Saviem:
…If you look at Berliets disasterous V800 serie of V8s of the 60s, a frantic revving 6910cc (100x110mm) litre( which I described in an earlier post), then came the equally disasterous 825 Serie, fitted to the sensational TR300 with its KB2400 cab of 1970/71. 12.760 litres, (125 x 130mm), 300hp @2500 rpm, …only 778 were sold before (the brave), decision to stop production was made mid `72. This engine was redesigned as the 08.35.30. (135 x 130 mm) and 14.88 litres… a coincidence no doubt…perhaps so…but… Jacques Barbet Director General of Unic, had previously been Works Director at Berliets “new” Bourg en Bresse factory…and had much knowledge of the redesign of Berliets V8!..
Fascinating speculation. I had to check the numbers, and you are right- the engines are identical in bore and stroke! I looked at pictures of the Berliet V825 and V835, and they look identical, so the later engine would seem to be a simple overbore of the earlier one, rather than a rebadged Unic! IIRC, the Unic 340 was launched before the TR320, so I doubt that the design of the Berliet engine influenced the Unic one unless, of course, the 135x130 size had been tested by Berliet long before its production launch. Intriguing stuff. I will attempt to find introduction dates of the various engines, so we may speculate further. That website detailing the build of the Unic V86 prototype might hold some clues.