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Ford 3600 vs Farmtrac 60: which is worth restoring?

Restored Ford 3600 tractor at Malhotra Modifiers workshop

These two come through our gate more than any other pair of models — the Ford 3600 has been our signature machine since the workshop's earliest years, and the Farmtrac 60 is the tractor most farmers across Haryana still bring in for a full rebuild. If you're deciding which one to take on, here's how they actually compare on the shop floor.

Parts availability

The Ford 3600 is an older design with a smaller surviving population, so certain trim pieces and decals are harder to source new and are more often re-fabricated in-house rather than bought off the shelf. The Farmtrac 60 is newer and still in wide use, so mechanical parts — filters, gaskets, hydraulics — are generally easier to source quickly, which can shorten the turnaround.

Typical condition found

Because the Ford 3600 is older, most units that come in have deeper rust and more sun-worn paint, meaning more time spent on sandblasting and panel repair before any primer goes on. Farmtrac 60 units are usually mechanically tireder — worn hydraulics, tired clutches — from heavier recent field use, rather than years of sitting idle.

What the rebuild involves

Both follow our standard five-stage process — strip-down, sandblasting, primer and paint, engine and hydraulics, then testing and handover — but where the hours go differs:

Which should you choose?

If you want a classic-look machine and don't mind a longer bodywork phase, the Ford 3600 is the more rewarding restoration — it's the tractor this workshop was built on. If you want something back in working field condition sooner, with a straightforward mechanical rebuild, the Farmtrac 60 is usually the faster job. Either way, the honest answer is the same one we give every customer: send us photos of the actual unit, and we'll tell you what it needs before you commit to anything.

Have a Ford 3600 or Farmtrac 60 you're thinking about restoring?

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