LIAZ is not a bus, but a dream of Soviet truckers

This is not about one of the most popular buses in the USSR, produced in Likino-Dulyovo near Moscow, but about the products of a Czech plant in the city of Liberets. At first, the company was part of Skoda, but since 1953 it has gained independence. Truck production started in 1974. The new car was a continuation of the legendary Skoda 706 series, which is well remembered by Soviet truckers.


The initial batch of trucks consisted of two-axle vehicles with a total weight of up to 19 tons, as well as truck tractors up to 38 tons. The first car that gained popularity was the LIAZ 100.45 model. Compared with the Skoda-706, the novelty had a lot of innovations. The car has changed externally, the cabin has become more angular. At first, it did not recline, it was designed for three people, there was a sleeping shelf.


Access to the power unit was carried out through a special hatch under the passenger seat. However, this was not enough to carry out serious repairs. Then it was necessary to unscrew several rods, brackets, and only then the cabin rose.


All this caused complaints from drivers and in the end the designers made it reclining. Along the way, they added a shelf to the sleeping bag.

Technical features

The manufacturer offered several models of the car, depending on this, they were equipped with power units that produced 200-288 "horses". On ordinary cars with sides, six-cylinder atmospheric-type diesel engines were installed. For tractors designed for "long-range", a turbocharged engine option was provided.


The motor was ideally suited to Soviet conditions. He was undemanding to fuels and lubricants: he calmly “swallowed” domestic diesel fuel (gasoline was sometimes poured into it in frosts) and had a “positive” attitude towards autol. And the engine was also economical: fuel consumption was within 35 l / 100 km, which is very good even in modern times. The car reached a speed of 100 km / h.

The transmission was offered in a couple of versions - regular, five-speed or six-speed. In the latter case, a divider was provided. The clutch is also of 2 types - single or double disc. The rear axle could boast of a planetary gearbox. On machines of the early years of production, a spring suspension was installed, but later, towards the end of the 70s, it was replaced with a pneumatic one. Model "110" appeared in the early 80s, at the same time three-axle trucks began to roll off the assembly line: flatbed and tractors.


In the Soviet Union, LIAZ 100, LIAZ 110 were massively purchased by the only organization whose cars traveled abroad - Sovtransavto. Therefore, Czech trucks most often traveled on European roads. Becoming a LIAZ driver was not so easy: you had to complete special courses organized by the manufacturer. Here, Soviet citizens studied not only the tractor, but also the device of semi-trailers, trailers and the Orlican N13CH refrigerator, which the Union also purchased in considerable quantities.


Fact: the car turned out to be successful for the Czechs and not only the USSR, but also some countries of Eastern and Western Europe became its customers. In the Union, then the Mercedes 2236 was considered the most "cool" of the tractors. However, LIAZ was practically not inferior to him in technical terms, but was much cheaper.

The car has a solid margin of safety and, according to drivers, is “eternal”, if it is properly serviced and repaired on time. Most of these machines are history. But even today, on the roads of countries (especially those with a warm climate) of the former Union, no, no, and the legendary Czech "weaving" will flash by.