The terrible secrets of KamAZ, which you should not know
- March 9, 2023
- 0
What is the trucking giant that the world knows? That’s right: the release of heavy vehicles. However, this can not only boast of the Kama Automobile Plant. True,
What is the trucking giant that the world knows? That’s right: the release of heavy vehicles. However, this can not only boast of the Kama Automobile Plant. True, in fairness it is worth adding that it is better not even to remember some of his achievements. Or do we remember?
THIS IS NOT KAMAZ, BUT ZIL
You will be surprised, but the first KAMAZ truck, which received the factory index 320, is actually not KAMAZ at all. The fact is that the progenitor of the serial truck turned out to be a cabover from the engineers of the Likhachev plant. Yes, yes, the model of the ZIL-170 truck tractor, which became the prototype of the future KAMAZ “heavy truck”, appeared a year before the start of construction of the Kama Automobile Plant. But the Zilovites did not have the resources for the production of such a model in 1968, and therefore they actually took a ready-made promising project and just “swapped shoes” to KamAZ.
FAILURE DEVELOPMENTS
However, the factory in Naberezhnye Chelny later also started its own developments and experimented so that you get a diva. Thus, in the early 1970s, the company presented its vision of a state-of-the-art modular highway train. The project could really turn out to be incredibly successful, but, as usual, it was not brought to a logical end.
LONG SUFFERING
Because, in fact, they did not give the green light to the prototypes of cars, including the city minicar “Mishka” with the code designation 1101. We are talking about a miniature car with a pair of seats and a fiberglass body. Protection of the riders in a car with a removable roof and doors was provided by lateral safety arches, and a modest 23 hp engine took care of the mediocre dynamics. Fortunately or unfortunately, the conceptual model died before it was born.
A similar fate befell the futuristic minivan under the ambitious name “Shuttle”, which KAMAZ designed together with NAMI engineers. A specific 12-seater minibus had no cabin for the driver, but had to move thanks to artificial intelligence. As they say, you should, but you don’t have to. Therefore, the prototype, equipped with a 100 hp electric motor, was buried before it was officially launched on the market. I wonder if the once-announced Atom concept will turn into a series or will it also be sent to the dustbin of history after another “cut” of funds?
WAR ON AGRICULTURE
Together with cargo vehicles in Naberezhnye Chelny, it was planned to launch a line for assembling tractors for agricultural needs. But to promise is not to marry. In addition, the factory workers preferred the army’s “heavy trucks” to the KT-240K models, which, however, did not all make it onto the assembly line either. Although among them were wonderful developments, including armored cars and military SUVs. In general, we have what we have.
Photo: .trucksplanet.com
Manufacturer’s photo
Manufacturer’s photo
Photo: auto.wp
THIS IS NOT KAMAZ, BUT ZIL
You will be surprised, but the first KAMAZ truck, which received the factory index 320, is actually not KAMAZ at all. The fact is that the progenitor of the serial truck turned out to be a cabover from the engineers of the Likhachev plant. Yes, yes, the model of the ZIL-170 truck tractor, which became the prototype of the future KAMAZ “heavy truck”, appeared a year before the start of construction of the Kama Automobile Plant. But the Zilovites did not have the resources for the production of such a model in 1968, and therefore they actually took a ready-made promising project and just “swapped shoes” to KamAZ.
FAILURE DEVELOPMENTS
However, the factory in Naberezhnye Chelny later also started its own developments and experimented so that you get a diva. Thus, in the early 1970s, the company presented its vision of a state-of-the-art modular highway train. The project could really turn out to be incredibly successful, but, as usual, it was not brought to a logical end.
LONG SUFFERING
Because, in fact, they did not give the green light to the prototypes of cars, including the city minicar “Mishka” with the code designation 1101. We are talking about a miniature car with a pair of seats and a fiberglass body. Protection of the riders in a car with a removable roof and doors was provided by lateral safety arches, and a modest 23 hp engine took care of the mediocre dynamics. Fortunately or unfortunately, the conceptual model died before it was born.
A similar fate befell the futuristic minivan under the ambitious name “Shuttle”, which KAMAZ designed together with NAMI engineers. A specific 12-seater minibus had no cabin for the driver, but had to move thanks to artificial intelligence. As they say, you should, but you don’t have to. Therefore, the prototype, equipped with a 100 hp electric motor, was buried before it was officially launched on the market. I wonder if the once-announced Atom concept will turn into a series or will it also be sent to the dustbin of history after another “cut” of funds?
WAR ON AGRICULTURE
Together with cargo vehicles in Naberezhnye Chelny, it was planned to launch a line for assembling tractors for agricultural needs. But to promise is not to marry. In addition, the factory workers preferred the army’s “heavy trucks” to the KT-240K models, which, however, did not all make it onto the assembly line either. Although among them were wonderful developments, including armored cars and military SUVs. In general, we have what we have.
Source: Avto Vzglyad
Donald Salinas is an experienced automobile journalist and writer for Div Bracket. He brings his readers the latest news and developments from the world of automobiles, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the latest trends and innovations in the automotive industry.
