Even if you go to a show where Massey-Harris and Massey Ferguson tractors are featured, you may not find one of these on the grounds. You will likely find Massey-Harris 44’s, 55’s, maybe even 101’s or Ponys and Colts, and Massey Ferguson 35’s and 65’s — but a Massey Ferguson 97 may be a tougher find.

This one belongs to Andy Brown of Delaware County, Ind. It was an attention-getter parked in Pioneer Village at the 2019 Indiana State Fair.

Brown lists it as a 1961 model. On tractordata.com, the earliest serial numbers listed are for 1962, but then, it’s an unusual tractor from the start. According to this website, Minneapolis-Moline made this model for Massey Ferguson, and the then-newly-formed company distributed it through its dealer network.

Supposedly, the Massey Ferguson 97 was based on the Moline G705 two-wheel-drive and G706 four-wheel-drive tractors. It was offered in both 2wd and 4wd configurations. It rated at 108 hp, although it was considered a seven-bottom tractor back when tractors were compared by how many moldboard plow bottoms they could pull.

The 97 was available in diesel and gas versions, but diesel was far more popular. It appears only about 400 propane models left the factory. Both versions featured 8.6-liter, six-cylinder engines. It listed for $6,943 in 1964. LP production ground to a halt early in 1965, although a reasonable number of diesel units were produced that year, according to serial number records.

The Massey Ferguson 97 featured disc brakes and weighed just a touch over 4 tons.