{{short description|British truck and car manufacturer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}} {{Use British English|date=July 2017}} {{Infobox company | image = 1940_Unipower_Hannibal.jpg | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = Unipower Hannibal 4x4 Timber Tractor manufactured in 1940 | name = Universal power Drives | type = Limited | industry = Vehicle Manufacturer | founded = 1934 | founder = Tim Powell | defunct = 2000 | fate = Defunct | hq_location_country = England | parent = Caterpillar Inc (1977-1994) Alvis PLC (1994-2000) }}
'''Universal Power Drives''' Ltd was a British vehicle manufacturer based in Aintree Road, [[Perivale]], [[Middlesex]]. Started in 1934 as [[Four-wheel drive|4x4]] [[forestry vehicle]] manufacturer, later company started manufacturing [[commercial truck]]s, the company was acquired by [[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar Inc]] a [[Illinois]] based American [[Construction Equipment|construction]] and [[mining equipment]] manufacturer in 1977. Later [[Alvis plc]], a [[London]] based vehicle manufacturer, acquired the company in 1994 and rebranded it to Alvis-Unipower.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UNIPOWER GT HISTORY |url=https://www.unipowergt.uk/the-unipower-gt-history |access-date=2025-08-08 |website=Unipower GT Owners |language=en}}</ref>
==History== Founded in 1934 in [[Perivale]] by Tim Powell, Unipower manufactured 4x4 trucks and vehicles for forestry application, focusing on timber industry for England and overseas market. Unipower manufactured forester 4x4, a tractor for timber transportation with an [[L. Gardner and Sons]] Gardner 4LW a diesel engine, 10 speed transmission and weighing 4 tons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Unipower Timber Tractor {{!}} Launceston Steam Railway |url=https://www.launcestonsr.co.uk/unipower-timber-tractor |access-date=2025-08-09 |website=My Site |language=en}}</ref> with their own trucks the company also started to sell modified versions of [[Dodge]], [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] and [[Rootes Group|Rootes]] trucks by adding multidrive axles to the existing vehicles one of the most notable was the commer six wheeler which was originally manufactured by Rootes and modified by Unipower. In the 1950s the company started to modify the [[British Motor Corporation]] (BMC) trucks like the Morris FJ.<ref>{{Cite web |last=James |first=Michael |date=2018-11-03 |title=The Unipower Story – from HGVs to urban cubes via the GT |url=https://www.aronline.co.uk/facts-and-figures/connections/the-unipower-story-part-one/ |access-date=2025-08-09 |website=AROnline |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Unipower GT == In 1963 Ernie Unger and Valerian Dare-Bryan planned to build a British [[Mid-engine design|mid-engine]] sports car inspired by the [[Mini]], a compact car by BMC. They started to test the test mule and later asked Ron Bradshaw, who was in the [[Ford GT40|Ford GT 40s]] design team, but they were short on funds for a small scale production and a manufacturing unit. Unger proposed the sports car to Tim Powell, owner of Unipower, who was also Ungers friend. Powell had a second manufacturing unit, which was under producing, so he agreed with the plan to manufacture the car. In 1966, Unipower showcased the sports car at Olympia's Racing Car Show, but without any name. [[File:1966 Unipower GT LC.jpg|thumb|A Unipower GT LC model at London Concours car show in 2021]] Initially Hustler was proposed as the name, but later Unipower used it for one of its [[forklift]] truck models. Ian Smith, the organizer of Olympia's Racing Car Show, needed to submit the press release in a hurry, ended up calling it the Unipower GT. The car was very well received by the public, gaining its nickname as mini-Miura coming from [[Lamborghini Miura]]. The GT was produced from 1966 to 1969, but because the company was facing funding issues, production was suspended.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dredge |first=Richard |date=2020-12-02 |title=The story of the Unipower GT sports car on Below The Radar |url=https://www.below-the-radar.com/unipower-gt/ |access-date=2025-08-09 |website=Below The Radar |language=en-GB}}</ref>
== Quasar == In 1967 Nguyen Manh Khanh ([[Quasar Khanh]]) a Vietnamese designer approached Unipower to manufacture a transparent [[utility vehicle]]. He designed a box like car nicknamed as Cube, the vehicle had transparent glass on all four sides and roof with a seating capacity of six. This made it a perfect vehicle for [[Factory|factories]] and [[warehouse]]s as a promotional vehicle, powered by a 1100cc BMC engine and automatic transmission.
