David Brown 1200
Built: 1967-1971 · Series: Other models
Successor: 1210 →
More machines from model year 1967
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
The David Brown 1200 is a tractor built in 1967-1971. It runs on a four-cylinder engine.
Power is transmitted through a manual and Selectamatic gearbox, drive type: 2-WD or 4-WD from 1970.
It runs on diesel; the engine is water-cooled. As standard, it runs on 7.5 x 16 tyres at the front and 13.6 x 38 at the rear. It was replaced by the David Brown 1210. 18,989 units were built.
David Brown – other models: from the VAK1 to the Selectamatic ranges from Meltham, 10.6 to 69.9 kW, two- to six-cylinder engines, diesel, TVO paraffin and petrol
This collective page gathers David Brown tractors outside the named series. From 1936 the company built the Ferguson-Brown Type A jointly with Harry Ferguson, then went it alone from 1939 at Meltham near Huddersfield in England. In 1965 it introduced the Selectamatic range (880, 990, 995) with a new control concept for hydraulics and the power take-off. In 1972 the American group Tenneco took over the marque through Case, and by the 1980s David Brown had been fully absorbed into Case. Alongside diesel, many British models also offered paraffin carburettor engines on the TVO (Tractor Vaporising Oil) principle, or plain petrol.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 82 versions from 10.6 to 69.9 kW with two- to six-cylinder engines of 1,262 to 5,392 cm³. Unladen weights range from 950 to 3,356 kg, lengths from 2,230 to 4,250 mm, widths from 1,110 to 2,350 mm, and torque from 156 to 329 Nm.
David Brown ranked among the major British tractor makers alongside Ferguson, Fordson and International Harvester, supplying mainly the domestic and Commonwealth markets. The Selectamatic technology of the 1960s was regarded as advanced and influenced later Case ranges.
When buying older paraffin and TVO models, check the carburettor and pre-heating system; on Selectamatic models, check the hydraulic spool valves and PTO clutch. Rust on wings and gearbox housings is common on post-war British tractors, and spares today come mainly through specialists in classic British farm machinery and the Case IH network.
Sources: Kennwerte der Modelle David Brown (weitere Modelle)
Technical data
Engine
| Engine make | David Browncorrect |
|---|---|
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
| Power | 67 hp pre 1968 (diesel); 72 hp after 1968 hpcorrect |
| Rated speed | 2,300 rpmcorrect |
| Torque | 231 Nmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 4correct |
| Displacement | 3,595 cm³ (220 cu in (3.6 litre))correct |
| Bore | 3.94 " (100 mm)correct |
| Stroke | 4.5 " (114 mm)correct |
| Naturally aspirated | naturally aspiratedcorrect |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 11' 11" (3.65 m)correct |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,320 mmcorrect |
| Width | 5' 8" (1.75 m) (min track)correct |
| Height | 1,711 mmcorrect |
| Height | 8' 4" (2.55 m) (over safety cab)correct |
| Wheelbase | 7' 5" (2.25 m)correct |
| Turning circle | 13' (4 m) (2-wd)correct |
| Unladen weight | 6, 200 lb (2, 850 kg)correct |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | manual gearbox or Selectamaticcorrect |
| Gearbox make | David Browncorrect |
| Forward gears | 6 or 12correct |
| Reverse gears | 2 or 4correct |
| Clutch | Double dry plate (hand PTO clutch)correct |
| Front tyres | 7.5 x 16correct |
| Rear tyres | 13.6 x 38correct |
| Top speed | 25 km/hcorrect |
Working data
| Fuel tank capacity | 81.8 l (? gal)correct |
|---|
Origin and approval
| Plant | Meltham W. Yorkshire, Englandcorrect |
|---|---|
| Units built | approximately 18, 989 builtcorrect |
Other data
| Linkage category | Cat IIcorrect |
|---|---|
| PTO speed | 540/1000 rpmcorrect |
| Successor | David Brown 1210correct |
Frequently asked questions
What engine does the David Brown 1200 have?
4 cylinders, 3,595 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the David Brown 1200 go?
Top speed is 25 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the David Brown 1200?
2,320 mm × 1,711 mm.
When was the David Brown 1200 built?
Production years: 1967-1971.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check front and rear tyre sizes: mismatched pairs strain the drivetrain.
- Shift the gearbox cold and warm — jumps only show up at temperature.
- Load the hydraulics and watch for sag.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 39 individual figures for this model. They come from 3 recorded sources; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
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