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Nuffield Universal

16 models in this series

The Universal series from Nuffield comprises 16 models.

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)

Models compared

12 of 13 models.

	31957–1962	41954–1962	DM-41950–1954	M-31948–1954	M-41948–1957	PM-41951–1957	UNIVERSAL 41957-1961	UNIVERSAL-3 (3 DL)1957–1961	UNIVERSAL-4 (4 DM)08/1954–11/1961	Universal1960	Universal 4DM	Universal Four1957-1962
Power	25.6 kW	32.9 kW	33.5 kW	28.3 kW	28.3 kW	35.8 kW	30 kW	27.6 kW	40.2 kW	28.5 kW	37.5 kW	38 kW
Rated speed	2,000 rpm	–	2,000 rpm	2,000 rpm	2,000 rpm	2,000 rpm	–	2,000 rpm	2,000 rpm	2,000 rpm	–	–
Linkage category	–	–	Cat I	Cat I	Cat I	Cat I	–	–	–	Cat I	–	–
Cylinders	3	4	4	4	4	4	4	3	4	–	4	4
Displacement	2,553 cm³	3,404 cm³	3,153 cm³	3,770 cm³	3,770 cm³	3,770 cm³	3,400 cm³	2,552 cm³	3,402 cm³	3,160 cm³	3,400 cm³	3,402 cm³
Torque	–	–	176 Nm	187 Nm	187 Nm	200 Nm	–	146 Nm	206 Nm	146 Nm	–	–
Fuel tank capacity	–	–	63.6 l	72.7 l	63.6 l	63.6 l	–	–	–	52 l	–	–
Forward gears	–	–	5	5	5	5	5	–	–	5	–	–
Reverse gears	–	–	1	1	1	1	1	–	–	1	–	–
Top speed	20 km/h	20 km/h	28 km/h	28 km/h	28 km/h	28 km/h	–	20 km/h	25 km/h	20 km/h	–	–
Wheelbase	1,850 mm	1,980 mm	1,981 mm	2,108 mm	1,981 mm	1,981 mm	–	1,850 mm	1,981 mm	1,850 mm	–	–
Length	2,820 mm	3,090 mm	3,086 mm	3,200 mm	3,086 mm	3,086 mm	3,090 mm	2,920 mm	3,091 mm	2,970 mm	3,295 mm	3,080 mm
Width	1,730 mm	2,100 mm	1,753 mm	2,032 mm	1,753 mm	1,753 mm	2,100 mm	1,720 mm	1,750 mm	1,730 mm	1,725 mm	1,710 mm
Height	1,920 mm	2,050 mm	2,051 mm	1,562 mm	2,051 mm	2,051 mm	–	1,920 mm	2,050 mm	1,920 mm	–	–
Unladen weight	1,840 kg	2,040 kg	2,266 kg	2,199 kg	2,062 kg	2,062 kg	2,300 kg	2,092 kg	2,243 kg	2,176 kg	2,300 kg	2,300 kg

Nuffield Universal

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

Models compared

Models

Tractor in 3D section

3

4

DM-4

M-3

M-4

PM-4

UNIVERSAL 4

UNIVERSAL-3 (3 DL)

UNIVERSAL-4 (4 DM)

Universal

Universal 4DM

Universal DM4-4X4

Universal Four

UNIVERSAL 3DL

UNIVERSAL THREE

Universal 3