Nuffield UNIVERSAL THREE – specifications
Built: 1961 · Series: Universal
Data for the version built 1961 · Data origin: Official register · sources
More machines from model year 1961
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
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
| Cylinders | 3correct |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 2,551 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 2,840 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,730 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 1,760 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Gears | 5correct |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Nuffield UNIVERSAL THREE weigh?
The unladen weight is 1,760 kg.
What engine does the Nuffield UNIVERSAL THREE have?
3 cylinders, 2,551 cm³ displacement.
What are the dimensions of the Nuffield UNIVERSAL THREE?
2,840 mm × 1,730 mm.
When was the Nuffield UNIVERSAL THREE built?
Production years: 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 the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- 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 7 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.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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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: Traficom — Finnish vehicle register (retrieved August 2026) · Data sources and cross-checks
Tractor in 3D section
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