USSR ATVs: overview, specifications and interesting facts

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

During the Soviet era, designers of various bureaus created many types of off-road vehicles. All-terrain vehicles of the USSR were often produced on an experimental basis in order to find the best option. The main creators of such units at that time were the developers of ZIL, NAMI, MAZ.

E-167 swamp vehicle

In the early 60s, SKB ZIL received a government order to create an all-terrain vehicle that can easily overcome marshy and snowy areas in the Far North. The prototype was created in just a few months. The result was a snow and swamp vehicle on six wheels, the length of which was nine meters.

The unit had a mass of 12 and a load capacity of 5 tons. The body, made of fiberglass, could accommodate about 18 people. Ground clearance was 75 centimeters. USSR all-terrain vehicles of this series were equipped with two V-8 gasoline power plants, with a capacity of 180 horsepower. The engines were aggregated with a pair of three-speed automatic transmissions. The maximum speed of the ZiL E-167 was 75 kilometers per hour. At the same time, the device consumed about 100 liters of fuel per hundred kilometers. In spite ofsuccessful tests, according to which the car was not inferior to many tracked competitors, this modification did not go into serial production.

Augers ZIL-4904

The designers of the plant created this modification in 1972. Auger-driven equipment could pass where wheeled models were loaded instantly. In addition, similar all-terrain vehicles of the USSR were not afraid of water. Their only problem was moving on hard surfaces.

The ZIL-4904 auger turned out to be really gigantic. Its mass was more than seven tons, and its length was eight and a half meters with a width and height of 3 m. At the smallest point, the ground clearance of this "monster" was at least a meter. The technique was powered by two engines, which together produced 360 horsepower. Testing of the machine has proven that it can go almost anywhere. Despite the low speed (on water - 7 km / h, and on snow - up to 10 km / h), the tests were generally recognized as successful, although this project was soon closed.

ZIL-4906

Army all-terrain vehicles of the USSR called ZIL-4906 ("Blue Bird") were designed to search and rescue space crews who landed in hard-to-reach areas. The unit got its name due to the blue color of all models, which made it possible to notice the equipment from afar. The basic versions of the car were available in two variations:

1. Salon (49061).
2. Crane (4906).

The second modification was equipped with a manipulator and a small auger, allowing you to get to hard-to-reach areas.

The peculiarity of the "Blue Bird" is that all the dimensions of the equipment were adjusted to the cargo compartments of aircraft and helicopters used at that time. As a power plant, a V-8 gasoline engine was used, the power of which was 150 “horses”, and the maximum speed on water was 8 kilometers per hour. The considered all-terrain vehicles of the USSR can be called the most successful development of the ZiL Design Bureau.

Crawler all-terrain vehicles of the USSR

In the 60s of the last century, NAMI employees decided to create an SUV equipped with pneumatic tracks and one-piece movers with tracks. The model was made on the basis of the car "Moskvich-415". The prototype received the C-3 index. The rear wheels were replaced with caterpillar elements. They were equipped with a pair of balancing carts, pneumatic chamber belts, double rollers with drive sprockets.

Soon a modernized version based on the GAZ-69 was released. It is worth noting the presence of reinforced pneumatic tracks and leading front drums. Such an all-terrain vehicle was also capable of moving on a hard surface at a speed of about forty kilometers per hour. Another idea of NAMI designers is known. In 1968, they tried to combine a car and tracks with interchangeable inflatable pneumatic tracks. However, the matter never reached mass production.

GPI Series

Employees of the Polytechnic Institute have developed a number of off-road prototypes, including military all-terrain vehicles of the USSR. For example, GPI-23 hadfive tons of carrying capacity afloat, equipped with an all-metal welded hull with a frame made of steel profiles.

The unit was set in motion by a YaMZ-204V diesel engine, the transmission unit included a main gear of the car speed type, cardan and friction switches. The chassis consisted of road wheels arranged in pairs (six pieces on each side), driving and driven wheels, independent torsion bar suspension, a pair of pneumatic track tracks. On the cargo platform, it is possible to install a tarpaulin awning.

Despite the fact that the GPI modifications were released as prototypes, the designers of the GAZ plant, focusing on existing developments, released a serial all-terrain vehicle GAZ-47.

Lightweight off-road conquerors

Forgotten all-terrain vehicles of the USSR were produced not only on multi-ton platforms. There are a number of developments based on the Moskvich and ZAZ-966 cars.

In the first case, the swamp was equipped with an all-metal hull and aluminum outer skin. GPI-37 had a carrying capacity of 0.5 tons and the ability to tow a trailer with a similar mass. The engine was located in front, the chassis had a pair of rubber-fabric caterpillars, metal ground hooks, support and guide rollers. This all-terrain vehicle was distinguished by low specific pressure on the soil.

In the mid-sixties of the last century, two versions of the snow and swamp-going vehicle based on the ZAZ-966 were created: S-GPI-19 and S-GPI-19A. The carrying capacity was two hundred and fiftykilogram. The main purpose of these light floating all-terrain vehicles was to serve hunting and fishing farms in the Far North.

MAZ-7907

ATVs of the USSR and Russia received a worthy competitor from Belarusian designers. In the 80s, a giant transporter of the 7907 series was released. The technique was supposed to be used to transport mobile missile systems. The dimensions of the all-terrain vehicle were almost thirty meters in length, and in width and height - more than 4 m.

The uniqueness of this giant lies in the fact that it is the only mobile unit with 24 driving wheels, sixteen of which are swivel type. The turning radius of the "monster" was 27 meters. The T-80 tank gas turbine engine was used as a power unit, the power of which was increased to 1,250 horsepower. Each wheel was equipped with an electric motor, the maximum speed of the conveyor was 25 kilometers per hour. After the collapse of the Union, such equipment lost its relevance, you can see it in the museum of the Minsk Automobile Plant.