Richard Hammond Sparks Laughter With Tractor Restoration Plans – and a Surprise Pantomime Tease
Richard Hammond, best known for his high-octane escapades on Top Gear and The Grand Tour, has turned his attention to something altogether slower – and arguably shinier. In a new video on his DRIVETRIBE YouTube channel, the presenter unveiled ambitious plans to restore a vintage Massey Ferguson 35 tractor, only for the light-hearted discussion to veer off into a debate about chrome finishes, ballooning budgets, and even pantomime.
The video opens with Hammond standing beside the classic tractor, beaming with pride. “There he is, mate. Hello. Welcome. This is it,” he said, patting the bonnet of the machine. “Yeah, that’s a 35. I know it is. That’s a really nice tractor.”
But it didn’t take long before the conversation turned from admiration to modification. Hammond, clearly brimming with ideas, suggested stripping the tractor down to under 750kg, removing the roof, pulling out the internals, and “chroming the bonnet and the wheel arches.”
When pressed on his choice, Hammond was quick with his answer. “Which bits do you want to chrome?” his co-presenter asked. “The red bits,” Hammond replied firmly, before adding that the other areas should be coated with Hammerite black. “That’s your world,” he conceded with a smile, “and this is my world.”
The Budget Bombshell
As the restoration fantasies grew ever more elaborate, Hammond was hit with the topic he least enjoys: money. “Do you want to talk prices and budget?” he was asked. His response was immediate. “Everything costs too much money,” he sighed, shaking his head.
The figures soon came tumbling out – and with them, his disbelief. To strip the tractor, remove all the gubbins inside, machine the parts, and chrome the bonnet could cost as much as £20,000. Hammond was incredulous. “£20,000 to paint a tractor?” he exclaimed, before repeating the figure as though trying to make sense of it.
For viewers familiar with Hammond’s well-documented love of classic vehicles – from motorbikes to muscle cars – the moment provided a classic dose of humour: the former motoring star caught between his passion for restoration and his reluctance to hand over large sums of cash.
Enter Stage Left: Panto
Just when the tractor talk seemed to be winding down, the conversation took an unexpected turn – straight into theatre land. Hammond was teased about being involved in pantomime season in Swindon, an accusation he met with his trademark mix of outrage and laughter.
“I’m not doing panto,” he protested. “I’m not.”
“You are,” came the response, with a mischievous grin. “You know you’re in the show. In a big way. Your contribution is immense – and in some ways not dignified.”
The back-and-forth continued, with Hammond adamant that he hadn’t done anything to warrant being part of the production, while his co-presenter assured him that he already had. The image of the petrolhead-turned-farmer donning theatrical tights or appearing on stage as a panto character left viewers in stitches.
More Than Just a Tractor
Behind the humour, there was also a glimpse of Hammond’s enduring fascination with engineering and mechanics. The Massey Ferguson 35 is an icon of agricultural machinery, renowned for its reliability and straightforward design. Restoring one is no small feat, and Hammond’s willingness to get stuck into the project reflects the same curiosity that once sent him hurtling around racetracks at breakneck speeds.
Still, the financial reality looms large. With restoration costs spiralling into the tens of thousands, Hammond joked about his dwindling bank balance, but the passion for bringing old machines back to life was evident throughout the exchange.
Fans React
The video, like many of Hammond’s DRIVETRIBE uploads, has already sparked lively discussions among fans. Viewers relished the mixture of practical restoration talk and tongue-in-cheek banter, with many pointing out that Hammond’s humour shines brightest when he’s juggling both.
For some, the thought of Hammond in pantomime proved almost as entertaining as the tractor project itself. “I’d pay to see him in a panto,” one fan commented, while another quipped, “Forget the chrome tractor – get him on stage in Swindon!”
Others were more focused on the mechanics, debating whether chroming a tractor bonnet is sacrilege or inspired, and questioning if the £20,000 estimate really holds up in today’s restoration market.
Hammond’s New Chapter
Since leaving Top Gear, Hammond has kept himself busy with The Grand Tour, his classic car restoration business, and a string of online projects. Farming, restoration, and now the occasional theatrical rumour all play into his post-BBC life – one that fans continue to follow with enthusiasm.
The latest tractor episode is a reminder of what made Hammond so beloved on television in the first place: not just his genuine knowledge of vehicles, but his ability to laugh at himself, question absurdities, and keep audiences entertained even when the subject is as humble as an old Massey Ferguson.
Whether the tractor ends up stripped, chromed, or left exactly as it is, viewers can be certain of one thing: Richard Hammond’s restoration journey will be anything but boring. And as for pantomime? That, it seems, remains to be seen.