GAZ-66 - "Shishiga" cross-country ability

On the Russian roads, there are still Soviet military trucks, and most often it is the GAZ-66. Oddly enough, but many of these fuel eaters have city services, public utilities, signalmen, and so on. Despite the high consumption of gasoline, they continue to operate "Shishigi".


Off-road truck comes across both in shabby and in perfect condition. Where do they get the new GAZ-66? From storage, of course, where else!

Cars are periodically decommissioned from military units, after which they go on sale with about zero mileage. Of course, in order to put the truck at full speed, you will have to work and invest - change all the rubber bands and fluids. But it really will be a brand new GAZ-66!

Where he served and who is useful now

The medium-duty off-road military truck was created at the height of the Cold War. The GAZ-66 was developed for specific purposes - it was supposed to be a car for paratroopers, capable of being transported by then transport aircraft. Plus, the truck must be able to "parachute jump" and conquer off-road.





As a result, it was decided to show the world two modifications:

• ? GAZ-66 onboard, soon "overgrown" with numerous versions and body types
  
• ? GAZ-66B landing
  

A specific military version was produced from 1967 to 1984, as for the GAZ-66 chassis, they were made until 1999 inclusive.
Over the entire time, more than 1 trucks have been produced, and this is not counting the 000B modification.

The prototype of the "Shishiga" was the GAZ-62 of the third series of the 1959 model year. About 50 such light trucks were produced in three years, then production was curtailed. By the way, this "rogue" managed to meet the German Unimog during the tests, and beat him.

Do you know why the GAZ-66 is called "Shishiga"? There are two versions, but in fact they are both working. According to the first, the name is formed from the numbers "66". The second theory hints at the relationship of an off-road truck with a forest or swamp kikimora, the same shishiga.



Now the military has written off the GAZ-66, but civilians have no choice. The only analogue of a truck can be "Sadko" or its new modification with the prefix "Next", but there the cost is incomparably higher. So with all the richness of choice, there is no other alternative, as they said in one old advertisement.



On the "citizen" GAZ-66 was in demand as a duty, emergency vehicle, off-road bus. The off-road properties of Shishiga are so high that they still cannot refuse a truck.

Appearance and features

Outwardly, the GAZ-66 is very different from other military trucks, at least in its cabover layout and minimal weight. But all the same, the army becomes immediately visible, there is no getting away from this. The car looks brutal and beautiful.



The cockpit of the GAZ-66 is cramped for a modern person who has grown up on average over the past 30 years. There are two places inside, at first glance there is enough space, but it is worth sitting on the seat - crampedness.

A lot of space in the cab is occupied by the engine, which is located under the casing in the middle. It is convenient to repair in cold and rainy weather, on the other hand, you will have to work in cramped quarters.

Engine carburetor gasoline V8 with a volume of 4,25 liters with a capacity of 125 liters. With. It was a great engine for the mid-1960s, with bottom end power. As for the gasoline consumption of 30-40 liters, no one paid attention to this at that time, there was enough fuel in the country.



The chassis is typically military, but demanding periodic maintenance. To put it simply, you need to either ride the GAZ-66 regularly, or lubricate all the nodes after removing the conservation grease.

Big 40-inch wheels with aggressive rubber and a ground clearance of 315 mm allow you to feel like a king on off-road. By the way, tire pressure is regulated thanks to the inflation system.



Despite its age and dimensions, the truck is equipped with a power steering, which was not on the larger ZIL-157 and KrAZ. Plus, there is a winch on many modifications, just in case the driver gets caught inept and gets stuck.

In general, the technical equipment is almost at the highest level. The only thing that the GAZ-66 lacks in modern realities is a more powerful economical diesel engine. Well, I would like more space in the cockpit, like the "Sadko" at least, but this is already a nitpick.

What awaits the buyer

Buying "Shishiga" is now easy, and it is cheap. Prices start from 90 rubles and up to conditional infinity, ending at 000. If you search, you can take a “new” truck from conservation for 3 rubles.

Who will need the GAZ-66:

• ? On a personal or farming basis
  
• ? Travelers
  
• ? Hunters and fishermen
  
• ? Geologists
  
• ? For the enterprise, just in case, when it is urgently necessary to get to impassable terrain
  

The main rule is that this truck cannot be stored on the street and rarely used. In extreme cases, everything needs to be treated with anticorrosive with filling hidden cavities.

For the city, "Shishiga" is definitely not suitable, like any truck, in principle, but you can move around. Gasoline consumption will be 40 liters at the same time, it is possible to conjure with the carburetor and make it about 30 liters, but you should not expect traction.



As a travel car, the GAZ-66 is also not very suitable. It is frankly inconvenient for the driver and passenger to travel long distances. But for hunting and fishing - this is an option. "Shishiga" is larger than the most massive SUVs and at the same time maneuverable for a truck.

The tire inflation system, which the owners are proud of, does not work on many copies. It is reliable, but also requires periodic maintenance and minimal maintenance.

The gasoline engine has a good appetite, but at the same time it does not differ in dynamics and speed qualities. Off-road, this can manifest itself in a lack of traction for inexperienced drivers, on the highway - in low speed.

But we must pay tribute to the motor - reliable and trouble-free in operation and repair - military in the full sense of the word.
In winter, the cabin is warm, but in summer it was hot there - thanks to the engine casing inside. Open windows do not cope, air conditioning is, of course, not provided here.



Almost all the shortcomings of the GAZ-66 can be eliminated:

• ? Change the engine to a diesel (gearbox too)
  
• ? Ennoble the salon
  
• ? Install air conditioner
  

This truck doesn't need anything else. But with limited space in the cockpit, you have to put up with it.
Before buying a GAZ-66, you need to think about whether you need this military truck. It often happens that the car is idle in front of the house, leaving only a couple of times a year. But for a hunter or fisherman, "Shishiga" with a residential KUNG is an ideal option, you can take your family or friends with you.