An additional 12 prototypes were manufactured by the end of 1946. Production didn’t start until 1948 due to steel shortages, and the Nuffield Universal was launched that year at the Smithfield Show. Officially referred to as “Poppy Orange” the tractors were produced in a bright red-orange color and were similar to the color of the American Allis-Chalmers tractors. You can still find a special paint color name “Nuffield Tractor Orange”, and most versions of the Nuffield tractors were still in existence. Some parts, including some newly manufactured replacements, are still available from stock specialists.
As part of post-World War II recovery plans, the British Government approached the Nuffield Organization asking they design and manufacture a new all British tractor in 1945. In 1946, the vice-chairman of Morris Motors Sir Miles Thomas announced to the ISMA at Hull “Nuffield to make tractors”. Former David Brown tractor designer, Dr, H.E. Merritt, designed the tractor, and the manufacture was to be done at the former Wolseley factory in Birmingham. By 1946, a prototype tractor had been manufactured. British Motor Holding, which was BMC’s holding company, was merged the Leyland Motor Corporation to become British Leyland in 1968. Tractors continued to be produced under the Nuffield name until they were renamed Leyland Tractors in 1969 and the poppy red tractors changed to the new two-tone blue Leyland corporate colors.
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