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FARM CLASSICS: The Italian Landini 880 series - Part 2

February 25th, 2026 10:00 AM

By Southern Star Team

FARM CLASSICS: The Italian Landini 880 series - Part 2 Image
A highly original and immaculate 1997 Landini 8880, purchased newly by John Cotter, Rathcormac. Keen eye readers will spot the ‘Zinc’ decal on the nose cone, as well as the rare inner wheel weights.

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The Landini 880 series proved to be a big hit with Irish farmers. A robust tractor, the 9880 has a punchy 95hp in a four-cylinder frame making it both powerful and manoeuvrable. It is a common sight to see these tractors fitted with a loader which makes them a perfect stockman’s machine.

One of the biggest issues with the 880 series lay in the cab, which was previously used in the MF600 tractors.

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While the layout of the cab was superior with the gearstick to the right of the operator, it suffered from severe rust issues. Manufactured by SIAC in Italy, the doors, and roof were particularly prone to rotting which was mainly due to process of pressing thin layers of sheet metal together to make the panels.

However, in damp climates this design led to moisture being held within the sheets of metal with led them to rust from the inside out, gaining these cabs on both MF and Landini tractors a poor reputation. Eager to rectify this, the metal was zinc coated on models mid production which can be easily spotted thanks to the ‘Zinc’ decals on the bonnet, as well as less corroded doors and roof skins.

The cab was further updated with the ‘Evolution’ model of the range in 1997 until production end in 2000. The cab featured full glass doors as well as a redesigned roof skin with extra working lights. The silver paintwork of the cab was also changed to black, along with the nosecone grille which became more rounded.

The fitting of a manual shuttle on the left of the dash console was another welcome addition along with a digital dashboard upgrade, while twin assistor rams boosted lift capacity to 3.7tons.

Even though the Landini 880 series were a ‘law of the lever’ with almost every function being mechanical, yet there were some technology package available, one being the ‘Landtronic’ electric rear linkage controls.

The black ‘Landtronic’ console which allowed the operator to adjust the rear linkage speed and draft using dials.

No-nonsense tractors, the Landini 880 series tractors are proven work horses with good second hand examples commanding strong resale prices. If you have one of these tractors, please get in touch.

Contact Peter at [email protected] or see Instagram @flashphotoscork

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