | Major 19541954 | Major 521959 | Major Diesel1956-2017 | Major M521958 | New Major (E1A)1951–1958 | Power Major1958–1960 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 38.2 kW | 19.9 kW | 33.1 kW | 36 kW | 30 kW | 32 kW | 30 kW | 27 kW | 30 kW | 30 kW | 29.4 kW | 38.6 kW |
| Rated speed | 1,650 rpm | 1,200 rpm | 1,500 rpm | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,600 rpm | 1,600 rpm |
| Cylinders | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | – | 4 | 4 |
| Displacement | 3,613 cm³ | 4,382 cm³ | 4,728 cm³ | 3,610 cm³ | 3,610 cm³ | 3,610 cm³ | 3,610 cm³ | 3,610 cm³ | 3,610 cm³ | 3,610 cm³ | 3,613 cm³ | 3,613 cm³ |
| Top speed | 8 km/h | 15 km/h | 15.5 km/h | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 22 km/h | 22 km/h |
| Wheelbase | – | 1,956 mm | 1,956 mm | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2,020 mm | 2,032 mm |
| Length | 3,270 mm | 3,378 mm | 3,378 mm | 3,320 mm | 3,320 mm | 3,320 mm | 3,320 mm | 3,320 mm | 3,320 mm | 3,320 mm | 3,314 mm | 3,315 mm |
| Width | 1,715 mm | 1,651 mm | 1,651 mm | 2,150 mm | 1,760 mm | 1,760 mm | – | – | 1,935 mm | – | 1,651 mm | 1,651 mm |
| Height | 1,575 mm | 1,780 mm | 2,083 mm | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1,610 mm | 1,610 mm |
| Unladen weight | 4,189 kg | 1,842 kg | 2,367 kg | 2,287 kg | 2,280 kg | 2,358 kg | 2,200 kg | 2,250 kg | 2,148 kg | 2,280 kg | 2,070 kg | 2,361 kg |
| Gross vehicle weight | – | 2,500 kg | – | – | – | 4,703 kg | 2,200 kg | – | – | – | – | 3,530.5 kg |
Models
Tractor in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
County-Mark IV
The County-Mark IV from Fordson is part of the Major series. Production: 1960–1964. The engine delivers 52 hp (38.2...
E 27 N
With the E 27 N, Fordson offers a model from the Major series. Production: 1945–1952. The engine delivers 27 hp...
E 27 N-D
The Major series from Fordson includes the E 27 N-D. Production: 1948–1952. The engine delivers 45 hp (33.1 kW), has...
MAJOR
The Fordson MAJOR is a model in the Major series. Production: 1955-1962. The engine delivers 36 kW, has 4 cylinders,...
MAJOR 2032
With the MAJOR 2032, Fordson offers a model from the Major series. Production: 1958. The engine delivers 30 kW, has...
MAJOR mark 2
The Fordson MAJOR mark 2 belongs to the Major series. Production: 1957. The engine delivers 32 kW, has 4 cylinders,...
Major 1954
The Fordson Major 1954 is a model in the Major series. Production: 1954. The engine delivers 30 kW, has 4 cylinders,...
Major 52
The Major 52 from Fordson is part of the Major series. Production: 1959. The engine delivers 27 kW, has 4 cylinders,...
Major Diesel
The Fordson Major Diesel belongs to the Major series. Production: 1956-2017. The engine delivers 30 kW, has 4...
Major M52
The Fordson Major M52 is a model in the Major series. Production: 1958. The engine delivers 30 kW, with a...
New Major (E1A)
The Fordson New Major (E1A) belongs to the Major series. Production: 1951–1958. The engine delivers 40 hp (29.4 kW),...
Power Major
The Fordson Power Major is a model in the Major series. Production: 1958–1960. The engine delivers 52.5 hp (38.6...
MAJOR 2032/58
The Fordson MAJOR 2032/58 belongs to the Major series; it rolled off the line as a tractor in 1958. The engine is a...
MAJOR DIESEL/M 57
The Fordson MAJOR DIESEL/M 57 is a tractor from the Major series, built in 1957. Fitted is a four-cylinder engine...
Major 1956
The Fordson Major 1956 is a tractor from the Major series, built in 1958-1961. The engine is a four-cylinder unit...
Major County super6SF-4X4/1800-63
The Fordson Major County super6SF-4X4/1800-63 belongs to the Major series; it rolled off the line as a tractor in...