There is again fierce debate on the Internet - which long-range tractor would be ideal in our conditions; for the umpteenth time! The debaters, as always, were divided into two main camps: the ideal - with a hood, and without. Another section is by components: ours or imports. Let's remember what attempts to create long-range trucks were made by our car factories, starting from the time of the late USSR.
01.
In Soviet times, no commercial prototypes were shown to the people - the party and the government themselves decided what and where to drive. The first, extraordinarily bold, even by world standards, attempt to imagine a truck of the future was the famous "Perestroika". MAZ-2000, as its creators called it, was shown in 1988, and earned rave reviews in Paris. And although plans to launch a series were discussed even at the ministerial level, there was a minimum chance of a series. Still, "Perestroika" was not so much a revolutionary truck as a different transport concept, under which the infrastructure of roads, interchanges and terminals would have to be redone. All built cars remained prototypes, but Minskers set the tone for the rest of the car factories - it was time to turn to face consumers and try to offer a really new product. 
02.
The first trucks Altkam-5443(by the name of the Kamaz-Austrian joint venture) were conceived back in the USSR, and in 1991 Altcam became the first post-Soviet truck to use imported components: Cummins or MAN engines, Eaton or ZF gearboxes, Raba axles, Sisu cabs. It is not surprising that the first private traders bought these tractors, even despite the solid price. And the "adult" European competitors killed the brand: because of mass production, the cars were cheaper, and even completely imported. 
03.
In 1993, MAZ was "issued to the surface" MAZ-5445. For the "dashing nineties" - just a sensation. A "foreign" design, a flat floor, a spacious original cabin, and also in combination with a trailer built according to the technologies of the German company Kögel, with which MAZ was then trying to organize a joint venture. A serious contender for the title of King of the Roads! But... Expensive. Did not work out. The only prototype was parked in the "menagerie" .... 
04.
Unexpectedly, in the same 1993, the metropolitan ZiL, which had previously reigned in the middle class, presented its "ideal trucker". Moreover, it was a true "American" loved by many - Kenworth T800, completely on original units. They were planned to be produced by the newly formed joint venture Novotrak (ZiL-Kenworth-Caterpillar). But due to the sluggishness of the huge enterprise, everything was bent, and two cars remained in the country (one in the photo), but we never saw "our American" on the roads. 
05.
Two years later, the Ukrainian KrAZ tried to get into the niche of long-range tractors. For the first time in history, he introduced a two-axle tractor KrAZ-5444 with a sleeping bag, a high roof and a modified hood; on the usual domestic units. But no one imagined the "monster of quarries" as a long-range tractor, and there were no people who wanted to massively purchase such machines. Gradually, road tractors disappeared from the plant's program ... 
Photo by Sergey Popsuevich
06.
Approximately in 1998, this idea of KrAZ was repeated by ZIL, already independently, on the usual basis. The cab of the city bonneted medium-tonnage was increased from above and behind, a spectacular body kit was made, and a Caterpillar engine was installed. They built two- and three-axle variants, but again things did not go further than prototypes. As in many similar cases, clients who had the means preferred foreign cars, and poor private traders preferred second-hand ones. 
07.
Here, Belarusians again joined the fight for the client. They relied on the Europeans, forming in 1998 the German-Belarusian joint venture " MAZ-MAN". It is clear whose components were on the tractors 5432
. They became mass-produced, they sold quite well. But, alas, the same story was repeated as with Altkam, plus political factors were added, and the Germans left the joint venture. The plant and the brand still exist today, but they no longer engage in "long-range combat", having quite successfully switched to the construction direction. 
08.
In 2001, at the Moscow festival "Autoexotica" 2001 "surprise pops up ... all the same MAZ-5445, already with a serial cabin instead of the original one. The prototype came into the possession of the Moscow body shop "Car-Systems", where the car was converted to new way. Atelier made a loud statement about the release of such trucks. Naturally, no series came close, but the only car lives in private hands in Altai. 
Photo by Nikolai Krapivin, website fototruck.ru
09.
An amazing event took place at MIMS "2002 - a little-known plant presented its bonneted road tractor UAMZ. This branch of ZiL quietly assembled ordinary trucks, and suddenly hired designers and created their own prototype " Buran"The appearance of the car was anywhere, but the components were from the hopelessly outdated ZiL-130, albeit with a diesel engine. There was no money to start production, and it remained a prototype that only stirred up the cargo community. 
Photo by Vyacheslav Korolyov
10.
And again the hood, and again from Ukraine. In 2004, the Kremenchug private company "Vladimir"announced the launch of its tractor KV-400. The two built samples were outwardly the same (cabin from the Czech Tatra with its own plastic "nose"), but differed in engines: Deutz or YaMZ. Why the plans did not come true is unknown, but it is unlikely that cars of an unknown brand would become mega-popular. Although witnesses noted good cabin ergonomics ... 
Photo by Alexander Govorukha
11.
