Scania 142

Following that pattern, almost any combination can be worked out: a 143 is a 14-litre V8 from the 3-series, while the 4-series spanned inline and V8 engines from 9 to 16 litres (94, 114, 124, 144, 164). Only the 2004 model changeover brought a new system: from then on, the designation starts with the cab type — P, G, R or S — followed directly by engine output in horsepower, as in R 500.

After the cab/power code, Scania tractor units and chassis carry further letters describing bodywork and drivetrain: A denotes a tractor unit, B a chassis (rigid), plus the axle configuration such as 4x2 or 6x2, and an N in the code indicates air suspension — a typical example reads "R 500 A4x2NA": R cab, 500 hp, tractor unit, 4x2 axle configuration, air suspension.

For a vehicle sitting in the catch-all "other models" category, this means in practice that reading the digits and letters off the data plate or registration document usually lets you place the generation, engine size, cab, body type and suspension even without a proper series name. For pre-2004 vehicles, the last digit of the three-digit number almost always gives away the series; for newer ones, the letter combination after the horsepower figure supplies the rest.

In short: Scania's type codes are not arbitrary — they are two consecutive, internally consistent systems: displacement plus series up to 2004, then cab plus power plus body/axles/suspension after that. That means even a vehicle with no series name of its own can be technically classified purely from its designation. Anyone unsure can usually find the full designation on the data plate inside the cab or in the vehicle's registration papers.