Nuffield Universal 3 – specifications
Built: 1957-1961 · Series: Universal
Data for the version built 1957-1961 · Data origin: Reference work (Wikipedia/Wikibooks) · sources
More machines from model year 1957
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The Nuffield Universal 3 is a tractor from the Universal series, built in 1957-1961. It runs on a three-cylinder engine.
It runs with 2-WD.
It is powered by diesel. As standard, it runs on 7.5 x 18 tyres at the front and 12 x 38 at the rear. It was replaced by the Nuffield 3/42.
Nuffield Universal (1948–1969) – the tractor of the Morris group: M3 and M4, DM4 and PM4, Universal Three and Four, BMC engines, kerosene to diesel, 26 to 41 kW
The Nuffield Universal was the tractor with which Lord Nuffield's Morris group entered farm machinery in 1948 – named after William Morris, Viscount Nuffield, and built first in Birmingham, from 1961 at the new BMC plant in Bathgate, Scotland. The type logic of the early years is a code system: M3 and M4 denote the Universal models with three and four wheels in row-crop and standard form, PM4 the petrol or kerosene engine (Petrol Morris), DM4 the diesel (Diesel Morris) – first a Perkins P4, from 1954 BMC's own 3.4-litre diesel. In 1957 the Universal Three brought a three-cylinder diesel for the smaller class, while the Universal Four remained the main model; suffixes such as 3DL and 4DM mark the versions. In 1969 Nuffield and BMC merged into Leyland, and the tractors continued as Leyland.
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The register lists 16 versions with 25.6 to 41 kW (28 to 49 hp), 2,550 to 4,425 cm³ with three or four cylinders, torque from 146 to 206 Nm, unladen weights from 1,760 to 2,650 kg, lengths from 2,820 to 3,295 mm, widths from 1,710 to 2,100 mm and heights from 1,562 to 2,051 mm; fuels range from kerosene and petrol on the early to diesel on the late models.
The Universal was Ferguson's and Fordson's British rival in the 40 hp class and was known for its orange livery, the engine from the Morris truck programme and the robust construction that keeps many examples running to this day.
Used Nuffields are sought-after British collector tractors; when buying, engine condition, originality of sheet metal and paint, gearbox and hydraulics and parts supply through the active Nuffield and Leyland club scene are what count.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Nuffield Universal, Nuffield Universal (Wikipedia)
Technical data
Engine
| Engine make | BMCcorrect |
|---|---|
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
| Power | 28 hpcorrect |
| Cylinders | 3correct |
| Displacement | ? cu. in (2.55 litre)correct |
| Bore | 3.9 inches (95 mm)correct |
| Stroke | 4.7 inches (120 mmcorrect |
| Naturally aspirated | naturally aspiratedcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Unladen weight | 5,650 lbcorrect |
|---|
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | unknowncorrect |
| Gearbox make | BMCcorrect |
| Forward gears | 5correct |
| Reverse gears | 1correct |
| Clutch | ?correct |
| Front tyres | 7.5 x 18correct |
| Rear tyres | 12 x 38correct |
Origin and approval
| Plant | Cowley, Oxford, till 1963; Bathgate, Scotlandcorrect |
|---|
Other data
| Successor | Nuffield 3/42correct |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Nuffield Universal 3 have?
The Nuffield Universal 3 delivers 28 hp.
What engine does the Nuffield Universal 3 have?
3 cylinders, Diesel.
When was the Nuffield Universal 3 built?
Production years: 1957-1961.
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 21 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
3
4
DM-4
M-3
M-4
PM-4
UNIVERSAL 4
UNIVERSAL-3 (3 DL)
UNIVERSAL-4 (4 DM)
Universal
Universal 4DM
Universal Four
Sources: Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki (CC BY-SA 3.0) (retrieved August 2026) · Values adopted and presented in our own form; changes from the source are possible. · Data sources and cross-checks
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