And then our "Ural" joined the fight, in 2005 putting up a three-axle bonnet at MIMS Ural-6464. The car could not have become a breakthrough in the market - the cab from the old IVECO Turbo-Tech with a plastic hood, engine and gearbox gear YaMZ, springs on all axles. As in the case of KrAZ, an attempt by a specialist in the off-road "military" to flow into distant battle the market did not accept. 
Photo by Yuri Rogoza
12.
But maybe the supporters of the cabover layout liked the Ural car? The following year, a cabover "long-range" appeared Ural-63674 4x2, but, alas, also remained a rare guest on Russian roads. Probably for the same reason. 
13.
After some lull, in the midst of the crisis, in 2009, unexpectedly for everyone, a well-known manufacturer trailer equipment, the TONAR plant brought its tractor to the market, TONAR-5422. It was a "hodgepodge" - the cabin, axles and gearbox - Chinese, Cummins engine, and then YaMZ-650, the frame is its own, the suspension is American (but with modifications). In principle, these machines are sold, but most are used by Tonar himself... 
Photo by Maxim Shelepenkov
14.
MAZ workers were the last to stun the market today. In 2011, 64 years after the launch of the bonneted MAZ-200, the public was shown a bonneted MAZ-6440RA. The novelty was unusual due to a 600-horsepower MMZ diesel engine (modified by Tutaev), an Allison automatic machine, and a front air suspension. 
15.
The next year, MAZ rolled out new version long-range hood. On MAZe-6440RA sample of 2012 have already made a full-fledged full-size sleeping bag, like real "Americans". This car could well, if not blow up the market, then become a good alternative to the American used car. In the same Siberia, where there are many American tractors, and MAZov, they would definitely love this car, but in Minsk they decided to close the project ... It's a pity that the dream did not come true again. 
While there is a lull on the front of creating a dream for a trucker ... Will the perfect one appear domestic tractor for our roads? In any case, its creators will have to take into account several factors:
1. It is pointless to pass off old elements as new. The client knows perfectly well whether this is a new cabin or a refurbished one from the old one.
2. It is dangerous to assemble units, interfering with "French with Nizhny Novgorod". A great-looking truck with antediluvian stuffing is not bought.
3. Without a level of quality congenial to competitors, today you can only count on single sales, at any price.
And with or without a hood - it does not matter, we have enough admirers of both options.
KAZ-606 "Colchis"
In the old days, our country was in dire need of vehicles capable of transporting large loads. Simply put, in trucks. Models of Soviet trucks have an interesting history. That is why at the Kutaisi plant they began to produce a car, which later received the name "Colchis". The history of USSR trucks begins with prototypes presented to the Ministry of Motor Transport, which were developed in 1958. And already in 1959, the cars of Kutaisi car factory demonstrated at the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy.
In total, the plant presented two types of car, one of which was onboard and had the abbreviation KAZ-605, and the other was made according to the principle of a truck tractor and was called KAZ-606. After getting acquainted with the products of the Georgian automobile plant, the Ministry automotive industry approved serial production of only one model. Priority was given to the KAZ-606 project. Trucks of the USSR were replenished with a truck tractor.
Advantages of the car
The KAZ "Colchis" car had an excellent glazing area of the driver's cab, which made it convenient to control and perform maneuvers. Unlike previously produced cars, the cabin of which was partially wooden, KAZ "Kolchis" was made with an all-metal cabin. In the cockpit, in addition to the driver's, there was only one passenger seat, but the small capacity was compensated by the presence bed. Such a decision at that time was revolutionary in the domestic automotive industry.
This car did not have the usual hood, which at that time was a novelty. The power unit was under the cab, and this was very pleasing in the winter and upsetting in the summer. Appearance The truck was modern and stylish, because the designers moved the location of the headlights to the lower part of the cab.
Disadvantages of the car KAZ-606
The main drawback of the Colchis truck was frequent breakdowns and high flow fuel. For a hundred kilometers, the car consumed 50 liters of gasoline. Due to the power unit located under the cab, it was difficult to drive the truck for a long time in summer. Not only because of elevated temperature interior, but also due to the accumulation of exhaust gases.
Conclusion
Despite all the advantages, the Colchis truck did not become popular with drivers. And they turned their eyes to other models.
Truck "Ural"
The pride of the domestic automotive industry has been created since the Great Patriotic War. The task of the truck is to transport the harvested timber from the mining area. Given the remoteness of such places, strict requirements were put forward for Ural vehicles (timber trucks) for cross-country ability and operation in difficult conditions. Thanks to the painstaking work of Soviet engineers and designers, it was possible to achieve all the tasks set for timber trucks.
Advantages of timber carriers "Ural"
Timber carriers of domestic production have a phenomenal cross-country ability and high quality manufacturing.
The country has always needed such machines especially urgently, given the presence of rich forest resources. Trucks of the USSR have always been in great demand both within the country and abroad.
The structural feature of the timber carriers "Ural" is a different wheel formula - from 4x4 to 8x8. Thanks to this formula, legendary patency. The operating temperature range is -40 ... + 40 ° C. Such a spread allows the use of machines of this type in various climatic conditions.
