Renault 385 / R 78
Built: 2/1963–7/1967 · Series: Master-Serie
More machines from model year 1963
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Renault Master: early four-wheel-drive technology from the 1960s, 55 to 60 hp, four-cylinder diesels, standard or four-wheel-drive version
Alongside the Super series, Renault Agriculture ran the Master series through the 1960s, already consistently offered with four-wheel drive too — not a given in French tractor building at the time.
Read on 4 more paragraphs
The register lists 7 live models, from 385/R 77 to Master-1 TP, built between 1963 and 1970. Output ranges from 40.5 to 44.2 kW, or 55 to 60 hp, weight from 2,570 to 3,120 kg, displacement from 2,672 to 3,017 cm3, all with four-cylinder engines.
Running "Master 1" and "Master 1 (4x4)" in parallel shows that customers could choose between standard and four-wheel-drive versions of the same base machine — an early example of the modular approach Renault Agriculture pursued later.
At a uniform 55-60 hp, the Master series sat in the upper mid-range of its time, above the smaller Super series.
When buying a used example of this early Renault series, clutch and mechanical gearbox condition, and on the 4x4 versions the front axle and transfer gearbox as well, plus rust on chassis, mudguards and the radiator surround after decades of field use, all matter. Parts for this early series now run mainly through independent farm-machinery workshops and used-parts dealers, since Renault Agriculture was later fully absorbed into the Claas group. PTO and three-point hitch correspond in this power class to ISO 730 Category I, at 540 rpm.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Renault Master-Serie
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 55 hp (40.5 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 2,500 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 4correct |
| Displacement | 3,017 cm³correct |
| Bore | 98 mmcorrect |
| Stroke | 100 mmcorrect |
| Compression ratio | 20.5correct |
| Injection pressure | 103 barcorrect |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 3,885 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,900 mmcorrect |
| Height | 1,680 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 2,225 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 420 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 2,639 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 10V/2Rcorrect |
| Forward gears | 10correct |
| Reverse gears | 2correct |
| Front tyres | 6.50-20 ASFcorrect |
| Rear tyres | 14.9-28 AScorrect |
| Top speed | 25 km/hcorrect |
Working data
| Fuel tank capacity | 80 lcorrect |
|---|
Origin and approval
| Construction | unit construction (no separate frame)correct |
|---|---|
| Units built | 1,917correct |
Other data
| Linkage category | Cat Icorrect |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 15.3 kW/t (40 kW / 2.6 t)
Power class: Universal (40–100 hp)
Stronger than 38% 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 Renault 385 / R 78 have?
The Renault 385 / R 78 delivers 55 hp.
How much does the Renault 385 / R 78 weigh?
The unladen weight is 2,639 kg.
What engine does the Renault 385 / R 78 have?
4 cylinders, 3,017 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the Renault 385 / R 78 go?
Top speed is 25 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the Renault 385 / R 78?
3,885 mm × 1,900 mm × 1,680 mm.
When was the Renault 385 / R 78 built?
Production years: 2/1963–7/1967.
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.
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This page carries 29 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; 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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Other models in this series
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Tractor in 3D section
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