I have had correspondence from a gentleman in Kiwi land about the TS3 and its design origins, and now he has mentioned a batch of prototype TS4's:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Thank you for your reply Peter. I hope that my email didn't offend you- it was meant to inform, not complain - it was written late at night so I hope it didn't come across too grumbly. I produce a number of webpages for various community groups and I know how hard it is to keep this sort of stuff up to date. I didn't expect to hear from you, and I certainly didn't expect to hear from you so soon! In return for your prompt reply, I have included another page from our newsletter, which I hope will stimulate your interest? This one is about the TS4 - a 4 cylinder version of the Commer motor which was being developed when they were ordered destroyed by Chryslers as they took over Commer in 1967. Did you know of the existence of this engine? It is an absolute shame that this engine was not developed further as it had so much potential. Even looking at it, you can see how far ahead of its time it was, compared to contemporary engines, let alone its performance, which the New Zealander importer describes. There were 14 prototypes built and only 4 survive. I know one is at the Leyland Motors collection (not sure where?). Mark knew four had survived and had given up trying to find it (he was actually trying to track down a prototype turbocharged version of the TS3 that is out there somewhere?) when he tracked this TS4 down in a barn in Ireland. He has imported it to New Zealand, and unlike the others, intends to have it running in a truck, rather than on display. Since the article, he has had the Fuel Injection pump rebuilt (incidentally by someone who started their apprenticeship in 1956 working on TS3 type injector pumps!) and is gradually getting it ready to run. He has also found out that the prototype he has ended up with was developed as a multi-fuel version, with blanked off holes for spark plugs, etc. A version of the TS 3 motor was also developed as a multi-fuel version for the army, with the intention they could run on anything handy - diesel, aviation fuel, petrol, peanut oil, melted butter, even Scotch whisky (I'd never do this myself!!!). A prototype
4x4 VC Commer with multi-fuel TS 3 motor (one of 2 built) has recently been restored by John Morris and Brian Male in Leicester. Hope you find this of interest. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Peter
-- Peter A Forbes Prepair Ltd, Luton, UK snipped-for-privacy@easynet.co.uk