GO LARGE!
If you fancy a large, 1970s classic tractor, they don’t come any bigger than the articulated MF 1200. This is a beast of a machine that, having been developed in America, was built by Massey Ferguson at its industrial works in Barton Dock Road, Manchester, between 1971 and 1979.
This massive, articulated tractor followed the design footsteps of the more powerful, American 1500 and 1800 models, and featured the same, ‘hard-nosed’ style of bonnet with side-mounted air intake stalk and pre-cleaner element, plus a very square-looking cab. The pivot for the 1200’s articulated steering set-up was also similar but, at the rear, an integrated three-point hitch was developed to provide the sort of implement versatility needed for the European market.
Power a plenty!
Power was delivered by a Perkins A6.354, 5.8-litre, six-cylinder diesel engine producing 105hp at 2,400rpm which, back in the early 1970s, was right at the top of the scale here on the home market. The engine’s output was transmitted to the wheels via a 12-speed Multi-Power transmission, or an optional, eight-speed gearbox.
The MF 1200 had been designed from the outset as a 4WD tractor, and it rode on large, equal-sized wheels that ensured plenty of ground clearance. These were bolted onto a pair of axles taken from the MF 188, and the tractor’s central articulation allowed the front and rear wheels to tilt independently, enhancing rough ground performance. A powerful hydraulic ram turned the machine around its central pivot, with the engine and cab on the front half allowing the driver to face forwards at all times, while the rear wheels followed in the tracks of
