The mud, the cold and a little bit of drizzle were no deterrent to the flocks of bidders that descended on Oxfordshire on Thursday 16 December for the RC Baker sale that set record-breaking prices.

The auction comprised the machinery and equipment of soon-to-retire Charles Baker, former NAAC chairman and 2009 Farmers Weekly Contractor of the Year.

Up for grabs were a number of Mr Baker’s tractors, most of which were no older than four years. These were a part of the impressive collection he has amassed since beginning farming and contracting 47 years ago with a Ford 4000.  

See also: FW Awards 2009 winner: Contractor of the Year Charlie Baker

Some 150 lots went under the hammer, overseen by East Anglia-based auctioneers Cheffins, which juggled more than 650 bidders on the day.

The event attracted international interest, with buyers tuning in from as far afield as New Zealand, as well as from all four corners of the UK.

It was a “standout sale” according to Cheffins director and auctioneer Oliver Godfrey, who believes Mr Baker’s Claas Xerion set “a record price for a piece of modern agricultural machinery sold at auction”.

Here are a few of the highlights from the sale. All prices listed are inclusive of a 3.5% buyer’s premium plus VAT. The buyer’s premium was capped at £10,000 for each individual lot.

John Deere 6215R

A handsome collection of five John Deere 6215R tractors, each under four years old, kicked off the big-kit bidding. All clean and well-maintained machines, most were sold with a warranty or PowerGard from Farol, where they were each bought new.

Prices started at £56,788 for the 2017 model, which had 6,885 hours on the clock and was the oldest in the fleet.

© MAG/Matilda Bovingdon

An almost identical pair of 2020 models made similar prices, selling for £98,990 and £99,511, with 2,961 and 3,119 hours, respectively.

An 854-hour 2021 model fetched the highest price among the 6215Rs, going under the hammer for £122,435.

John Deere 6250R

There was a slightly larger John Deere tractor offering, in the form of a single 6250R. The 2020 model was also bought from Farol, and sold for £122,435 with PowerGard protection until 2025, having completed 2,358 hours.

© MAG/Matilda Bovingdon

John Deere 7R330

The largest in the fleet of green tractors was a 7R330. The generously specced 2020 model sold on 928 hours and fetched the highest sale price of all the tractors, making £195,810.

© MAG/Matilda Bovingdon

JCB Fastrac 4220

A bit of yellow among the sea of green, Mr Baker bought this JCB Fastrac in 2019, and it has stayed on the farm ever since. The 60kph tractor had completed 4,892 hours, and was sold with a warranty to 5,000 hours. The machine went for £86,486.

© MAG/Matilda Bovingdon

Volvo L70H and L50E

A duo of Volvo loading shovels also made the sale line-up.

The 2004 L50E sold for £44,806. Despite having 10,000 hours on the clock, the machine had been serviced by Volvo from new and was sold with a reconditioned transmission and boom suspension, both of which were fitted last winter.

The L70H made £84,402. It had 5,126 hours on the clock. 

© MAG/Matilda Bovingdon

Massey Ferguson 2435ST

A 2006-built Massey Ferguson had notched just 1,355 hours. The gavel landed at £13,754.  

© MAG/Matilda Bovingdon

Ford 8210 S. II

One for the retro-lovers, this 1988 Ford 8210 sold with 6,618 hours on the clock. Despite being significantly older, the tractor fetched a similar price to the Massey, selling for £13,029.

© MAG/Matilda Bovingdon

Mercedes-Benz U400 Unimog

Among several vehicles and 4x4s sold, the stand-out had to be the Baker family’s favourite 2004 Unimog. The Mercedes-Benz 4×4 was used as a haulage tool for transporting silage and carting corn, and was favoured for its fuel efficiency. It sold for £40,124, and had done 122,794km (76,300 miles).

Mercedes-Benz U400 Unimog © MAG/Matilda Bovingdon

Claas Lexion 780

A 2013 Claas combine harvester fetched £131,292 at the sale. Having been used to combine about 690ha/year, the harvester sported front Terra-Tracs and 500/85 R30 rear tyres. The machine sold with 2,286 engine hours, and 1,655 drum hours.

Claas Lexion 780 © MAG/Matilda Bovingdon

John Deere 9700i forage harvester

A larger addition to the extensive John Deere fleet, the 2021 forage harvester was bought new from Farol, and was sold with a PowerGard until 2026. With 371 engine hours and 237 cylinder hours, the forager made £281,340.

© MAG/Matilda Bovingdon

Vredo VT7028-3 self-propelled slurry tanker

The 2017 Vredo self-propelled slurry tanker attracted a steady stream of viewers, and garnered a fair amount of bidding activity.

A rarity in the UK, the 6,198-hour machine was kitted out with a Vogelsang 36m hydraulic folding dribble bar, a central tyre inflation system, and a total slurry holding capacity of 32cu m. A reconditioned transmission and engine contributed to the hefty £442,850 price tag.

© MAG/Matilda Bovingdon

Claas Xerion 5000 tractor slurry tanker

Last to go under the hammer, was RC Baker’s impressive Xerion and slurry tanker outfit.

Fetching an eye-watering £547,050, the 2020 Claas Xerion tractor came fitted with a Kaweco 28,000-litre gooseneck slurry tank and 36m Vogelsang dribble bar.

The tractor/slurry tanker combination is one of the first of its kind to be imported into the country, and also sported a central tyre inflation system fitted to Trelleborg wheels and tyres. The 500hp machine sold with 1,417 hours on the clock.

© MAG/Matilda Bovingdon