The maximum length of the transported cargo is almost 25 meters. The trailer, attached to the timber carrier, has a swivel mechanism, which increases maneuverability during transportation. "Ural" is a timber carrier, which is equipped with powerful power units of over 200 horsepower.
Modern timber carriers "Ural" are equipped with a special hydraulic loader-manipulator, which allows you to load timber without using a crane. The design of the lift and the control system are simple and reliable. This method allows you to reduce the cost and time for logging.
The engines comply with European standards, which means that the machines practically do not pollute the environment.
Disadvantages of timber carriers "Ural"
Perhaps the only drawback of the Ural timber carriers can be attributed high flow fuel. Although, given the operating conditions of these machines, we can say that such a phenomenon is fully justified.
Conclusion
The developed concept of a truck for transporting forest resources, which required many years of painstaking work, is still in the service of man. Timber carriers continue to perform their task throughout Russia and abroad. Operating in harsh climatic conditions, they still remain reliable assistants of people.
Mining trucks
By creating cars, he aimed to ensure the efficient removal of minerals from the place of extraction. By developing the concept of such a large car, engineers and designers have gained invaluable experience in this industry. Our country is known for large volumes of extraction of natural resources. Only large and reliable machines. The Ministry of Automobile Industry of the USSR decided to create production capacity for the development and creation heavy vehicles to work in the quarries of the country. This is how the Belarusian Automobile Plant appeared, where they began to create BelAZ cars.
Production started in 1948 mining trucks won worldwide recognition. Constantly developing and introducing new technologies in the automotive industry, the plant has become one of the leaders in the heavy-duty vehicle market.
The first brainchild of the Belarusian Automobile Plant was the BelAZ-540 that rolled off the assembly line in 1961. This 27-ton monster was the pride of the Soviet people. From the moment of manufacture with the first brainchild of the BelAZ auto concern, a large number of necessary tests.
Now Belaz-540A began its official working "career" in 1965. Of course, these are old Soviet trucks, and they are far from modern mining dump trucks, the newest of which is the BelAZ-75710. In pursuit of efficiency, the Belarusian concern has created, perhaps, the most load-lifting mining dump truck in the world. The weight of the transported cargo is 450 tons!
The designers of BelAZ-75710 are already preparing an application for entering this miracle of technology into the Guinness Book of Records. In fact, the success of this model was the sum of all the achievements of the automotive industry in this area. The workers of the plant have devoted 65 years to the development and improvement of their products.
The new model differs from the previous ones by using eight wheels instead of six. This decision allowed to take on board more payload. The turning radius of this giant is about 20 meters, which, given its dimensions, very little. The engineers also worked with the maneuverability of the car. By applying the principle of two rotary axles, it was possible to improve the overall maneuverability of the truck.
Huge work has been done with the power plant of the machine. The type of power unit used in the dump truck is diesel, coupled. The power produced by the power plant is 4600 l / s. All BelAZ-75710 systems were subjected to deep modernization, which ultimately improved and secured the handling of the car. In addition, the loading and unloading of cargo has also become more convenient and easier, the smoothness of the ride and the maneuverability of the dump truck have improved. The pride of Belarusian engineers, BelAZ-75710, turned out to be an extremely balanced and reliable car.
Summary
Despite the impressive size and huge weight, each element of the truck we are considering meets the most stringent safety and reliability requirements. Truly, the list of "Trucks of the USSR" would be incomplete without BelAZ mining dump trucks. But on this machine, our review does not end there. We go further.
Truck ZIL-131
In 1966, the automobile began production of the updated ZIL-130 model. The car was an off-road truck with improved performance compared to its predecessors. The designers of the plant decided to leave the bonnet scheme, modifying only some parts of the cab.
Advantages of the car ZIL-131
Thanks to the excellent passage on almost any off-road, the ZIL-131 has become good helper in various fields of human activity.
The nodes and mechanisms of the model, which showed their reliability on previous samples, were modernized and continued to serve reliably further.
The car turned out to be surprisingly hardy and tenacious. The operating temperature range is more than impressive. ZIL-131 can operate at air temperatures from -40 to +50 degrees Celsius.
The machine was actively used in military units and performed various tasks. On its basis, modifications of vehicles intended for the transport of personnel were created. armed forces, field kitchens and mobile hospitals.
On the basis of ZIL-131 placed Various types weapons and radio equipment. The car was actively used in the aviation sector as a vehicle for refueling aircraft, helicopters and other aviation flight support mechanisms.
The machine was used in geological exploration, the construction industry and even snow removal.
Disadvantages of ZIL-131
Judging by the reviews, the car eats a lot. However, fuel consumption of 40 liters per 100 km can be attributed to the shortcomings rather conditionally.
Conclusion
Like all trucks of the USSR, ZIL-131 inherited its own "character". There is no doubt about the reliability of such cars. Even today, after many decades, ZIL-131 continues to fulfill its difficult mission.
