On the 14th of February 1984, Truro Tractors opened for business in the old mill at Threemilestone. Originally established to retail and repair second-hand Ford tractors, and supply Ford tractor parts, the business grew quickly. It became a dealership for Same Tractors and moved to bigger premises one year later.

Truro Tractors was established by Martin and Ernestine Stephens. Martin had learned his trade as an agricultural engineer, and had years of experience in machinery sales, as well as running a dealership. A family business, their first son Jeremy worked at Truro Tractors from the outset, and within the first year of trading, their other son Jonathan had joined them.  (Grandson James joined Truro Tractors in 2013).

Ford and New Holland parts were the main part of the business in the early days, but other sundries were sold, and hydraulic pipes were made up and repaired on-site.