Turner Whitson?
 

Hello everyone, what an excellent forum.
Does anyone have any information on the British Turner-Whitson 8 seater bus, exhibited at the 1954 Commercial motor show.
My main interest lies with the extremely rare all alloy Turner L40 scavenge blown 2 stroke twin cylinder diesel engine installed into it, but any relevant facts whatsoever about the vehicle itself would be most welcome.

Never heard of it - but I think I remember that Turners were making engines before making gearboxes.

From Googoo:- http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/Muse.../Turner/TM.htm

More from t'internet (Whitson body):- http://www.old-bus-photos.co.uk/?cat=253

http://archive.commercialmotor.com/a...ody-for-commer

Turner light vehicles.
 

Turner Whitson,
 

Thanks for all that info G-CPTN, yes 'Turners' were indeed making engines long before gearboxes and they had a very long and very distinguished automotive and engineering history, but the little 8 seater Turner Whitson bus (Front Wheel Drive in fact) was a one off (I think). There is a picture of it on Google images and also EBAY, but that seems to be all the info I can find.

I worked with Turners in the 1970s (truck gearboxes).

Can you post the URLs to the images? I'm sure we'd all like to see what it looked like.

Turner Whitson,
 

I hope this attaches ok G-CPTN, if not, I'll try again later.

Nice looking - like a stretched London taxicab.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GVBGvQ7jXQ

http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/Muse...r/Products.htm

http://www.s2cforum.com/archives/ind...ic=3126.0;wap2

http://www.s2cforum.com/archives/ind...ic=3126.5;wap2

http://www.series2club.co.uk/forum/f...c=59761.0;wap2

Turner Whitson
 

Thanks again G-CPTN for those sites. Yeh, it does resemble a London Taxi cab doesn't it! It was said to be good for 70 mph and 40-45 mpg. They also produced a front wheel drive milk float, I have a couple of Turner supercharged 1955 L40s (one almost fully restored), so any info regarding 'Turners' products is always of great interest to me.
'Also interesting that you worked for them in the 70's, on the gearbox side. Do you by chance know Larry Hopkins?

No I never worked for Turners - I was responsible for installing Turner (and Eaton) gearboxes into Bedford Trucks.

I never visited Turner or Eaton premises - their reps always visited us in Luton (on a regular basis to keep in touch and ensure that they never lost out on new installations).

I don't know Larry Hopkins - sorry.

Turner Whitson,
 

No problem G-CPTN, Still an interesting conversation and thanks again for taking the time to reply with so much Turner info! the more the better.

I enjoy a challenge, and even more when information is found (whether by me or other members).

I'm still learning - I knew nothing of the vehicle, but now I have added to my knowledge.

This is the same company that made the Yeoman Of England tractor, it had a Turner V4 diesel engine, I met someone in New Zealand that had two fully restored examples for sale.

http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/Muse...ial/Turner.htm

http://www.tractordata.co.uk/others/pages/turner/

http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/Muse...r/Products.htm


Turners built the L-series engines under licence from Jenbach.

Thanks G-CPTN, yeh you're correct, The L series was taken on by Turners under licence from Jenbach as a twin only and it was an untested incomplete design at the time. The 60hp triple and planned 75hp V4 were all their own work. The two stroke diesels were an incredible ahead of their time engine for the mid 50's and it's such a great pity they never caught on. I expect to have mine up and running any day now.