GAZ GAZ-62

GAZ

GAZ-62: Soviet 4x4 paratrooper truck

GAZ-62 — Soviet low payload 4x4 truck with a cab-over-engine design, intended for paratroopers. Here we outline its construction, history, and why only a few dozen were produced.

GAZ-62 in brief

GAZ-62 — Soviet low payload high-mobility truck with a 4x4 drivetrain and cab-over-engine design. It was intended for the airborne forces.

The vehicle could carry 12 people or 1.1 tonnes of cargo in tough road conditions.

History and development

During testing, the closest foreign equivalent was the German 'Unimog', and the Soviet truck did not fall short in terms of mobility. After successfully passing tests, the GAZ-62 began production and was sent to the military.

Several prototypes with a soft top were created under the GAZ-62 index, but only the cab-over-engine model was produced in small numbers. Initially, it was supposed to have a soft top, but in 1958 it was decided to build the cab-over-engine design.

Technology and significance

The vehicle's weight is around 2,570 kg. Without a trailer, it could tackle a 32° incline, with a trailer — 22°, and the maximum fording depth reached about 0.8 m. High mobility was ensured by locking differentials and a large ground clearance, while tyres could run at very low pressure in sand and marshes.

The cab had a canvas roof, a folding windscreen, and removable upper door sections; it tilted forward to make it easier to access the engine. It used a six-cylinder GAZ engine with overhead valves. Hypoid main gears, telescopic shock absorbers, and tyres with split rims were later used in other GAZ four-wheel-drive models.

Where to spot one and whether it's possible to buy

Production was very limited: according to known data, around 40 cars were made in 1959, around 21 in 1960, five in 1961, three in 1962, and production was then halted.

Few examples survive. Russian sources mention that there was never a place for this model in the manufacturer's history museum. It's practically non-existent in the market.