82 years ago, the first serial "lorry" came off the assembly line of the Nizhny Novgorod Automobile Plant - famous car GAZ-AA, which for several decades became a real "king" Soviet roads. By this date, "RG" remembered 7 legendary models trucks, which the domestic auto industry was rightfully proud of.
History of creation."Automobile Moscow Society", established in 1916, began its activities with the assembly of the Italian "one and a half" FIAT 15 Ter. Shortly after the October Revolution, the plant was nationalized, and then reoriented to the production of AMO-F-15 cars - the first Soviet trucks. However, they outwardly differed little from the "FIATs", although the "stuffing" was largely domestic. The car became absolutely Soviet only in 1933, changing its name to AMO-3. And it was this model that was later taken as the basis for the production of the popular ZIS-5 trucks.
Peculiarities. The car was created on the basis of Italian trucks and many components for a long time were imported. In the engine ignition system, for example, the mechanisms of the company Bosch, already well known at that time, were used; in the electrical system, Scintilla parts were used.
By the way. Despite the noble European origin of the machine proved to be inconvenient to use. driver's seat was located right of center and too close to the steering wheel, so that the drivers experienced discomfort, almost resting their feet on the steering wheel. In addition, to the feet due to design features acted cold air which was especially felt in winter.
History of creation."Lutorki" became the first cars that were created at the Nizhny Novgorod (Gorky) Automobile Plant, opened on January 1, 1932. On the gigantic by the standards of the young Soviet republic NAZ, which by the end of 1932 had turned into a more familiar GAZ, the authorities made a serious bet, but they decided to start production with "cloning" american truck Ford-AA. However, the agreement with the Ford empire allowed Soviet engineers some "liberties", and they partially changed the steering gear and clutch housing, and side body and completely made it unique. Since 1933, GAZ began to make do with only domestic components, and after that the gradual improvement of the car began. In total, up to October 1949, over 820 thousand of them were released. Thus, GAZ-AA is considered the most massive Soviet truck in the first half of the 20th century.
Peculiarities. Experts say that GAZ-AA was quite modern car, while he could drive on almost any fuel, even tractor naphtha. Although the "lorries" got their nickname for their carrying capacity of one and a half tons, working on large Soviet construction sites, they had to transport much more - up to thirty centners.
By the way. Due to the constantly failing starter with battery, drivers, as a rule, started GAZ-AA engine special crank, "crooked starter". However, this turned out to be not only a disadvantage, but also an advantage of the "one and a half" - any frosts were nothing to her. This helped especially during the years of the Great Patriotic War, when "gaziki" were valued higher than captured foreign cars.
History of creation. Prototypes of the new GAZ 51st modification were presented to members Soviet government in May 1945 (the car was created back in 1937, but they did not manage to start mass production before the war). After the Victory, the country needed new trucks. "Lorries" honorably fulfilled their military mission, but more were needed to restore the economy. powerful machines. The previously developed model came to court - and after a while they began to make it even in Poland, China and the DPRK. Until 1975, almost 3.5 million of these trucks hit the roads. But still, the main model of the Gorky Automobile Plant in the second half of the 20th century was the GAZ-52 and GAZ-53, which were easy to confuse with each other because of the same cab. They began to be assembled back in the 60s, and the last 53rd, although already modified, rolled off the assembly line in 1993.
Peculiarities. GAZ-52 was able to carry cargo weighing up to 2.5 tons, and its older "brother" - up to three, and later up to four tons, when the front axle of the car was strengthened and replaced cardan transmission. Meanwhile, an eight-cylinder engine with 115 horsepower allowed the truck to accelerate to 85 kilometers per hour.
By the way. Gorky engineers managed to create a machine that worked equally well in hot Laos and in snowy Finland, where 53rd GAZs were willingly purchased. No wonder this particular truck became the hero of the development of virgin lands in Kazakhstan and the corn projects of the then General Secretary of the Communist Party Nikita Khrushchev.
History of creation. The famous 130th ZIL replaced the morally and technically obsolete 164th model. The first car at the capital's automobile plant was assembled in December 1956, the last - in 1994. During this time, the car has firmly won domestic market bonnet trucks, being considered the "calling card" of ZIL. The class of the car was also recognized by international experts: for example, in 1963 new model was presented at the International Fair in Leipzig and received a gold medal, and in 1971 she was awarded the State Quality Mark.
Peculiarities. ZIL-130 for several years, as they say, brought to mind. Engineers assembled almost four dozen prototypes, repeatedly tried to optimize the power unit, tested about 70 engines and about 100 gearboxes. Of course, such a thorough approach made it possible to create a car that for three decades was quite competitive even by world standards. In the 130th, there were amazing for those times the power steering and the pre-heater of the engine. An eight-cylinder V-shaped overhead valve carburetor engine with a capacity of 150 horsepower allowed the car to reach speeds of up to 90 kilometers per hour. In addition, the ZIL-130 became the first truck in the USSR with a carrying capacity of 6 tons.
