In the Soviet Union, buses were the most common form of transport serving passengers on urban routes. Over time, they began to provide long-distance traffic, and there were those that were exported. Soviet designers, most often by order from above, paid little attention to the aesthetics of their models, dwelling on their functionality. But in the Soviet automobile industry there were amazing cars, and in our fleet of vehicles the most beautiful buses of the USSR were collected.
1
AMO-F15
Let's start with the great-grandfather of Soviet passenger buses, created on the basis of a truck. It may not be the most beautiful, but it all began with it.
The first car, designed for 14 seats, was presented to the exhibitors on September 25, 1925. It was the first automobile exhibition in the young Soviet state. From the exhibition, he went into mass production.
Buses were produced in one of the workshops of the Moscow Automobile Society plant from 1926 to 1931. They continued to release the first-born, but already under the name of ZiS.
2
ZIS-16
Chopped forms were a thing of the past, and in 1938 a new ZIS model with a rounded streamlined body came off the assembly line. Under the hood, an engine of 85 hp was installed.
The ZIS-16, compared with its predecessors, increased the interior, and it already had 27 seats. Buses became commonplace on the streets of large cities, and in 1940 this small worker transported 600 million passengers.
During the war, a large number of vehicles were sent to military units, where they were converted into headquarters, mobile hospitals, and mobile radio stations. In the rear, due to lack of gasoline, the fuel system was converted to gas.
3
ZIS-155
154 models of the city bus, which began to be produced immediately after the war, were replaced in 1949 by the new 155th ZISs. Capacity salons was designed for 50 people, and only 28 seats.
It was the first Soviet bus on which an alternator was installed. The low cost of the model made it possible to quickly update the post-war bus fleet. In 1957, the last model ZIS-155 came off the assembly line. They still worked on routes, and now they can be found in movies. By the way, do not miss the most-beauty.ru review of the best Soviet films.
The Moscow plant produced a long-distance version of urban transport. In such models they put 15 seats of an airplane type. They served passengers on the route Moscow - Simferopol. In Kharkov there was a 4-hour parking, and on the road, taking into account the rest, the tourist ZIS-155 overcame in 38 hours.
4
ZIS-127
The release of the first Soviet bus, intended only for intercity flights, began in 1955. Corrugated boards, and multiple aluminum and duralumin details gave beauty to the general appearance.
It was designed for 32 seats, with comfortable chairs. The backrests could be adjusted. Complementing the comfort of interior lighting, as well as an effective ventilation system. The driver was separated from the passenger compartment by a partition and he had a separate fan installed.
Served ZIS-127 routes from Moscow to Simferopol and Moscow - Riga, and also connected other cities of the Soviet Union. On the highway, it reached speeds of up to 95 km / h. In 1961 they were discontinued.
5
TurboNAMI-053
On the basis of ZIL-127, the Scientific Research Institute "NAMI" in 1959 created an experimental model. It served as a kind of laboratory on wheels, and it was not used on passenger routes.
The first in a series of Soviet buses on which a gas turbine engine was installed. He was distinguished by design. The case was facilitated by the use of lightweight materials. The driver had only the brake and gas pedals at his disposal, and the installed turbine doubled the power of the machine.
Mileage TurboNAMI amounted to 5,000 km, and tires that could not withstand the load when crossing the mark of 160 km did not allow to exceed the speed of more than 160 km / h.
6
LiAZ-158V
The production of the modernized bus, which received the letter index "B", began in 1961 at the Likinsky factory. In Moscow and Leningrad, they served the busiest routes with a large passenger flow.
Roomy and economical, they began to enter the bus fleets at the beginning of 62 years. According to production documents, they are called "ZIL-158B manufactured by Likinsky Bus Plant". The same inscription flaunts over the hood of the car.
Designers have developed cheaper and less beautiful urban models. Because of this, in 1971 the "158s" were discontinued, and in some cities their operation continued until the beginning of the 80s.
By the way, on our site most-beauty.ru there is an interesting article about the most beautiful cars in the world.
7
ZIL-159
This beauty, who was assembled on the eve of the new 1959 at the Likhachev factory, never happened to ride Soviet citizens. With a riveted duralumin case, it looked quite extravagant.
The city bus was designed for 70 passengers, of which 27 could sit. Designers significantly increased the doorway, which accelerated the landing and landing. There were technical innovations in it: a power steering, an experimental V-shaped engine with 8 cylinders.
ZIL-159 was exhibited at VDNH, passed sea trials, and experts recognized its promise. The car was released in a single copy, but the series was never launched. The reason was the banal transfer of bus assembly from Moscow to Likino-Dulyovo.
