Takeover tales

In part one of this feature I focussed on developments at David Brown and Leyland during the 1970s, but the 1980s brought a whole new set of challenges for both companies – and it is here that I take up the story.

David Brown now had a comprehensive range of 90 Series tractors that had been launched in 1979. Based on the older designs, but with more power, new tinwork and new features, they were fitted with a brand-new quiet cab built for the firm by Sekura – the British arm of which was located in Barnsley, also in Yorkshire.

This same cab, with detail differences particularly in internal layout, was also used by British Leyland when it introduced its revamped Golden Harvest range of tractors in 1980. Despite the virtually identical cab, the Leyland and David Brown products looked completely different, thanks not only to the yellow and white paintwork, but also due to the very different bonnet designs and finishes.

Leyland, despite introducing synchromesh transmissions in 1978, had abandoned its six-cylinder models, leaving a range covering 47-82hp, plus