By the way. A version is circulating on the Internet, according to which the Soviet Union received a drawing of the ZIL-130 car from Japan as a reparation. Apparently, this bike became an element of the advertising campaign of the capital's plant, although the design of the car was indeed innovative for the USSR (which is worth only the alligator-type hood) and strongly resembled American bonneted trucks of the 50s of the last century.
History of creation. The "five hundredth" MAZ in the 60s of the last century made about the same impression on the roads as the five hundredth "Mercedes" in the 90s. It was the first Soviet cabover truck. It remains to be surprised at the persistence of the designers and engineers of the Minsk Automobile Plant, who were able to prove to officials the need to hide the diesel engine under the cab. The decision turned out to be correct - it became easier for the driver to control such a machine and perform the necessary manipulations with the motor, and the body became more spacious. As a result, the carrying capacity of MAZs increased from 4.2 tons, as it was in the bonneted 200 model, to 6 tons, and then to 7.5. Note that the first prototypes of new machines were made in 1958, and serial ones - only in 1965.
Peculiarities. MAZ-500 in the 1960s was to a certain extent unique machine. Not only did it use a new structural diagram the location of the engine, and the motor itself was installed unusual. The modern YaMZ-236 diesel engine seemed simply silent compared to the previous one. two-stroke motor, which caused a lot of inconvenience with its roar. In addition, the "five hundredth" received a power steering, telescopic shock absorbers and even the so-called planetary gearboxes in the rear wheel hubs.
By the way. One of the most difficult tasks for MAZ designers was to reduce the "vibration load" driver's seat, which was located exactly above the left front wheel. Both engineers and testers were tormented with this question, who literally had to "shake" all day, winding hundreds of kilometers around the test site. Before the start of the serial production of the "five hundredths", the necessary suspension elements seemed to have been found, but the designers decided to continue the optimization. All the shortcomings in the operation of the suspensions were eliminated only after a German vibration stand was purchased at the Minsk Automobile Plant.
History of creation. The Kama Automobile Plant is perhaps the only large enterprise in the industry that has never produced bonneted trucks. The very first model of a huge production, opened in Tatarstan in 1969, was a car of a modern layout - with a cab located above the engine. It should be noted that until 1980, at KamAZ, they worked according to drawings created, in particular, at ZIL, where for a long time they did not launch their own production of cabover trucks. Knowing the tenacity with which the Likhachev Plant approached improving the quality of cars, it is not surprising that the KamAZ-5320, created, in fact, like the ZIL-170 back in the late 1960s, was recognized as one of best cars XX century in its class. In Naberezhnye Chelny - after many years of refinement - the conveyor with these trucks was launched only in 1976, and the last 5320 left it only in 2000.
Peculiarities. The very first KamAZ trucks were literally crammed with equipment unique for the Soviet automotive industry. Take only a 5-speed gearbox with an additional gearbox - splitter, active-reactive muffler, nitrided crankshaft and the presence of four brake systems at once (working, parking, auxiliary and spare), and a clutch pedal pneumatic booster was added to the power steering already familiar from the ZIL-130. Note that KamAZ-5320 had a record load capacity of 8 tons at that time.
By the way. The transfer of the first five KamAZ trucks in February 1976 from Naberezhnye Chelny to Moscow was a real test for the factory workers and their brand new, not yet run-in cars. On the way, one of the cars had a casting defect, due to which all the antifreeze leaked out of the tank. Resourceful drivers plugged the hole with a knot, and instead of antifreeze, they poured water - and set off on a further journey. And yet, one of the cars did not reach Red Square - the clutch lever failed. However, this rally only helped KAMAZ engineers to identify the weak points of new products.
BelAZ-540 (7522)
History of creation. The BelAZ-540 mining dump truck was developed at a plant in the Belarusian city of Zhodino in just a year - the Soviet industry urgently demanded to replace the 525th model, which was outdated in many respects. In 1961, a prototype appeared, and in 1965, after some refinement, the mighty truck left the assembly line and literally went to the quarry. It should be noted that the Belarusian giants came to court in many countries of the world, including not only Eastern Europe but also China, Argentina, Pakistan.
Peculiarities. The carrying capacity of the car was unimaginable at that time 27 tons, while the car itself weighed almost 21 tons. Surprisingly, with these parameters, BelAZ could accelerate to 55 kilometers per hour thanks to a V-shaped four-stroke 12-cylinder diesel engine with a capacity of 360 horsepower. The steering wheel with a screw rather than a ball mechanism, and a hydromechanical transmission helped the driver to manage such a colossus.
By the way. The huge BelAZ-540 seems very tiny against the background latest development Zhodino machine builders with an index of 75710. This machine is capable of transporting 450 tons of cargo at a time, while its gross weight with a load will be 810 tons. BelAZ-75710 is recognized as the most big truck in the world.