The car was featured in 'Elle Boit Pas, Elle Fume Pas, Elle Drague pas, Mais... Elle Cause!' a French movie in which it was driven by [[Mireille Darc]]. A total of 15 units were manufactured out of which 13 were exported to [[France]] to vehicle manufacturers. Today the cars are preserved and have a [[cult status]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=QUASAR UNIPOWER 'CUBE' CAR |url=https://www.unipowergt.uk/quasar-unipower-cube-car |access-date=2025-08-09 |website=Unipower GT Owners |language=en}}</ref>
== Heavy Haulage == [[File:AVLB 01.jpg|thumb|British army [[Armoured vehicle-launched bridge]] based in a Unipower M series.]] In 1970 Unipower came up with the Invader 4x4 truck, based on the Leyland Mastiff with 16 ton capacity, and a 26 ton capability as a tractor-trailer combination. The truck was powered by a [[Perkins Engines]] V8.510 diesel engine, giving output of 179 hp, supported by a five speed transmission. The company also made a special wrecker/[[recovery vehicle]] for Dial-Holmes, utilising a modified chassis, which had a boom and winch to recover vehicles up to 30 tons. The wrecker also had bigger tires on it<ref>{{Cite web |title=Breakdown version of Unipower Invader {{!}} 28th August 1970 {{!}} The Commercial Motor Archive |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/28th-august-1970/25/breakdown-version-of-unipower-invader |access-date=2025-08-09 |website=archive.commercialmotor.com}}</ref>
In 1988 Unipower acquired [[Scammell]], a heavy-duty tractor manufacturer based in [[Watford]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=History – The Scammell Register |url=https://scammellregister.co.uk/history/ |access-date=2025-08-09 |language=en-US}}</ref> After the purchase, Unipower came up with the C series, a successor to the Scammell S24, using a [[Volvo F12]] cab. In 1993 they delivered 129 units of the [[Eight-wheel drive|8x8]] variant to the [[Ministry of Defence|ministry of defense]]. These were equipped with Perkins Eagle engines, and [[ZF Friedrichshafen|ZF gearbox]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Onipower blows dust off heavies {{!}} 3rd February 1994 {{!}} The Commercial Motor Archive |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/3rd-february-1994/11/onipower-blows-dust-off-heavies |access-date=2025-08-09 |website=archive.commercialmotor.com}}</ref> In 1995 They came with civilian versions of the tractor with 465 hp [[Cummins]] engine and ZF gearboxes alongside bllast tractor units were manufactured with 150 tons GVW. [[Vickers plc]] supplied [[Royal Army of Oman|Royal Army Of Oman]] with 18 units of C series [[Six-wheel drive|6x6]] [[ballast tractor]]s equipped with 600 hp Cummins engines and ZF gearbox with [[Transporter Industry International|Nicolas]] [[hydraulic modular trailer]]s as [[tank transporter]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Unipower hits civvy street {{!}} 7th July 1994 {{!}} The Commercial Motor Archive |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/7th-july-1994/18/unipower-hits-civvy-street |access-date=2025-08-09 |website=archive.commercialmotor.com}}</ref> [[File:VPCM BT120 ETAS.jpg|thumb|MPI VPCM BT120 at [[Angers]]]] Unipower manufactured the M series in 1994 under the new branding of Alvis-Unipower. The M series, an 8x8 chassis, powered by 400 hp Cummins or Perkins engines, coupled to a ZF gearbox, was built with defence in mind, primarily for [[small tank]]s, landing gear, floating bridges and portable bridges. Later MH chassis was developed with 6x6 and 8x8 configuration, the 6x6 named as MH-6660 had a [[six cylinder]] Cummins engine producing 600 hp and a GCW of 110 tons whereas the 8x8 chassis had a 750 hp Cummins and five speed ZF transmission.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alvis-Unipower Series M / MH (Military vehicles) - Trucksplanet |url=https://trucksplanet.com/models/alvis-unipower-series-m-mh/ |access-date=2025-08-09 |website=trucksplanet.com}}</ref>
In 2002, the rights of the M series were bought by Matériels Portuaires et Industriels (MPI), a subsidiary of Nicolas (Transporter Industry International). They manufactured the Véhicule porte-conteneurs maritimes (VPCM), a specialized container transporter for defence to transport 20 ft [[intermodal container]]s over difficult terrain. An 8x8 rigid chassis, this was powered by 400 hp Cummins engine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Milinfo |date=2020-01-20 |title=Véhicules&matériels : Le Véhicule Porte-Conteneur Maritime (VPCM) par Philippe B. - |url=https://www.milinfo.org/2020/01/les-derniers-vehicules-le-vpcm-vehicule-porte-conteneur-maritime.concu-par-la-societe-anglaise-unipower.fabrique-par-la-societe-havr |access-date=2025-08-09 |website=www.milinfo.org |language=fr}}</ref>
