The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

Today I found that the Dexta bug had totally bitten as I found myself going to view another Dexta hoping to bring my compliment up to 2.

The Dexta was the early model however the casting code on the right hand side confused me. On my Dexta and all others I have seen, the code is 957E with Enfo and other numbers underneath. On this Dexta the code was M78 with enfo and a circle underneath.

Any ideas what this code means?

Thanks in advance,
NCFCDExta

Hope you bought it! It could be October 7th 1958 and be one of the only 144 made that year!

Hi Brian

Are you serious?! So is this what is known as a pre production Dexta?

Unfortunately, she has been stood under a tarp outside for 2 years and the radiator leaked when we filled it, and when a battery was connected it smoked and cracked a little although it did turn over!!

What other unique features would an early Dexta like this have? Does this make it more valuable?!

Thanks again.
NCFCDexta

Yes and No.

Yes .. There were only 144 Dextas built in 1958, late in the year, for the Smithfield Show, demonstrations and training before the main release in January 1959. We would need the serial number and other casting codes to confirm, Serial number could be between 957E 01 and 957E 144. Very possible, as the local Ford dealers at the time were among the largest in Great Britain and would be the ones to get early tractors. It could also have come from Boreham House via any one of the local dealers.

No .. She will not be a pre-production prototype, just a very early tractor with a few oddities like your casting number. Not worth a lot more than a normal one but of great interest to us Fordson nuts. (to quote Peter Love).

Sorry to be a spoiler but I thought it was 1957 that the first 144 Dextas were built. Wasn't it the 1957 Smithfield Show that it was firstd shown to the world

I think that there were over 20,000 built in 1958

You are right Chris, November 1957

I was reading the info from Alan Condie's book he has got it wrong, I must admit I looked twice before writing it but did not check my parts book.

Still be interested in the other numbers just in case though.

Oh thats a shame! I am not lucky enough for things like that to happen to me!

I must admit I didnt make a note of the other numbers

Interestingly, it was fitted with industrial wings, a type of drawbar I have not seen before, had no ignition key and no warning lights on the upper dash panel.