YeraZ-762 - why didn't the Armenian "Rafik" become a dream?

And what, cars are produced in Armenia? No longer, but in the Soviet Union they assembled the EraZ-762 cargo minibuses that the country needed. He was seen by residents of Soviet cities and towns on the streets. But not everyone knew that this was a copy of the Yerevan flood Rafik.
Why do you need a cargo van?


There is an opinion that no one counted gasoline in the USSR - everyone had enough of it. On the one hand, it may seem so, but it’s not just that the country began to gradually switch trucks to diesel fuel?

In addition to the huge overspending of gasoline, which was catastrophic on the scale of the USSR, the Soviet Union did not have enough light vans. Now such commercial vehicles are called minibuses.



In the early 1960s, medium-duty vehicles like the GAZ-51 were used to transport small loads. It was sometimes necessary to drive such cars for 100 or more kilometers, which was unprofitable.



Such equipment was required by various enterprises:

• ? Public catering
  
• ? Mail
  
• ? Household services and so on
  

The Council of Ministers decided to start developing vans with a carrying capacity of up to 1 ton. The light passenger minibus RAF-977, which has been produced since 1959 in Riga, was chosen as a role model.

Birth of EraZ-762

It seemed that the cargo van issue could be resolved quickly. It is enough to take the RAF-977, simplify it, do not put windows and seats inside the passenger compartment, and the minibus is ready for transportation.



The main advantage of organizing production at the Riga Bus Factory was cost and time savings. In fact, the car was already ready, especially since it was required not to complicate, but to simplify.



But the Riga Bus Factory did not have the capacity to launch a new model into a series. Even the passenger RAF-977 was not enough, but they were needed more. I had to think about where to move production.

It was in Yerevan at that time that the “Forklift” enterprise was being built. So they decided to redesign it for the release of RAF-977K. The company was named Yerevan Automobile Plant (YerAZ).

Workers and engineers went to study the production of vans at the RAF and UAZ, where since 1958 they produced the first "Loaf" UAZ-450 and were going to launch the 452 model in a series.



The first batch of delivery vans debuted in 1966 - the workers of the Yerevan Automobile Plant left for the May 1 celebration. Serial production began in 1967.

Features of the Armenian van

Like RAF-977, EraZ-762 was created on the nodes of the GAZ-21 Volga. Naturally, a perfect cargo van could not turn out from a passenger car.

The main problems faced by the designers of EraZ-762:

• ? Overloaded front axle
  
• ? Insufficient body rigidity
  

Under the guidance of the employees of the Riga Bus Plant, the cons were corrected as far as possible. Nothing came up with the front axle, but the body was reinforced with wooden slats and a steel partition between the transport compartment and the driver's cab.



Economists could also sleep peacefully - compared to the same new GAZ-52, the lightest production truck in the USSR, fuel consumption was halved. And the all-wheel drive "Loaf" UAZ-452 did not differ in efficiency, so these vans were rarely used in cities.

Production and modernization of EraZ-762

The production of vans at the Yerevan plant is a topic for a separate article. Before that, Armenia did not make cars, and in general, was an agrarian country. Many locals had gardens and other household plots. Therefore, during the fruit season, the workshops of the plant were empty.



Mostly women and children worked, so it was difficult to talk about the culture of production. And the discipline was lame. But anyway, vans were bought with pleasure, coming for them from all over the USSR.

Despite problems with qualified personnel, the number of cars produced grew. At first, they produced only 250 cars a year. Then this number was increased to 1.



There were many van upgrades, but it is worth listing only the most important over the years:

• ? 1971 - parts on the sides received stampings to increase body rigidity. The model had an index 762A
  
• ? 1976 - the engine from the GAZ-21 was replaced by a power unit from the 24th Volga
  
• ? 1979 - engine from GAZ-24-01 - it was designed for 76 gasoline
  
• ? 1988 - the appearance of a five-seater cargo-passenger modification
  

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Yerevan Automobile Plant found itself on the brink of a financial abyss. He fell into it until 2002, and the hero of our today's publication was discontinued in 1995.

Features of the purchase of EraZ-762 in the USSR

Large Soviet enterprises received new YerAZ trucks in batches, they were transported by rail to any corner of the country where there were rails.



Those who needed one car had to go to the plant in Yerevan on their own. Judging by the stories of the drivers, it was a real adventure. Receiving ErAZ-762, it took at least a day to bring it to mind.

The nuts are poorly tightened from the factory, which the assemblers often warned about, honestly leaving notes in the cabin. If you neglect this procedure, you could not reach your destination.

On the roads of Armenia, locals often came across offering good money for the sale of a van. They didn't need papers. Even GAI officers sometimes offered to carry out such an illegal deal.

Broaching the nuts did not guarantee that the car would reach its destination without any problems. I had to pick up the wire on the roadside, and use it to repair the car.



Upon arrival, competent drivers sorted out YerAZ-762, which took about a week, and then the car did not cause minor problems during operation.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantage of the Armenian minibus is its existence. Despite the poor-quality assembly, they dreamed of such a technique. Of course, the passenger "RAFIK" was better, but summer residents would not refuse a cargo van either. Unfortunately, these cars were not sold to private hands.



Cons of the Armenian van:

• ? Build quality
  
• ? Motor located in the cabin
  
• ? Cramped driving position
  
• ? Lack of power steering
  

Engine repair is something. Access to it is only from below, so for serious work it is easier to remove it.

Even the Gazelle looks like an ideal against the background of the ErAZ-762, but in those days any car was perceived as a gift of fate.
Now you can buy an Armenian minibus for 300 thousand in a satisfactory condition, but you will have to choose literally from 1-2 copies. Up to 100 rubles for sale frank scrap metal.



ErAZ-762 is a piece of the history of the Soviet Union, but you should not consider it as a collector's item, it is better to choose something more interesting.