The Scania 3-series was introduced in the autumn of 1987 as the successor to the 2-series. It offered engines from a 9-litre unit of 230 horsepower up to a 14-litre V8 producing 500 horsepower, and it was the first Scania truck range to carry the Streamline name.
Scania 3-series at a glance
| Introduced | autumn 1987 |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Scania 2-series |
| Successor | Scania 4-series (1995) |
| Smallest engine | 9.0 litres, 230 hp (170 kW) |
| Largest engine | 14-litre V8, 500 hp (370 kW) |
| Streamline | first used on the 3-series |
| Aerodynamic changes | new bumper, lower-drag grille, full headlight bezels |
| Cab detail | improved side wind deflectors |
| Notable model | R143 tractor unit |
based on one source
History of the Scania 3-series
A range for the late 1980s
The 3-series replaced the 2-series in the autumn of 1987. Its engines ranged from a 9.0-litre unit rated at 230 horsepower (170 kW) to the 14-litre V8 with 500 horsepower (370 kW), so the range covered light distribution work as well as the heaviest long-distance haulage.
The first Streamline
The 3-series was the first Scania truck range to use the Streamline name, which was intended to improve fuel efficiency and keep the styling up to date. The most visible changes were a redesigned bumper and front fascia with a lower-drag grille design and full headlight bezels, together with an improved design of wind deflector on the cab side.
The R143
The Scania R143 is generally regarded as one of the more notable European tractor units of its time. It remains well known among truck enthusiasts for its reliability and for its role in advancing heavy-duty transport.
End of production
Production of the 3-series stopped after the 4-series was introduced in 1995, ending a run of about eight years during which the range had established the Streamline idea that later Scania generations would continue.
Design and features
- Streamline aerodynamics: lower-drag grille, new bumper and full headlight bezels.
- Wide power band: from 230 hp in the 9-litre to 500 hp in the 14-litre V8.
- Improved cab deflectors: a new design of side wind deflector.
- R143 reputation: a tractor unit remembered for reliability in heavy transport.
Scania 3-series versions
- 9-litre models: 230 hp at the bottom of the range.
- 14-litre V8 models: up to 500 hp for heavy haulage.
- R143: the best-known tractor unit of the generation.
- Streamline specification: the aerodynamic package that gave the range its name.
The range it replaced is described in Scania 2-series, and its successor in Scania 4-series. The later trucks are covered by the Scania R-series and the Scania collection.
Sources
- Scania 3-series, English Wikipedia: engines, Streamline changes, R143
