9 material differences · fewer than 12
Tractor oneDavid Brown 12121971–1976No measured PTO figureTractor twoRenault 385 / R 781963–1967No measured PTO figure
Which should you choose?
Read our verdict on the 1212 and the 385 / R 78 → It is generated from the rows below by a fixed, versioned rule set, and names the figure behind every call.
Field by field
9 material differences · 5 fields identical or within 5%, which is not counted as material
| Field | 1212 | 385 / R 78 | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | |||
| Engine power, claimed claimed | 71 hp | 54.3 hp | +31% 1212 |
| Engine declared | DAVID BROWN AD 4/55 A | RENAULT-ALFA 591-30 | differs |
| Displacement declared | 3.60 L | 3.02 L | +19% 1212 |
| Maximum torque declared | 182 lb·ft · 247 N·m | 130 lb·ft · 177 N·m | +40% 1212 |
| Transmission | |||
| Top speed declared | 15.5–18.6 mph · 25–30 km/h | 15.5 mph · 25 km/h | differs |
| Clutch declared | Dry double clutch | dry Borg-Beck double clutch with two-stage pedal actuation | differs |
| Hydraulics & hitch | |||
| Pump flow declared | 8.7 gpm · 33.0 L/min | 6.9 gpm · 26.0 L/min | +27% 1212 |
| Rear PTO speeds declared | 540 rpm | 540 rpm | — |
| Weight & dimensions | |||
| Unladen weight declared | 5,997 lb · 2,720 kg | 5,818 lb · 2,639 kg | — |
| Wheelbase declared | 88.5 in · 2,249 mm | 87.6 in · 2,225 mm | — |
| Length declared | 133.3 in · 3,386 mm | 153.0 in · 3,885 mm | +15% 385 / R 78 |
| Width declared | 69.5 in · 1,765 mm | 74.8–94.5 in · 1,900–2,400 mm | differs |
| Ground clearance declared | 21.3 in · 540 mm | 16.5 in · 420 mm | +29% 1212 |
| Turning radius, braked declared | 11.7 ft · 3.58 m | 12.1 ft · 3.70 m | — |
| Fuel tank declared | 86.3 qt · 81.7 L | 84.5 qt · 80.0 L | — |
Height is not in this table. It is not one measurement: the sources measure it to different points — over the cab on some machines, over the steering wheel or the exhaust on others — and the same tractor measured two ways can differ by most of a metre. It appears here only when both machines' figures carry the point they were measured to and it is the same point, which is not the case for these two. Each machine's own page prints its height as its source gives it.
David Brown 1212 sources
- Source: Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 1212”
- Source: Traktorenlexikon, “David Brown 1200”
Renault 385 / R 78 sources
- Source: Traktorenlexikon, “Renault 385/R 78”
- Source: Traktorenlexikon, “Renault Master 2 R78”