January 29, 1932 the first truck rolled off the assembly line at the Gorky Automobile Plant GAZ-AA, the legendary "one and a half". He became one of the first legendary Soviet trucks that our country can be proud of. Many of these cars are still driving on the streets of Russia.
The first ten copies of the AMO-F-15 took part in a demonstration on Red Square, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Revolution. And three of them a few days later were sent to a test rally along Russian off-road. Trucks during this long race showed themselves from the best side, so the plant began their mass production. In total, in the period from 1924 to 1931, 6285 copies of the AMO rolled off the assembly line.
GAZ-AA - the legendary "one and a half"
This car got its nickname "lorry" (and also "polundra") due to the load capacity of 1.5 tons, for which this truck was designed. Initially, GAZ-AA was created on the basis of ford car Model AA, but then upgraded several times, eventually becoming an independent vehicle.
GAZ-AA was produced from 1932 to 1950, eventually becoming one of the most massive trucks in the history of the USSR (985 thousand copies). The finest hour of the "lorry" fell on the times of the Second World War - this unpretentious, simple, but reliable truck became the main "horse" of the Red Army. Including, and during the breakthrough of the Siege of Leningrad, when relatively light "gaziki" in large quantities they carried food to the besieged city on the ice of Lake Ladoga.
ZiS-5 - three-ton
Another legendary participant in the Great Patriotic War was the ZiS-5 truck (aka "three-ton", aka "Zakhar", aka "Zakhar Ivanovich").
Serial production of the ZiS-5 began in 1933. In fact, this truck became the heir to AMO-3. It was assembled entirely from domestic components, and during the war its design was simplified as much as possible - in harsh years, quantity was more important than quality. By the way, the legendary Katyusha was also created on the basis of this truck, albeit a slightly modernized one (officially called the ZiS-6).
GAZ-51 - a truck for virgin soil
The first copy of the GAZ-51 truck was created and shown to the public back in 1940, but the war prevented him mass production. So serial production began only in 1946, when the country needed equipment for post-war reconstruction.
Having become the most massive truck in the country in the fifties, the GAZ-51 was actively used in the development of virgin lands - untouched fertile steppes in the north of Kazakhstan. For the participants of this "great campaign", he became one of the symbols new era, the growth of the economic power of the USSR in those years.
Good design and enough low price turned the GAZ-51 into an export product that the Soviet Union supplied abroad. Moreover, not only to the countries of the Eastern bloc, but also to the capitalist states.
ZiS-150 - a successful "clone" of the American truck
Externally domestic truck ZiS-150 is very similar to american car International Harvester K-7, however, it cannot be considered a "clone". In fact, this car had only an American cabin - during the war, Soviet representatives were able to agree with the United States on the supply of body stamping presses. The technical basis of the novelty is local development and production.
At first, the body of the ZiS-150 was made partially of wood - the country devastated by the war did not have enough metal. However, over time, this shortcoming was corrected. The truck was produced between 1947 and 1957. A total of 771,883 units of this car were produced.
ZIL-130 - universal truck
ZIL-130 is probably the most versatile truck of domestic production. On the basis of this machine, over its half-century history, not only trucks, but also dump trucks, tractors, fire trucks and snowplows, garbage trucks, etc. were created. The secret of this versatility is a successful design that allows you to change the purpose vehicle, without changing its technical part, relatively small cost production and reliability, allowing the truck to operate for decades.
Trucks are still produced on the ZIL-130 chassis. True, now they are called AMUR. However, hundreds of thousands of ZILs Soviet-made still drive on the roads of Russia and other countries. In total, more than three million copies of this truck were produced.
GAZ-66 - cargo SUV
GAZ-66 was created to travel on the most extreme conditions where no other vehicle can pass. Four driven wheels allow the car to drive over dirt, rough terrain, rocks, rocks and other nasty surfaces. This is the reason why the GAZ-66 has become almost the main army truck.
What's the Soviet and Russian army! Even Jean-Claude Van Damme's character in the action movie The Expendables 2 drove a GAZ-66! Isn't that a real worldwide recognition?
Ural-375 - six-axle SUV
Ural-375 - another one four wheel drive truck, which was massively used not only for civilian, but also for military needs. Three driving axles and huge wheels, as well as a large carrying capacity, made it possible to carry it on the most bad roads and in the absence of these, not only people and cargo, but even the Grad multiple launch rocket system. However, significant technical shortcomings, for example, an unreliable but expensive gasoline engine, as well as problems in the brake system, led the Ministry of Defense to begin replacing this truck with the Ural-4320 already in 1982.
In the civilian sector, the Ural-375 truck, produced until 1992, is still used in the oil and geological exploration industries.
KrAZ-255 - Ukrainian hero
KrAZ-255 is a true legend of the Ukrainian and Soviet automotive industry. During its existence (since 1967), it received from the people, probably, more nicknames than any other domestic car, for example, “lappet”, “bast shoes” and even “moon rover”. There are legends about the traction power and ubiquitous cross-country ability of this truck. It is believed that this car can pull seven wagons loaded with coal straight along the sleepers.
