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Speaking of UDs today (properly known as Nissan Diesels) reminds me of the company's legendary TZA520 all-wheel drive tractors that roamed everywhere from Southeast Asia to Africa for many, many years. The sound of their normally aspirated RF8 V-8 diesel coming towards you was music to the ears.

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UD TZA520 spec sheet (Sudan).pdf

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  • Like 1

The TZA was Nissan Diesel's 6x6, while this TFA was their 4x4. Again, they were sold in many regions, from New Zealand to Thailand to Africa.

Here are some new TFAs at the port.

Note the UD emblems on the front fenders. In recent decades, Nissan Diesel promoted UD as standing for "Ultimate Dependability". But actually, UD stands for "Uniflow Diesel", the first diesel engine the company introduced in 1955 (a 2-stroke).

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UD TFA430 spec sheet (Sudan).pdf

  • Like 2

Classic Japanese design style, little bits here & there influenced by other makers. The Japanese way of engineering has always been to take an existing object & make it better. They typically are not as successful with a "clean sheet" build. So with that thought, we can easily see shapes from FWD (as sleepwalker commented) in the grille area, Ford F-800-900 in the cab, Eaton in the drive axles, Timken & KW Big-6 in the rear suspension.

All together these were close to indestructible, used for off highway logging in Borneo, the Philippines, and just about any other emerging economy in the 3rd world nations.

Great to see these again,

Rick

Richard Mark

Owner / Master Model Maker

Industrial Model Design
Ap40rocktruck

  • 7 years later...

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