Arguably the oldest operating gas engine tractor in the world, Hart-Parr No.3 was brought back to life in 2003 for her centennial celebration.  A joint effort of the Hart-Parr Oliver Collectors Association, the I&I Antique Tractor and Gas Engine Club, and the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, Behring Center, the tractor was removed from storage and transported to Greenville, Illinois where the preservation and refurbishing took place.  This was a preservation effort, the only repairs made were those necessary to return the tractor to safe running condition.  The "battle scars" of her working days were preserved while researching and bringing the machine back to as near original appearance as possible.  A new canopy was fabricated to replace the original which had been lost somewhere along it's path through history.  Several new engine parts had to be fabricated to replace those too worn or damaged to be reused.  

The engine was stuck when it arrived at the shop, but in a matter of hours it had been freed and was turning easily.  Even though she had been overhauled and restored the Hart Parr company repurchased the tractor from the original owner, the restorers were surprised to find how many of the original engine parts from 1903 were still in place and usable.  New piston rings, repoured babbitt bearing and a few bushings were mainly what was required.  Upon starting the engine the first time, it was discovered that new bushing were needed in the governor, and later rebuilding of one of the ignitors had her running on both cylinders for the first time in well over 50 years.