Scott Motorcycles

Today in Motorcycle History

Scott 3S 986cc Triple

Très Bon Scott

Cualquier similitud con nuestro conocido DKW Auto Union 1000 S (que se fabricaba en Sauce Viejo, Provincia de Santa Fe) no es mera coincidencia… es una copia del motor Scott Tres!
1936 Scott 3S (Three)

Motor: Dos tiempos refrigerado a agua por termosifón, tricilíndrico en línea longitudinal
Cilindrada: 986 cc
Diámetro x carrera: 73 x 78 mm
Relación de compresión: 5,8:1
Potencia declarada: 48 hp @ 5,200rpm
Carburador: un Amal de 1 1/8”
Ignición: bobina con distribuidor Delco Remy
Caja de velocidades: 4 velocidades
Cuadro: tubular dúplex
Suspensión: Delantera horquilla paralelogramo deformable Webb.
Trasera rígida
Neumáticos: Avon Speedmaster delantero 3.25 x 19”, trasero 3.50 x 19"
Frenos: tambores delantero 7” y trasero de 10”
Distancia entre ejes: 56” (1420mm)
Peso: 489 lb (222 kg)
Capacidad del tanque de combustible: 2,5 galones
Consumo estimado: 40-50 mpg
Velocidad máxima: 85 mph (declarada)
Precio de nueva: £115

Luego de la Gran Depresión de 1930, Scott sobrevivía gracias a los contratos militares. En 1931 Bill Cull se incorporó a Scott como Director Técnico, y decidió diseñar una motocicleta de lujo de tres cilindros destinados al segmento más alto del mercado. En 1932 Cull diseña un motor de dos tiempos, de tres cilindros y de 747cc para un proyecto abortado de un generador para la Marina y esto representa el origen de la motocicleta Scott Tres construida en 1933. Sin embargo, el prototipo de la Scott Tres era bastante tosco y de mal manejo. Cuando los prototipos del modelo Tres se pusieron a prueba para la prensa a principios de 1934 recibieron un “Aprobado” junto con elogios para el rendimiento del motor.

Pero cuando la Scott denominada Modelo 3S se dio a conocer a finales de 1934 en el London Olympia Motorcycle Show, donde causó sensación, su motor de tres cilindros de dos tiempos refrigerado por líquido había sido completamente rediseñado para usarlo en motocicletas y aumentado a 986cc.

Los 3S finalmente se pusieron en venta en 1936 por £ 115 después de cuatro años de pruebas sobre todos los tipos de carreteras

Irónicamente, a pesar de que sólo fueron construidas nueve motocicletas Scott Tres, el diseño de 3 cilindros de Bill Cull pasó a alimentar un número de automóviles de renombre. El importador francés de Scott, Clément Garreau, vendió dos motores de Scott Tres a DKW. En 1939 DKW produjo su propio motor de tres cilindros para su coche de dos tiempos F9 900 cc claramente inspirado en el diseño de Scott, pero la producción de este fue dejado de lado hasta después de la guerra, cuando este diseño se usó en los autos IFA 309, DKW F91/F93 y también en los Wartburg y Saab 93.

Cinco de las nueve Scott Tres construidas sobreviven hoy en día, pero la única que está en orden de marcha es, como no podia ser de otro modo, la que está en exhibición en el Museo de Sammy Miller.


Scott survived the Great Depression thanks to military contracts. In 1931 Bill Cull joined Scott as Technical Director, and embarked upon the design of a luxury three-cylinder motorcycle aimed at the top end of the market. The following year Cull adapted the design of an abandoned generator project for the Navy - a 747cc two-stroke, three-cylinder engine - which became the heart of the Scott Three.

The 1933 prototype was not a huge success, but by early 1934 when tested by the press it received accolades, particularly for engine performance.

When the Scott Model 3S was released in late 1934 at the London Olympia Motorcycle Show it caused a sensation. The water-cooled two-stroke triple engine was now 986cc and had had seen many design changes.

The 3S reached the market 1936 at a price of £ 115. Four years in the making, the machine had seen a considerable amount of development and was extensively tested on all types of roads. Sales, however, were poor. It was a very expensive machine and even for those with deep pockets the price was too high, particularly given the antagonistic rumblings from the continent. Production ceased in 1937 1 leaving total production at only 9 units.

Bill Cull's 3-cylinder design was not lost to history, however. Scott's French importer, Clément Garreau, sold two Scott Tres engines to DKW. In 1939 DKW produced its own three-cylinder engine for its two-stroke F9 900cc car, an engine clearly inspired by Scott's design. Production of the F9 was shelved until after the war when this design was used in automobiles including the IFA 309, DKW F91 / F93, the Wartburg and Saab 93.

The engine was also fitted to a Morgan which did not see production, and two top-ends were bonded to a common crank to produce a Scott V6 2 litre engine. This was slotted into an Aston Martin and attracted very favourable comments. Mr Hitler put paid to that little project.

Five Scott Three machines survive, one of which is in running condition and is on display at the Sammy Miller Museum.


1936 Scott 3S Specification


  • Engine: Two-stroke water-cooled inline three
    Displacement: 986 cc
    Diameter x stroke: 73 x 78 mm
    Compression ratio: 5.8: 1
    Declared power: 48 hp @ 5,200 rpm
    Carburetor: 1 Amal of 1 1/8 "
    Ignition: coil with Delco Remy distributor
    Gearbox: 4 speeds
    Picture: tubular duplex
    Suspension: Webb girder forks. Rigid rear. (Plunger-style suspension on 1938 model)
    Tires: Avon Speedmaster front 3.25 x 19", rear 3.50 x 19"
    Brakes: drums front 7" and rear 10"
    Wheelbase: 56" (1420mm)
    Weight: 489 lb (222 kg)
    Fuel tank capacity: 2.5 gallons
    Estimated fuel consumption: 40-50 mpg
    Maximum speed: 85 mph
    New price: £115

Any similarity to the DKW Auto Union 1000 S (which was manufactured in Sauce Viejo, Santa Fe, Argentina) is no coincidence ... it's a copy of the Scott Tres engine!. As further testament to the Cull engine, East Germany produced over a million Wartburg 353 machines powered by a well-developed version of the Scott Three engine. Modified versions of these machines are capable of speeds in excess of 200 km/h.

Notes
1) The National Motorcycle Museum dates their 3S as 1938. The machine has rear suspension by DMW.

Sources include: Sergio Scalerandi

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