GAZ 67 A Russian Wartime Legend

GAZ 67 a name which is not popular with many of us unlike WILLYS but
it played a major role in World War 2 for Russia and was no less than any
tank, aircraft or battleship. GAZ 67 came into existence at the Gorky
Automobile Plant and numbered a massive 92843 examples in a decade
(1943 to 1953). By the end of the war the vehicle proved as important to
the Soviet Army effort as the WILLYS did for the allies. With such numbers,
the GAZ-67 served on into the post war years fielded in the Korean War
and Indochina War.
GAZ-67 was different from competing WILLYS in design, it looked more
likely a 1930s automobile. The driver sat at the front left behind a
steering column with wheel in a conventional arrangement with passenger
seating to his right and immediately aft. The wheels were set at the
extreme corners of the chassis to promote better handling on turns and
uneven terrain. Headlamps protruded some from the front fenders and
were circular shape giving the vehicle a distinct look. The two pane
windscreen could be folded down over the engine hood or removed all
together. A spare wheel was fixed to the rear panel. The shell sat on top of
chassis to maximize the ground clearance. Gaz was powered by a Model A
(Ford) 4-cylinder, 3.3 lt, water-cooled, gasoline fuelled 50 horse power
engine and drove all four wheels through conventional gearbox. Maximum
road speed was 56 miles per hour (90 kmph). Interestingly the vehicles
fuel tank was installed under the instrument panel.
Gorky began production of GAZ-67 in September 1943 by which time the
Eastern Front had turned in to a bloody affair against the might of the
Axis powers led by Hitlers Germany. GAZ-67 was slower than its American
counterpart. The vehicle line was then slightly improved by the arrival of
the GAZ-67B model series which came with some refinements including
lengthened wheelbase of 1.85 meters and more powerful 54 horsepower
engine. The B model appeared in January 1944 and became the definitive
production form.
The GAZ 67 and GAZ67B were taken over by GAZ-69A in 1953.
Specs
Type : 4x4 Military Utility vehicle.
Country of origin: Soviet Union
Manufacturer: Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod (GAZ)- Soviet Union
Overall length: 3.34 meters

Width and Height: 1.70 meters

Weight: 1320 kg
Maximum Speed: 90 km/h
Maximum Range: 140 kms
Engine: Ford 4 cylinder , liquid cooled, 3.3 lt petrol.