To sell or not to sell... That is the question

[edc_1110]

I recently posted my 1970 Cub Cadet 73 on craig's list, due to the fact that I need the cash to buy a new Cub gt2100 that I fell in love with the other day at my local dealership. My wheel horse 520h has been dying a slow death for the last couple of summers and I've grown weary of fixing it. So I sold it... I still need plenty of money to purchase the new tractor I want so my Dad told me I could sell the old cub to help out. I didnt know what to ask for so I listed it at $500. I got a responce from a fella that has had a few of Cubs over the years and after listning to some advise from him I responded with this email. I was taken back by my memories and thought it was a good introduction for me to post on this thread... So here ya go...


Donny, first off.... I thank you so much for the response I'm really going into this blind and you have finally shed some light on things. I figured the price was high, I've seen them sell for $400 completely restored. I guess in a way I really don't want to sell it, mainly due to sentimental value. This mower was the first thing I ever drove. It was my grandfathers tractor, who passed many years ago, he sold it to my Dad in the late 70's when He moved to Minnesota I really never saw him after that. I was about 7 years old when I started mowing grass for my dad who worked on the road for Conrail and wasn't home much. I used to have a wooden block strapped to the clutch pedal so I could reach it. When I wasn't mowing with it, I just drove it around, up to my fort in the woods, down to the creek to go fishing and out our 1/2 mile lane to get the mail. It's also how I learned to back up a trailer. Once my Dad told me that for a whole day that I could only drive it in reverse. With the trailer hooked up! So I did, all day long. By the end of that day I was backing that trailer up full speed the whole way from the mail box to the shooting range and then back to the house (that's a 1.5 mile round trip). I'm not sure what the horse power of the motor is. It was replaced before I was old enough to remember, but I do know its way bigger than the 7 horse it came with. When I was not being watched I used to dump the clutch in 3rd gear and spin the tires for a good 5 feet or so! Later on I figured out that in gravel I could do donuts till I was dizzy, that was always good for showing off to my friends until one day while on my forth or fifth time around in front of my Buddy's none the less, I rolled it! I've never even told my Dad that story.

Well if your still reading this and haven't fallen asleep, I may just pull the thing off of Craig's list and restore it. My daughter saw it for the first time when I pulled it out of the barn the other day and thought it was the coolest thing in the world. She's almost 16 I bet by the time she's my age (almost 40) it will have gained some value, and maybe she will be typing the same kinda story to some other guy whom she never met........

Thanks again Donny, now Ive got some thinking to do....

Ed

[johncub7172]

Donny,
Welcome to OCC! The best IH Cub Cadet Forum on the net! I have not yet a chance to operate a nice,new CC 2100. But I'am leaning toward the 73 you have. A restored 73 could bring in more than 400., IMO. Nice to have you along!

[Cubcrazy]

Keep the 73!

[MrGitrdone41]

I bought my 73 for 100$ with no mower it run great and put 250$ in it and sold it for 500$ and restored it. I say redo it and keep it if you have a mower on it. The cubs are NOT like the old ones at all. ur 73 will out last a new cub.

[ACecil]

Originally Posted by Cubcrazy

Keep the 73!

Welcome to OCC! I agree with Mike.

[TSWolf]

Definitely keep it and fix it up. Sentimental value can not be replaced, and you would likely never get your grandfather's tractor back. I wish I had a tractor that belonged to any of my ancestors. Although the new Cub may not be built to the standards of the old ones, it is FAR more convenient to mow with. My Suggestion:Keep the old one as a toy, something to use every now and then for pulling a cart, etc., wait and save a little more, and buy the new one also. It will be well worth it in the long run. You will never regret buying the new once you mow with both and compare them, and you will definitely not regret keeping the family heirloom.

[edc_1110]

Thanks for the warm welcome! Just heard from my wife that my brother-in-law had an old cub also growing up and wants to help me restore it.

Well alrighty then first thing.... New tires!

Here we go!

[nikster]

Do memories have a price?

As stated - you'd regret it one day if you sold it.

My parents retired to Wisconsin. Back in the 60's I mowed a lawn for a neighbor of theirs on the weekends. Don't remember the model but it was yellow & a cadet. My Father asked me why I used to use it to cut our lawn? He had a crapsman.

NIK,

[JayJay]

edc_1110: If you're lucky, your daughter's SON will treat the tractor just like you did and HIS son will restore it one day.

Also, involving your daughter in the restore would be a good experience. The trick to involving a teenager is letting them determine the level of their participation.

Enjoy and good luck.

Jeremiah

[Cub Cadet 123]

The 73 is one of the more rare cubs-as far as production numbers and the last of the narrow frame economy line. It's only worth a couple hundred at most now, but your memories are priceless and by what you wrote, someone else in your family already likes it. I think your question was rhetorical in the sense that you already know the answer to it. There are many things in this world that catch your eye....but only a few that will ever catch your heart, and those are the things worth pursuing!

Cub Cadet 123