More interesting fact- some KrAZ-255 models can be refueled not only with gasoline, but also with kerosene. Partly because of this, it was used as a tractor on airfields. However, being a driver on this truck is a real torment (which is only the lack of power steering!). No wonder another of his nicknames is "cannibal".
In principle, the KamAZ brand itself can be called the “main Soviet truck” as such! After all, since the mid-seventies, it was these vehicles that took over a significant part of civilian cargo transportation in the country. And the first model produced by the plant in Naberezhnye Chelny in 1976 was the KamAZ-5320.
KamAZ-5320 did not have a berth in the cab, which later became a branded element of this brand, but was a reliable and powerful truck. In subsequent models, such a constructive addition appeared, which turned the truck not just into a car, but into a real motor home.
The history of the Belarusian Automobile Plant (BelAZ) begins in September 1958, in the village of Zhodino on the outskirts of the city of Minsk on the basis of a plant for reclamation and road cars, built back in 1947. Its specialization was heavy mining dump trucks with an all-metal body and rear unloading. The pioneer in the production of mining dump trucks in the USSR was the Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ), where in 1950, under the leadership of chief designer B.L. Shaposhnik, the first domestic 25-ton dump truck MAZ-525 was created, and in 1957 - a 3-axle version of the MAZ-530 (6 × 4) with a carrying capacity of 40 tons. MAZ-525 became the first vehicle that was assembled at the Belarusian Automobile Plant November 6, 1958
The production of the MAZ-530 was also transferred there. These dump trucks had a 12-cylinder V-shaped diesel engine D-12A with a capacity of 300 and 450 hp, planetary wheel reduction gears and tires with landing diameter 32 inches. In September 1961, the first 27-ton BelAZ-540 dump truck was assembled at BelAZ gross weight 48 tons. Produced since September 1965, it was equipped with a D-12A V12 diesel engine (38.8 liters, 375 hp), automatic hydromechanical 3-x step box gears, wheeled planetary gears, power steering, 25-inch tires.
For the first time in the country, a hydropneumatic suspension and a combined hydraulic system were used on it. Since 1967, a modernized version of BelAZ-540A has been produced with a new V12 diesel engine of the YaMZ-240 model (22.3 liters, 360 hp). dump truck had wheelbase 3550 mm., developed a maximum speed of 55 km / h. This car was the first in the USSR to be awarded an honorary quality mark in those days and corresponded to the world level. Since 1972, the so-called northern and tropical (export) versions have been produced - respectively “540C” and “540T”.
The 540V truck tractor worked as part of a 45-ton dump truck. At the same time, the plant offered a dump truck-coal carrier "7510", in which the geometric capacity of the body was increased from 15 to 19 m3. In 1967, a 2-axle 40-ton BelAZ-548A dump truck with a gross weight of 69 tons and a wheelbase of 4200 mm became the basis of the second, heavier family. and a body with a capacity of 21 m 3. It used a turbocharged YaMZ-240N diesel engine with a power of 500 hp. The car was equipped with giant wheels for that time with tires measuring 21.00-33.
In all other respects, its design repeated the previous “540” family. In 1972, this dump truck began to be assembled in the northern version “548C”, as a coal carrier “7525” with a 27 cubic meter body and truck tractor"548V" for work with dump semi-trailers with a carrying capacity of 65 tons. A diesel-electric road train with 4 traction motor-wheels with a power of 800 kW was also manufactured. Since 1968, using the units of these dump trucks, a 1-axle BelAZ-531 tractor was produced for towing a scraper or earth-carrying cart, the gross weight of which reached 60 tons.
The development of this direction later became low and short-base airfield tractors for towing large airliners with a take-off weight of up to 210 tons. The plant offered three models “6411”, “7421” (1978), “74211” (1988) with diesel engines power 375-525 hp, hydromechanical transmissions and suspensions, front and rear lifting cabins. In the 60s. the implementation of a program for the creation of dump trucks with a carrying capacity of 110 tons or more began on the basis of fundamentally different constructive solutions, which primarily included electric transmission.
The car's engine drove a DC generator, which supplied electricity to the traction motors built into the rear wheel hubs, called the “motor-wheel”. The first in December 1968, on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Byelorussian SSR, was built an experimental 75-ton BelAZ-549 dump truck with a wheelbase of 4450 mm, a V8 diesel engine (58.2 liters, 950-1000 hp). ), an electric generator of 500 kW., motor-wheels with a power of 230 kW. each, independent hydropneumatic wheel suspension, separate hydraulic front and rear brakes, tires size 27.00-49. The body capacity was 38-40 m 3, the total weight of the dump truck was 142 tons, the maximum speed was 60 km / h.
