If you aren’t familiar with the Gravely two-wheeled tractor, where have you been for the past 80 plus years? Starting in 1936 with the Model L, these two-wheeled all-purpose farm machines have been a mainstay of small and hobby farmers across North America. You can purchase an entire collection of these machines from this craigslist ad. They are located in Dade County, Florida. While no price is given, there are a LOT of machines here. Oh, and there are some other gems shown in pictures that we’ve highlighted below that might be worth inquiring about as well. Thanks to Fred H. for this great find!
As you can see, there are plenty of Gravelys in all kinds of condition and vintage in the collection. The seller/collector says they want to sell it all as one lot, machines and parts together. But look closely at the right rear of this picture. Hmmmm.
Here are some more components. There’s no telling how many machines are here. Although Gravely still produces a two-wheeled “tractor”, some collectors feel the traditional line ended around 2013.
Still more incomplete assemblies. But look at the left rear this time. Is it possible that the seller has some other interests as well, and might be interested in selling other vehicles?
My eyes were immediately drawn to the blue machine, not the red and white ones. Sorry, I’m a car guy at heart!
Here’s a more complete tractor to give you a better idea what one looks like.
Okay, I’m sure most of you gathered what I was looking at in the previous pictures, but here are two highlighted to make it even more blatantly obvious. Perhaps our Gravely collector is a Corvette collector as well? What are the chances of a package deal? Will the tractor accessories fit the Corvettes? (no, no, Jamie…) What do you think about these two-wheeled tractors? And would you ask about the Corvettes?
I’d certainly ask about the blue C3. Tractors? What tractors?
It is a c4
I very well know of Gravely tractors. My Dad and I did battle with a 13 acre field with the Gravely tractor at a Boy Scout camp where my Dad was the Ranger. The one you have pictured above has the battery start. (The boxier hood). Ours was a pull start. Dad engineered a sulky that was a damn sight more comfortable than the metal seat ones. As far as I know, the Gravely was still going strong until 1987 when the Boy Scouts sold the camp to a developer. Picture of me when we got the Gravely in 1968.
Bunch of scrap iron. .50 a lb.
(To haul it away!)
Steve, don’t blather on about that which you know little about. These ‘scrap’ machines are better built than most everything on the market today, will be around long after the modern junk has fallen apart, and have tons of implements that will do everything from mowing to brush knockdown, garden plowing, tilling, blowing deep snow, and cutting small trees. Totally gear driven, and many are in constant use today and have even been converted to modern engines including diesels. Value singly is about $50 per hour.
Some Torq Thrust wheels and tuck and roll on those seats and I’d be interested.
I have memories of a Gravely, but I think my Dad had it to plow snow. I do not know when he got rid of it, so I have a brief memory of it. I don’t really care if the Corvettes are part of the package.
I guess there is a collector for every conceivable item out there.
I could never get over the name. Being a man who mows multiple acres on a quite steep hillside and who has at least once rolled a tractor, I feel it is taunting fate to drive a tractor with the word grave in the name. Just saying.
Gravely was owned by Studebaker.
In addition to Clarke floor sanders
Studebaker also owned “Big 4” tire changing machines, and STP Products.
Did you know that early STP cans mentioned the letters STP stood for Studebaker Treatment for Petroleum?
When it stopped vehicle production, that was only a portion of the Studebaker-Worthington corporate manufacturing base.
Gravely’s are actually pretty cool machines. Their claim was “all-gear drive”, meaning no belts. While your neighbor smoked the $75 dollar drive belt on their Sears tractor ( for the 3rd time) you’d be happily chopping roots and saplings like a pro. Even the implements were driveshaft driven, like bigger farm equipment.(except lawn mower) Whether one needs a collection of the stuff, is debatable.
I use a 52″ gravely zero turn to mow 5 acres a week, great mower. These old tractors are just like the one the 97 year old man behind me used to mow over his garden. That thing was a beast.
I’ve got a Gravely now that I’m trying to get running. Nothing worst than a pull-start Gravely that won’t quite start. Long stroke, high compression. It’s like trying to pull start an old Harley running on one cylinder.
I can see these getting bought and shipped overseas to Asia. This type of tractor is very common there and used for all kinds of work. I’m guessing a lot of these could be reconditioned for a few more years of use.
