DUNDEE, Mich. – On Aug. 16, Brad Neuhart Auctioneers concluded an auction on behalf of longtime Monroe County residents Delmer and Carol Cilley, who recently retired after decades of farming. The sale featured the couple’s highly regarded collection of farm equipment and antique tractors – known throughout the region for their exceptional condition, careful maintenance and few previous owners – making the sale especially attractive to both farmers and collectors.

While held onsite, online bidding was also available for larger equipment, making the event more broadly accessible. Included were 57 pieces: tractors, farm equipment, vintage International Harvester machinery, including a combine with heads and cart, heavy equipment, a late-model truck and trailers. A 5 percent buyer’s premium applied to online and phone purchases, while no premium was charged to on-site buyers.

The top seller was a 1992 Case IH 1640 combine, which brought in $31,500. This exceptionally clean, late-model 1640 featured Mudhog 4WD, a grain monitor, buddy seat, spreader, and only 2,357 original hours – a rare find in such condition.

Bidding followed closely on two other machines. A Kubota M9000 with just 1,300 hours went for $29,000. The well-kept unit was outfitted with 4WD, a loader, rear hydraulics, rear weights, and an SSQA bucket. A 1997 Case IH 4230 with 4WD and two rear remotes sold for $28,500. This one-owner tractor, labeled as a “time capsule” by the auctioneer, had just 3,069 hours and still showed some of its original shipping plastic.

Also highlighted was Delmer’s one-owner 1980 IH 1586, which sold for $22,000. Purchased new locally, the tractor had 5,100 original hours and was always stored indoors. It featured three remotes, an excellent interior, and 90 percent Firestone 20.8x38s (mains and duals). The auctioneer remarked it was one of the cleanest 1586s they had ever seen.

While equipment attachments didn’t bring in the highest numbers, bidding started strong. The fourth lot of the day, a Case IH 1220 Early Riser 6R30 planter, sold for $18,000. This well-kept unit was equipped for liquid fertilizer, had Yetter no-till coulters, row cleaners, two-stage closers and markers – ready to go to the field with no work needed.

Bids hit $9,000 on a Case IH 1063 6R30 corn head with all-poly snouts and stalk stompers. A Case IH 5400 Soybean Special 15-foot no-till drill, complete with three-point hookup, 15-inch spacing, markers, and two-stage closers – praised for its clean condition – also sold well at $4,100. One of the more unique setups was Delmer’s Blu-Jet Landtracker and Coulter Pro combo, used as a no-till transport setup for his drills. The pair sold together for $3,800.

Other supporting equipment included a Kale 1,000-gallon nurse tank trailer with pump, which brought $4,300. Gravity wagons rounded out the group, with six selling from $900 for a used-condition J&M 250, up to $3,200 for a cleaner J&M 350.

Sixteen antique and vintage tractors added excitement to the sale, led by an original 1953 Farmall Super MD, which sold for $12,000. Praised by the auctioneer as one of the nicest original Super MDs in the country, it featured exceptional patina, was in excellent running condition, and sat on a sharp set of Firestone 14.9x38 tires.

Another standout was a 1957 Farmall 350 Diesel, a hard-to-find model that brought $8,000. This tractor had clearly been well cared for, featuring fenders, good rubber, a Fast Hitch, and strong mechanical performance. It also came with a unique backstory: originally owned by two brothers who operated an IH dealership near Charlotte/Eaton Rapids, Mich. When their dealership closed, they kept this unsold unit. Years later, Delmer purchased it from the daughter of one of the brothers.

A true piece of agricultural history was also in the group – an original 1930s-era Oliver 18-27 on steel wheels, which sold for $2,600. This early piece belonged to Delmer’s father and uncle and still runs well today.

Heavy equipment offered additional value to this auction. An International 500 Series E dozer with a 6-way blade and just 829 hours sold for $5,900 despite weak left-side steering. A good-running Massey Ferguson 2500 rough terrain forklift also attracted attention, bringing $5,300.

To outfit those rigs were accessories like a 62-inch SSQA heavy-duty brush grapple that sold for $1,400 and a 10-foot SSQA snow pusher that fetched $800. Another $800 picked up a Frontline 48-inch SSQA pallet fork.

One vehicle was also offered – a 2009 GMC 4500 with only 31,000 miles, which went for $15,000. It featured an 8.1-liter engine, automatic transmission, and a flatbed with gooseneck hitch. Two PJ trailers followed: an 18-foot equipment trailer won for $3,500, and a 10-foot utility trailer for $1,750 – bringing the sale to a close with dependable workhorse equipment.