GAZ-53
 | This articlerelies largely or entirely on asingle source.(October 2018) |
| GAZ-53 | |
|---|---|
 GAZ-53 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | GAZ |
| Also called |
|
| Production | 1961–1993 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Truck |
| Body style | 2-door standard cab 4-door double cab (fire engines only) |
| Layout | Front engine layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
|
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | GAZ-51 |
| Successor | GAZ-3307 |
TheGAZ-53is a 3.5 tonne 4x2truckproduced byGAZbetween 1961 and 1993. Introduced first asGAZ-53F,it was joined by the virtually identical 2.5-ton GAZ-52 in 1962, which was produced until 1989.
The GAZ-52 and GAZ-53 trucks are distinguished by differentlighting systems,wheel rimsandtonnage(payload): the GAZ-52 was able to carry up to 2.5 tonnes of cargo, whereas the GAZ-53A could carry up to 4 tonnes. From 1961 to 1975 the GAZ-53 was produced along with its predecessor, theGAZ-51.
Given the long production run of GAZ-52/53 and their variants, the series is a common sight in Eastern Europe. They should not be mistaken for the broadly similar 5-6 tonZIL-130,which is also usually painted light blue with a white grille. The GAZ grille is fluted vertically, and the direction indicators are located above the headlamps. The ZIL has flashers below the headlamps and its grille is horizontally slated.
History
[edit]The main (or basic) variant of GAZ-53 with no suffix letter was released in 1964. It featured the brand-new 4254 cc light-alloyV8ZMZ-53 engine, which was a modified version of the one used in theGAZ-13 Chaika,with a reduced compression ratio and smaller 2 barrel carburetor.[1]The ZMZ-53 produces 120 hp SAE Gross at 3200 rpm, giving the GAZ-53 a top speed of 90 km/h (56 mph).
Early versions, called GAZ-53F, were powered by an old 75-hp (SAE Gross) six-cylinder engine from theGAZ-51truck; but since 1964, the GAZ-53 was equipped with a 4.3LZMZ-53V8 engine. Payload was increased to 4 tons in the 1965 model, called GAZ-53A. The GAZ-53A was built until January 1983, when the GAZ-53-12 took over until production ended.[2]All variants use a four-speed gearbox, synchronized on third and fourth. A number of other sub-versions were also introduced, including the military version GAZ-53A-016.
In total, over 4 million GAZ-53 were built, making it the highest production truck of the Soviet Union.[2]
Bulgaria
[edit]The GAZ-53A was also license-built by KTA Madara inShumen,Bulgaria, beginning in 1967. They were called the Madara 400 series (the "4" representing its four-tonne payload). Beginning in the 1970s, the Bulgarian-built trucks were fitted with locally built four-cylinder 3.9 literPerkinsdiesel (later also turbodiesel) engines, made by the Vasil Kolarov engine plant inVarna.[2]These engines had either 80 or 100 PS (59 or 74 kW).[3]Madara built about 3,000 trucks per year throughout the 1980s, which met the needs of the local market.[2]
References
[edit]- ^Двигатели V8 ЗМЗ конструкция, характеристики, история разработки
- ^abcd"ГАЗ 53"[GAZ-53].АвтоКлуб ГАЗ 53(in Russian). Archived fromthe originalon 20 September 2019.
- ^Rex, Rainer, ed. (July 1989),Lastauto Omnibus Katalog 1990[Truck and bus catalog] (in German), vol. 19, Motor-Presse-Verlag GmbH und Co. KG, p. 50, 81531/89001
External links
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