8
PAZ-665T
The history of the bus most popular on suburban routes began in 1952, and in 1965 the unusual model "665T" rolled off the assembly line.
The letter "T" meant "tourist," but they designed it and assembled it to participate in the 18th International Automobile Exhibition. He has no doors, they changed the front panel, the wheels were decorated with chrome wheels.
From the city of Pavlov to France, the model came under its own power. The Soviet machine took second place at the exhibition, as well as the Prize of Excellence. After the exhibition, it was never put into mass production. "PAZ-665T" remained in the only prototype.
9
LAZ-695
Lviv Automobile Plant was built, starting in 1945, all over the world. First, he produced mechanisms and equipment for buses of other enterprises, and in 1956, his own model left the plant’s gate.
The original LAZ 695 model absorbed the main achievements of the best buses of that time. Streamlined shapes, rounded glass on the roof, between the glass were thin partitions, and the windows had retractable windows. All this distinguished LAZ among the offspring of the Soviet automobile industry, making it, as they said, “airborne”.
For the first time, an engine was installed behind a passenger car. Two years later, the bus was modified, the design made easier, and he lost his original appearance.
10
PAZ-Tourist-Lux 8.5
The first model of the Soviet "tourist" PAZ-665T received a silver medal at the international motor show. This inspired designers to create a more advanced model.
The new PAZ was assembled in March 1969. The prefix “lux” was added to the name, and this fully corresponded to the comfort of the bus. It was comfortable for everyone, both passengers and the driver with a guide. The seats provided a tilt mechanism. At the back were a wash basin, a bar and a wardrobe.
The brand-new PAZ stood out with its original design, which was noted at international exhibitions. Having won the Nice Motor Show, where a model from Moscow arrived on his own, he once again took part in rallies and exhibitions. But the beautiful PAZ-Tourist-Suite was never launched into the series.
11
ZIU-6-2M
In 1971, workers of the Uritsky enterprise producing trolleybuses assembled a prototype ZIU-6-2M in their workshops. The population of cities increased, and the bus fleet needed new cars.
Components were supposed to be delivered from factories in Czechoslovakia and Hungary. The ZIU salon was designed for 38 seats, and in total it could carry, like a trolley, up to 100 passengers.
The model was superior to LIAZAS running already in Soviet cities in terms of number of seats and economy. But the plant did not establish serial production, leaving the previous specialization - the production of trolleybuses.
12
LAZ-4206
The development of a new suburban bus, designed for 74 seats, began in 1984. The first prototype came off the assembly line in 1988, and a small series was released after the collapse of the USSR.
Unlike other local-rural machines, it had an unusual design. Everyone is already accustomed to rural PAZiks, and here is such a long bus with large windows and luggage compartments. Developed a speed of 115 km / h.
The engine was located at the rear, and the inscription “4206” flaunted over the engine compartment cover. They released only a small number of cars, and the model number 4207 went into the series.
13
LAZ 697/699 "Tourist"
Since 1959, the plant in Lviv began producing tourist buses. We used them to service short-distance long-distance routes, they widely carried tourists to cities and resorts in the south of the USSR, and provided express delivery of people on specialized routes. So, LAZ-699I since 1974 delivered astronauts to the launch pad.
In 1982, the 697 series was stopped to ensure the wide release of the new Soviet “intercity” LAZ-699. In terms of design and comfort, this has become one of the best models of Soviet designers.
A comfortable cozy lounge with folding chairs, spacious luggage compartments provided maximum comfort when traveling. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine produced LAZs for several more years, but in 2002 the plant closed.
14
Minibuses "Youth"
The most famous Soviet minibus ZIL-118 "Youth" was launched in 1961. Appearing on the streets of Soviet cities, they brought a new breath and freshness to the city landscape.
The minibus has repeatedly participated in international motor shows, receive a total of 12 awards. Ford's factory was in talks to buy a license to issue Youth, but the Soviet auto industry was implacable.
Comfortable and cozy they were used on tourist and sightseeing routes, served foreigners. In the original version, the model was produced until 1971, and already a few modified Youths were assembled at ZiL until 1994.
Conclusion
Time has spared some Soviet models, and they continue to serve people. Many workers of the Soviet era forever froze on pedestals, becoming original monuments of the history of the Soviet automobile industry. The restored ones became exhibits of transport museums or replenished private collections of retro car lovers.
And a few more photos of Soviet buses:
Posted by Valery Skiba