The NAA looks like an 8N that's been stretched a little, and sellers use "Jubilee," "NAA" and sometimes even "8N" for the same tractor. If you're looking at one, the questions that matter are whether it's really an NAA, whether it's a 1953 Golden Jubilee or a 1954 NAA, and whether the engine and live hydraulics that make it worth having still work.

This guide covers how to tell these tractors apart by features you can see, where Ford stamped the serial number (it moved), how to date it, and what to check before you buy.

What the NAA is

Production began in September 1952 at Highland Park, Michigan. The tractor was sold as the 1953 model in Ford Motor Company's 50th year, and Ford built 128,965 NAAs in all (Tractor Data). It replaced the Ford 8N with three major changes:

  • An overhead-valve engine, the 134 cu in "Red Tiger" four, in place of the 8N's 119.7 cu in flathead.
  • Live hydraulics. The NAA's hydraulic pump is driven by the engine and mounted on the right side of it, so the three-point hitch works with the clutch pushed in. On an 8N the lift stops when you clutch.
  • A bigger tractor overall, with a 73-7/8 inch wheelbase against the 8N's 70 inches and nearly 3 inches more height.

What didn't change is the PTO. It's still driven through the transmission, so it stops when you push the clutch in.

EngineFord "Red Tiger" 4-cylinder overhead-valve, 134 cu in (3.44 in bore x 3.60 in stroke), gasoline
Nebraska test (1953, Test 494)31.14 belt hp, 26.8 drawbar hp
Transmission4 forward, 1 reverse
HydraulicsEngine-driven pump (live), three-point hitch with position and draft control
Electrical6-volt, positive ground
BuiltSeptember 1952 to 1954 (1953 model: Golden Jubilee; 1954: NAA), 128,965 total

Telling an NAA from an 8N

  • The engine. Look at the top of the engine. The NAA has a valve cover over an overhead-valve head. The 8N's flathead is a flat cast head with the spark plugs screwed straight into it.
  • The hydraulic pump. On the NAA it's bolted to the right side of the engine. The 8N's pump is inside the rear housing, out of sight.
  • Size. The NAA is longer and taller, and the difference shows when the two are parked side by side.
  • The nose emblem. 1953 tractors carry a round emblem reading "Golden Jubilee Model 1903–1953." 1954 tractors have an emblem without that wording.
  • The serial prefix. "NAA" rather than "8N."
  • The quick test. With the engine running, push the clutch in and raise the lift. An NAA lifts. An 8N won't.

To tell an NAA from the 600-series tractor that replaced it, look at the rear wheel hubs. The NAA (like the 8N) has a large center nut showing in the middle of the rear hub, while the 600 and 800 series hubs are typically smooth (BrokenTractor). The Hundred Series model-number guide covers the later tractors.

Where the serial number is and how to read it

Ford stamped NAA serial numbers in two places over the run. On early tractors it's at the front of the engine block on the left side, up high just below the head. On later tractors it's on the left side of the transmission housing, where it joins the engine, near the starter (Tractor Data; Yesterday's Tractors forum). Check both places. A replaced engine or transmission can leave a tractor with two numbers, or none.

The number starts with "NAA." Starting numbers from Tractor Data:

  • 1952 (start of production): NAA 1
  • 1953: NAA 4,930
  • 1954: NAA 77,478
  • Last: NAA 128,965

Tractors from the start of production through the end of 1953 (below about 77,478) were sold as 1953 models and should wear the Golden Jubilee emblem. Higher numbers are 1954 NAAs.

Worked example (made-up numbers): a tractor stamped NAA 52310 on the transmission falls in the 1953 range. It should have the Golden Jubilee emblem, and if it has the plain one, the nose piece has likely been replaced. A tractor stamped NAA 101250 is a 1954 build, so a Jubilee emblem on it is a swap or a reproduction. That doesn't hurt it as a working tractor, but it matters if you're paying for originality.

What to check before you buy

  • Live hydraulics. Do the clutch-in lift test above, then raise an implement and let it sit a few minutes. It should hold without settling.
  • Hydraulic pump noise. Forum reports note that the NAA's pump can tick or rattle, and that noise can carry through the timing gears at the front of the engine. Listen at idle and at mid throttle.
  • The engine. Listen for valve train clatter, watch for blue smoke, check that the oil pressure comes up, and look at the dipstick and radiator for signs of coolant in the oil or oil in the coolant.
  • Front end. Rock a front wheel to check for worn spindle bushings and steering play.
  • Serial numbers and badge. Find the numbers and make sure they match the emblem you're paying for.

Mistakes to avoid

  • Dating it by the emblem alone. Emblems get swapped and reproduced. Forum members have reported 1953-range serial numbers with no Jubilee emblem. Go by the number.
  • Expecting a live PTO. The hydraulics are live, the PTO isn't. A rotary cutter still needs an overrunning coupler.
  • Ordering 8N engine parts. The NAA's overhead-valve 134 has a different bore, head and valve train from the 8N flathead. Some chassis parts are shared, but engine parts need to be ordered for the NAA. The same 134 cu in engine was used in the Ford 600 series and 700 series, but confirm the part number before you assume a fit.
  • Looking for the serial number in only one place. The location moved during production, so check both the front of the block and the transmission housing.
  • Grinding the stamping to read it. Use a wire brush, solvent and chalk instead.