BMC: Vehicles

BMC Leyland came into being in 1968, it was formed from the British Motor Corporation of which the Nuffield tractor business was part. The production line was based at the Bathgate factory in Scotland.

• It was intended that the Nuffield tractor would continue, however in November 1969, BMC Leyland revealed three new machines. The previous red livery and Nuffield badge were no more having been replaced by a two-tone blue colour scheme and a Leyland badge with only a small sticker declaring the Nuffield name which was shortly discarded.

• The new models numbered 154, 344 and 384 retained many of the Nuffield features. The numbers related to the engine size, for example, the 384 had a 3.8 litre engine and the number 4 related to its four cylinders. The 384 was the largest model.

• In the 1970s several other models were introduced; in 1972 the model 253 was introduced with a three cylinder Perkins engine; in 1973 the 245 model was produced using a four cylinder diesel engine; the model 2100 was manufactured from 1973 to 1979 and featured a six cylinder diesel engine and had ten forward and two reverse gears.

• In 1981 BMC Leyland was finally sold to Marshall and Sons having ceased production in 1979.

Sources of Information

From 1890 to the Present Day Farm Tractors by Michael Williams published in 2005 by Silverdale Books ISBN 978-1-84509-251-1

The Complete Encylopedia of Tractors by Mirco de Cet published in 2006 by Rebo International ISBN 978-90-366-1893-9