Why did KrAZ have a round fuel tank?

There was a joke in the 90s: the Japanese bought this truck, melted down and… made three of their own. Probably everyone guessed that we were talking about KrAZ. It was the most powerful Soviet dump truck. And it looked absolutely terrifying.

And all because it was produced in Kremenchug. Very close by, in Krivoy Rog, there was one of the largest iron ore deposits. I think it is clear to everyone that ferrous metals were used during the design and manufacture of heavy-duty cars, no one saved.

The automobile plant owes its appearance to the traditional Soviet policy of rotation of enterprises. At the end of the 50s, the Yaroslavl Automobile Plant decided to re-profile for the production of diesel engines for heavy trucks. In principle, the decision was successful. Subsequently, YaMZ was installed on MAZs, KrAZs, and some models of tanks.

To provide the plant with such a narrow profile, the production of trucks had to be transferred to the Kremenchug Combine Plant. The corresponding resolution was adopted by the Soviet Council of Ministers on April 17, 1958. And so began the history of the new Soviet automobile brand.

In addition to the appearance, for which the drivers called him the "cannibal", KrAZ also had other features. For example, a fuel tank of an unusual cylindrical shape. Why was this necessary, wondered on the channel "Time Technique". You will learn interesting thoughts from the video itself and comments to it by clicking on the link above.