Dad sold our AC yard tractor and showed up with one of these. It did everything equally bad. Our lawn never looked good, the tiller was nothing like what a Troy Built could do. It also came with a rather large open blade that you could set up to cut wood. We did it once and it just seemed to dangerous for even the 70’s.
based on this phone number:
(352)467-0270
This ad is from:
Sunshine Corvettes Sunshine Equipment located at 17951 U.S. 301, Dade City, FL 33523
https://www.google.com/maps/place/17951+US-301,+Dade+City,+FL+33523/@28.4195744,-82.1922792,215m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x88dd5516056b2023:0x2477f5dae784e999!8m2!3d28.419438!4d-82.192515
I’ve put in enough hours behind one of those effing bone shakers. No thanks. You couldn’t pay me enough.
I bought/sold/repaired Gravely tractors in the 70’s. The 7.6 motor was about as basic as it gets. If the magneto was set up properly they would start easily on 1/2 a pull. The tractors tended to be favored by the older generation. Had one old timer that mowed 5 acres for a company in FL. When finished, he’d have to practically start over again. He used the dual-blade, dual wheel version tractor with sulky, I still envision him today chomping on his cigar riding that thing!
Forgot to mention how much ‘fun’ it was to rebuild the starter clutch on the electric-start 7.6 models!
sigh…..
You missed the C3 in the first picture in the ad and in the second picture of your story. Does anyone else have a bad experience riding the sulky and getting jabbed by the handlebars?
Took it in the gut a couple times! You know when someone is familiar with them when they complain about the bars.
Yes! Engineered by a sadist!
He stores his tired lawn equipment the same way he stores his tired Corvettes. Kind of sad
As mentioned earlier, Gravely was a Studebaker company. Gravely machines are seen occasionally at Studebaker National and Zone Meets. Some Studebaker collectors would really go after this gaggle of Gravely’s.
I was delighted to see this. I grew up on a 4 acre property in western NJ in the 1960’s. We and our neighbor across the street each had a Gravely. We used then for grass cutting. What work horses they were, especially with the leather strap pull start! I still miss that thing!!
A guy I know had one of these a few years ago and the seat on the sulky had a seat belt attached to it. I asked what was that on for. He replied that he had been whip sawed off that old Gravely too many times !
Steve, don’t blather on about that which you know little about. These ‘scrap’ machines are better built than most everything on the market today, will be around long after the modern junk has fallen apart, and have tons of implements that will do everything from mowing to brush knockdown, garden plowing, tilling, blowing deep snow, and cutting small trees. Totally gear driven, and many are in constant use today and have even been converted to modern engines including diesels. Value singly is about $50 per hour.
Per horsepower, that should say.
Grew up with the electric start L tractor, 1966 ish thru 73 , wet dry didn’t matter, that 30″ bush hog ate anything including a chunk of flesh off my leg when the throttle lever got me, knees together or side saddle boys! Handle bars made a body builder out of ya !!
Great memories >>
tough machines 4 tough guys, got it all over “Dr”, Troy Built etc in terms of utility (soooooo many attachments) and power. But! ya gotta keep up, B aware!
Were they ever made in WVa?
Indeed, I know an elderly man that was in business with his brother up there selling and repairing them for years an years, he’s one old sulky ~
I still can’t remember why I sold my Gravely. I had a 12″ tiller blade for it and a 52″ deck. I fashioned a 6′ vertical drive shaft for it so I could dig post holes with it. Worked like a champ unless you hit a big root. Then it would dislocate your arm. Mine would always start on the second pull. I paid 50 bucks for that beast and used it for 15 years then sold it for 250 bucks. Even had two spare rims and tires for it. I didn’t even know they made a follow on seat for them. I never would have sold had I known that. Them gravely’s are a far better product than them corvettes sitting around. LOL
You rigged up a post hole digger attachment, brilliant, glad my dad didn’t know about that lol
We would take that Gravely and Blaze trails thru the Sawgrass in the old orange groves here in Florida, then ride our bikes through those trails!
Over the decades I’ve come to realize that those who own or owned a Gravely are the first to sing their praise, and those who never had one are quick to judge the single axle “freak”, because they generally don’t know the Gravely’s varied capabilities.
Wish I still had mine.