Fahr D 12 N
Built: 1953–1954 · Series: D
More machines from model year 1953
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
Fahr D series – Gottmadingen tractors of the 1950s and 1960s: type logic, engines, use
The D series covers the diesel tractors that the Fahr machine works in Gottmadingen on Lake Constance built from the first post-war decade into the early 1960s. Fahr had grown large mainly as a maker of harvesting machinery; its own tractors were developed in partnership with Deutz, which also supplied the air-cooled engines. That link explains why the series ended when Fahr was absorbed into Deutz in the 1960s.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The type designation follows a simple logic: D stands for diesel, the number roughly indicates the power or size class, and appended letters mark the variants – N for the standard version, H for the version with hydraulics, L and W separate field and vineyard variants on the later models, T marks special versions. In the register the range runs from 636 to 5,320 cm³ of displacement with one to six cylinders, output from 8.1 to 47.8 kW, and unladen weight from 790 to 3,500 kg.
Typical of the period are the small one- and two-cylinder machines such as the D 12 and D 130 for farms of a few hectares, while the big four- and six-cylinder models formed the top of the range. Top speeds between 12.8 and 33 km/h show the shift from a pure field tractor to a road-capable machine within a few model years.
When buying used, what matters today is the condition of the air-cooled engine, leak-free gearbox and hydraulics, and parts availability through the Deutz connection. Fahr D tractors are collector vehicles with an active club scene; in daily work they mostly appear at vintage meets and on part-time farms.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Fahr D, Fahr (Landmaschinen) (Wikipedia)
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 12 hp (8.8 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 2,000 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 1correct |
| Displacement | 815 cm³correct |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 2,470 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,470 mmcorrect |
| Height | 1,450 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 1,540 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 390 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 1,100 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 5V/1R or 10V/2Rcorrect |
| Front tyres | 4.50-16 ASFcorrect |
| Rear tyres | 7-24 AScorrect |
| Top speed | 19.8 km/hcorrect |
Working data
| Fuel tank capacity | 25 lcorrect |
|---|
Origin and approval
| Construction | frameless unit constructioncorrect |
|---|---|
| Units built | 930correct |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 8 kW/t (9 kW / 1.1 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 2% of the tractors in the register — out of 15,663 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Fahr D 12 N have?
The Fahr D 12 N delivers 12 hp.
How much does the Fahr D 12 N weigh?
The unladen weight is 1,100 kg.
What engine does the Fahr D 12 N have?
1 cylinders, 815 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the Fahr D 12 N go?
Top speed is 19.8 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the Fahr D 12 N?
2,470 mm × 1,470 mm × 1,450 mm.
When was the Fahr D 12 N built?
Production years: 1953–1954.
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 the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- 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.
We do not sell machines. We ask the dealers who carry this model and come back with price and lead time.
Request a quote →
We ask the suppliers and come back with price and lead time.
Request spare parts →
This page carries 22 individual figures for this model. They come from 2 recorded sources; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
Missing a figure you were looking for? Report it →
Know this machine better? Have a photo, a manual, or know that a figure is wrong? Add it to the register →
Other models in this series
Tractor in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.