LuAZ-967

The LuAZ-967 (ЛуАЗ-967) was the Transporter of the Front Line, a small Soviet four-wheel drive amphibious vehicle. Light enough to be air transportable, it had a 400 kg payload over most terrain.

History
The design originated after the Korean War, when the Soviets saw a need for small off-road vehicles comparable to the American Jeep, to supplement the overly-large and -heavy GAZ-69s then in service. It was to serve for casualty evacuation, munition supply and the carriage of light armaments, to be used by Russian Airborne Troops (VDV).

Developed at NAMI (the National Automobile Institute), the prototype, known as NAMI 049, was completed in 1958. Unlike the Jeep, it had a Fibreglass body, four-wheel torsion bar independent suspension, and permanent four-wheel drive with locking hubs. It had a wheelbase of 1,800 mm, a ground clearance of 280 mm, and was powered by a 22 hp MD-65 motorcycle engine (copied from an Orbita motorcycle). Trials proved it underpowered, and the body too fragile.

A second prototype, the NAMI 049A, had a 746 cc V4 MeMZ 965 engine (selected for use in the ZAZ-965), steel body, and rear wheel drive (with optional drive to the front wheels). The torsion bars were replaced with a coil spring setup. It weighed 1,350 kg, with a 37 hp MeMZ 967A engine, and was able to pull a 300 kg trailer; it could cross a 58° gradient, and top speed was 47 mph.

It was produced between 1961-1975 at Lutsk automobile plant - LuAZ. It was succeeded by the LuAZ-969В, LuAZ-969, LuAZ-969М and the LuAZ-1302.

Modifications

 * LuAZ-967A — modernized high-powered engine MeMZ-967А
 * LuAZ-967M — modernized ЛуАЗ-967А with the same engine.
 * Geolog - a special 6-wheel version was built.

Mechanical
The LuAZ 967M had a MeMZ-967A 887 cc gasoline engine from the ZAZ automobile. An air-cooled, carbureted ohv V4, it developed 37 hp at 2250 rpm.

A 4 speed transmission with 2 ranges gave 8 forward and 2 reverse gears. Unlike many small military vehicles, it was a front wheel drive 4x2, the rear axle was selectively engaged only when 4x4 was needed.

The watertight steel body had 4-wheel independent suspension with coil springs and 285 mm of ground clearance. The driving controls were on the truck’s centerline, both the controls and the windshield could be folded down for a lower profile.