Produced since 1976, the “549” series included the “549E” models with a V12 engine (43.7 l., 1050 hp) with a turbocharger and an electric generator of 630 kW., “549B” and “549V” with V6 diesel engines ( 900 hp) or V8 (1100 hp), as well as the northern version of the “549C”. As part of the experimental work in 1969, a BelAZ-549V truck tractor was built with a gas turbine power unit with a capacity of 1200 hp, towing a 120-ton semi-trailer. Its development in 1976 was the BelAZ-7420 truck tractor for the BelAZ-9590 single-axle semi-trailer with a carrying capacity of 120 tons.
It was equipped with a turbocharged V8 diesel engine (58 hp, 1300 hp) and an 800 kW electric generator, and the semi-trailer also had a wheel motor. With a gross weight of 222 tons, the road train developed a speed of 50 km / h, consuming 600 g of fuel per 100 km. In the 80s. the series “540” was replaced by a 30-ton version of the BelAZ-7522 with more economical engine power of 360 hp, a new transmission with increased torque converter efficiency, modernized braking system and updated radiator grille. The coal carrier variant received the index “7526”.
Since 1981, the 30-ton "75401" and "7540" were also produced for the removal of rock from deep quarries, equipped with a 445-horsepower YaMZ-240PL2 turbocharged diesel engine. The upgraded version “548” with a carrying capacity of 42 tons received the designation BelAZ-7523, and its coal-carrying version - “7527”. The successor of the “549” series was the 80-ton “7509” with rear disc brakes. In 1981, this series was developed in the design of 110 ton dump truck"7519" with a wheelbase of 5300 mm. and a gross weight of 195 tons ..
It was equipped with a 1300 hp V8 diesel engine, a 630 kW generator. and four traction motor-wheels of 360 kW each. each. The “75191” variant received a V6 engine (1100 hp). Front and rear drum brakes had an independent hydraulic drive. This giant, 5 m wide and over 6 m high, had a body with a capacity of 44 m 3, tires sized 33.00-51, developed a maximum speed of 60 km / h and consumed 420 liters. fuel per 100 km. A year later, “7521” appeared with a carrying capacity of 180 tons (gross weight 330 tons) - one of the largest and powerful cars of his time.
It used a turbocharged V12 diesel engine (87.2 liters, 2300 hp) and a maximum torque of 11860 Nm .. The car was equipped with an electric transmission, which included a 1250 kW DC generator. and motor-wheels of 560 kW .. Disc brakes had pneumatic booster. The cabin was made 2-seater, all-metal body with a capacity of 70 m 3 was equipped with heating. Installed tires size 40.00-57. With a wheelbase of 6650 mm. overall dimensions were 13500x6050x7700 mm.
The dump truck developed a speed of 50 km / h, and the average fuel consumption was 600 liters. per 100 km. By the end of the 80s. BelAZ has become the world's largest manufacturer of mining dump trucks, producing 5-5.5 thousand of such vehicles annually. This is the only factory in the world where most of these cars are assembled on an assembly line. At the turn of the 80-90s. BelAZ slowed down the pace of its development, continuing to produce slightly modernized versions of the previous basic series.
The program was based on the models “7540”, “7548”, “7549”, “7512” and “75214” with a carrying capacity of 30, 42, 80, 120 and 180 tons, respectively, and their coal-fueled versions with engines ranging from 420 to 2300 hp . The first car of a new generation appeared in 1995. It was a 55-ton BelAZ-7555, for which they offered a choice of YaMZ, MTU (MTU) or Cummins diesel engines with a capacity of 525-730 hp, a hydromechanical gearbox own production or the American "Allison" (Allison), hydropneumatic wheel suspension with 35-inch tires.
In subsequent years, the plant continued to expand the new family heavy vehicles retaining the traditional electric transmission. During this difficult time, an updated range of unified dump trucks with a payload capacity of 120-140 tons appeared. It was based on dump trucks “75121” and “75131” with V8 and V16 diesel engines with a power of 1200-1600 hp. and generators alternating current with converters and traction motors direct current. This range was continued by the 200-ton model “75303” with a 2300 hp diesel engine.
The highest achievement of BelAZ and one of the world's largest diesel-electric dump trucks was the 280-ton BelAZ-75501 with a gross weight of 480 tons, built in 1992 jointly with the Japanese company Komatsu. For the first time in the practice of the plant, an articulated frame, front dual wheels and disc brakes on all wheels, video cameras instead of rear-view mirrors were used on it. The turbocharged V12 diesel engine of the Kolomna Plant (165.6 liters, 3150 hp) is moved outside the wheelbase, placed transversely in front and drives an alternator that supplies electricity to all four motor-wheels. Max Speed giant machine- 40 km / h.
In 1995, economic reforms forced BelAZ to drastically change its main line and start assembling Polish 1.2-ton Lublin delivery trucks. To expand its program, BelAZ continues to develop and produce new equipment: 7542 container carriers, 5840 chassis for truck cranes, 7920 in-plant conveyors for transporting ladles with molten metal, 7921 and 7924 low-frame 140-ton conveyors for metallurgical enterprises, watering vehicles “7648”. In the late 90s, BelAZ annually produced 850-1100 dump trucks and chassis.
©. Photos taken from publicly available sources.
