FORCE 10, FROM BASILDON
Wind the clock back to the early 1980s and you’ll find yourself in an influential time for Ford and its tractors. While the great and the good were grappling with big hair, Spandex and shoulder pads, the boffins at Basildon were set to release the Series 10 tractor upon the world.
Replacing the 600 and 700s, the Series 10 – launched in September, 1981 – ushered in a more powerful, more modern and more productive range of machines that helped propel Ford tractors into a new age. But, apart from the smarter more up-to-date styling and the power hikes from stronger engines, it was the luxury of the first-ever synchromesh transmission that really caught the attention.
Unfortunately, the SynchroShift system – which helped to de-clutter the cab by moving the control levers from the floor to the steering column – wasn’t the greatest to use, in practice. It quickly developed a reputation for being awkward and cumbersome, and the difficulty that some found with gear selection led to it being referred to as the ‘Rubik’s Cube’ gearbox – a reference to the notoriously difficult puzzle that was all the rage at the time. That name stuck and you’ll still hear it used today.
