Aaron gets the Tricked Out Tractor treatment

The three part series features a group of petrol heads who have been restoring beloved vintage tractor models, building custom one-of-a-kind monster machines and crafting bespoke rebuilds for BBC Northern Ireland’s, Tricked-Out Tractors.

Aaron Taylor saw his vintage tractor restored by the expert team for the series.

The series, filmed mainly before current Covid-19 restrictions, continues on BBC One Northern Ireland on Monday, November 2, at 7.35pm - with ‘Return of the Fordson’, which sees Markethill farmer Aaron bring in a rust ridden almost 100-year-old Fordson Model F.

This immediately puts the team to the test as they set about restoring it back to its former glory.

Aaron’s life has always been surrounded by tractors. Growing up, his dad had more than one knocking about the yard – with Aaron himself all too keen to get into the driving seat any chance he could get.

As he grew up, the interest in tractors remained – and he wasn’t just looking the top range vehicles, vintage was just as cool. This was the philosophy when he spotted a model rusting away in the hedge of a fellow enthusiast’s yard one day.

A tractor swap later would reveal this old model to be a unique 1925 Fordson F with a strange three-point linkage system.

This was something different, but it desperately needed fixing up if it was to hit the road again.

That’s where the Tricked Out Tractor team come in – but will they be able to teach an old engine new tricks while still keeping it’s vintage feel?

And when owner Aaron from County Armagh shows them an interesting signature on the side of the tractor the gang call in an expert to find out if the tractor could be worth a lot of money.

Together master mechanic Tylor Cartin from Claudy, County Londonderry; restoration guru Stephen Lennon from Loughbrickland, County Down, and machinery expert Darren Bailey from Portlaoise have been tackling mechanical mess ups and major makeovers.

The trio have worked on complicated tractor builds, ground up restorations, and cutting edge designs in this new one of a kind resto-mod series. All done while taking on the pressures of hard to get parts and difficult deadlines.

Viewers will see the team go wild with paint schemes, get hands on with engine upgrades, have fun out and about go karting, and getting inspiration from a custom car show.

From an almost 100-year-old Fordson, to a champion winning pulling tractor and a classic red Porsche, the TOT workshop has been graced with some of the most sought after tractors around.

Tylor Cartin said: “In this series I’m the chief mechanic/technician. I do the engine work, anything mechanical on the tractor that needs replaced. You have to have a strong backbone, but I just have had so much craic working with the guys.

Stephen Lennon said: “This series is something new and completely different. It has big entertainment value and you might just learn something about tractors and the history of tractors too!”

Darren Bailey said: “It’s amazing how we have taken tractors destined for the scrapheap and transformed them into basically shiny new shoes again.”

The final programme, Cruisin’ In My ‘674, a family heirloom tractor is now in the hands of 17-year-old Jason McVerry from Belleeks, County Armagh, who wants to have it tricked out.

For this International 674, new metalwork, windows, and doors are just the beginning of the transformation. Tylor thinks up some modern touches for this classic tractor, with some encouragement from tractor pulling expert, Darren.

Markethill woman’s work ethic earns BEM - read here.

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