Following their elimination from the bidding process for the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|UK Ministry of Defence's]] Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) project, Alvis announced their intention to seek a new owner for ''Alvis Unipower''.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Alvis plc To Seek New Owner For Unipower |date=1999-10-15 |publisher=Alvis plc }}</ref>
== Airport Crash Tender == [[File:Airfield Fire Engine (27966340595).jpg|thumb|A Unipower MFV 6x6 engine at Cosford Air Show in 2016]] In 1975 Chubb Fire & Security a British safety company built Unipower R 44 GPr-3000 an airport crash tender built on Reynolds Boughton truck 4x4 chassis powered by a [[Rolls-Royce]] petrol engine giving output of 275 hp with top speed of 120kmph. These were manufactured for Poland civil aviation.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://prl998.pl/pokazsamochod.php?id=110 |title=Chubb Fire Unipower R44 - GPr-3000 |access-date=2025-08-09 |website=prl998.pl}}</ref>
In the 1990s, Unipower manufactured [[Airport crash tender]]s as MOD planned to replace the old fleet with two new vehicles [[Rapid intervention vehicle|Rapid Intervention Vehicle]] (RIV) a lightweight quick response vehicle and Major foam vehicle (MFV) for large fires and crashes. These vehicles were built with 20 years of duty in mind.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RAF&DFSA-RIV |url=https://www.rafanddfsa.co.uk/riv.html |access-date=2025-08-09 |website=www.rafanddfsa.co.uk}}</ref>
RIV was built on a 4x4 chassis with 2275ltr water tank and 275ltr foam tank powered by a [[Turbo-diesel|turbocharged]] [[Detroit Diesel]] engine putting out 475 hp helping it achieve 120kmph top speed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alvis-Unipower RIV (Special vehicles) - Trucksplanet |url=https://trucksplanet.com/models/alvis-unipower-riv/ |access-date=2025-08-09 |website=trucksplanet.com}}</ref>
MFV was built on a 6x6 chassis 5600ltr water tank and 680ltr of foam tank, this one was powered by a Caterpillar diesel engine putting out 700 hp.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Defence Fire & Rescue Service |url=http://www.romar.org.uk/page235.html |access-date=2025-08-09 |website=www.romar.org.uk}}</ref>
== Trojan 8870 Ballast Tractor == [[File:Broad Lane, Kirkstall, Leeds - geograph.org.uk - 5040877.jpg|thumb|ALE Trojan 8870 ballast tractor in [[Leeds]] (2016)]] In 2012 [[ALE (company)|Abnormal Load Engineering (ALE)]], now [[Mammoet]], decided to build new ballast tractors to move heavy loads and replace their older Alvis-Unipower MH8875 which was built by Unipower for demonstration purposes for [[Heavy Equipment Transport System]]. Unipower were unsuccessful and the contract was given to [[Oshkosh Corporation]]. They purchased six units of MH-8875 from [[French Army]]. They modified these units to their needs with better engines, gearboxs, braking, cabins, and tires. The tractor featured a [[Volvo Penta]] turbo [[Straight-six engine|inline six]] intercooled engine, [[Allison Transmission|Allison]] six speed automatic transmission, [[Kessler Motor Company|Kessler]] auxiliary transmission, Kessler axles, [[Hendrickson Holdings|Hendrickson]] leaf springs, ABS, [[Dana Incorporated|Dana]] hub reduction and soundproof cabin.
The 48 kerb weight ballast tractor has a GCW of 400 tons using a suitable hydraulic modular trailer. The tractor also featured an [[CAN bus|Electronic Controller Area Network Bus System]] which helps one tractor to communicate with others this helps when more than one tractor units is coupled and there is no limit on how many units are coupled heavier loads the system synchronize the engine output, gear, steering, braking, rpm and torque.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Biglorryblog |date=2014-11-06 |title=TROJAN 8870 c'est Magnifique! Tom gives Biglorryblog the low down on this heavyweight |url=https://www.truckanddriver.co.uk/latest-stories/trojan-8870-c-est-magnifique-tom-gives-biglorryblog-the-low-down-on-this-heavyweight/ |access-date=2025-08-09 |website=Truckanddriver.co.uk |language=en-US}}</ref>
== See also ==
* [[Unipower GT]] * [[Alvis plc|Alvis PLC]] * [[Quasar-Unipower]] * [[British Motor Corporation]] * [[Rootes Group]] * [[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar Inc]]
== References == {{Reflist}}
== Bibliography == {{Commons category|Unipower vehicles}} *{{cite book |first=Peter J. |last=Davies |title=The World Encyclopedia of Trucks |publisher=Lorenz Books |year=2000 |isbn=0-7548-0518-2 }}
[[Category:Defunct truck manufacturers of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers based in London]] [[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1934]] [[Category:Former defence companies of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:1934 establishments in the United Kingdom]]