Skoda liaz truck tractor. Skoda LIAZ: trucks from Czechoslovakia. STAR. Senile stars

It all began in the century before last, in 1894, when in the town of Mlada Boleslav, the local bookseller Vaclav Klement, who was then the chairman of the local cyclists' club, decided to buy a piece of land and build a small bicycle repair shop on it. Things quickly went uphill, and Clement began producing bicycles of his own design called Slavia. Attending the Paris World Exhibition abruptly changed his mind towards mechanical means of transport - first of all, motorcycles, of which many were exhibited in Paris. Returning home, he and his close friend Václav Laurin decided to build and sell motorcycles. And where there are motorcycles, there are engines internal combustion, and then, of course, light personal cars, buses and ... trucks.

The first of them appeared in 1901. In the twenties, about 35 thousand people worked for Laurin & Klement. The factories produced everything - up to military and agricultural equipment. And the names of the owners of these factories were constantly compared by their contemporaries with the names of Rolls and Royce. Inventors and talented designers have motorized all the Austro-Hungarian mail and have done a lot of useful things. In 1913, Laurin & Klement became the owner of the Reichenberger Automobil Fabrik (RAF), which produced cars from 1.5 to 6 tons with four-cylinder engines and chain drive. Note that this production was located in the city of Liberec! The company began its activity in 1906. The 1909 model had a working engine with a volume of 3 053 cm 3 and a power of 26 hp. The vehicle is 4,200 mm long, 1,550 mm wide and 2,350 mm high. The permissible weight was 1,470 kg and the maximum speed was 60 km / h! By the way, this year we can celebrate the 100th anniversary of this once powerful and well-known company.

In 1925, Laurin & Klement and the Skoda plants in Pilsen merged into one huge European enterprise. Skoda began its operations during the First World War. She produced military vehicles and various military equipment. And since 1919, she began to produce civilian cars. Now in the city of Mlada Boleslav the name Skoda has thundered (instead of Laurin and Clement). All together decided to take this particular trademark. In 1923 the world famous company emblem was registered - a winged arrow in a circle. The deteriorating political situation in Europe led to an increase in the production of weapons in the mid-thirties. Europe was seething. Everyone knows how it ended. In 1945, just before the end of World War II, the factories in Pilsen, where trucks and buses were produced, were almost destroyed to the ground. And in 1947 the firms Avia and Praga continued their production, since the national economy needed just trucks, buses and special, but now peaceful, equipment. And in 1951, the production of trucks was transferred to the Liberec Automobile Plant with its factories in the cities of Rynovice, Jablonec and Mnichovo.

The main production of passenger cars remained in the town of Mlada Boleslav. This very year is the year of birth of LIAZ and the SKODA-LIAZ alliance. Although the engineering and foundry divisions remained on the sidelines. Skoda 706 trucks and Skoda 706 RO wagon-type buses on their modernized chassis began to be produced in 1947. The modernization consisted of moving the steering column forward and changing the position of the steering mechanism. Actually, this is how the story of our protagonist began imperceptibly. On January 1, 1953, the city of Jablonec officially became the owner of an independent plant LIAZ, which produces trucks only under the SKODA brand. LIAZ trucks will appear for the first time only in 1973. In the cities of Jablonec and Mnichovo, up to 1953, 931 SKODA car 706 (and modifications R, RO, RS, RSch).

Further production expanded, and the following year 2,446 cars were produced, and in 1954 - 4,120 trucks and buses. 1957 brought the automotive world a gift in the form of the SKODA 706 RT wagon truck. This very successful car was overgrown with new modifications every year, but the main two remained: a two-axle semitrailer tractor (RTTN) and a two-axle flatbed truck (RT). The truck tractor had an in-line 6-cylinder M634 diesel with a volume of 11 940 cm 3 with direct fuel injection. It developed a power of 210 hp. It was powered by a 10-speed manual transmission. Many domestic and foreign drivers remember this very successful truck. On the same chassis, buses were produced by the Karosa firm from Vysokie Myto and the Polish Jelzc. A little later, the Praga S5T truck tractors (1958) appeared with a slightly modified appearance of the driver's cab, but with absolutely the same layout. After the decision of the special commission of the CMEA (1949-1990), the assembly of these vehicles was transferred to Bulgaria, to the automobile enterprises MADARA SHUMEN, where the whole range of modifications began to be produced - from a truck tractor to a dump truck with a short cab without a berth. In the early seventies, a new generation of trucks was being prepared. Constructors and designers worked tirelessly. Many prototypes were made. There are several of them in our "report".

The year came 1973. At the World Fair in Brno, a pleasant surprise awaited motorists in the form of a family of trucks called LIAZ. True, the family so far consisted of only two cars - a truck tractor with an index of 100.05 and a flatbed truck with an index of 100.45. From that moment on, the triumphal procession of the LIAZ trademark began throughout our planet, especially in the countries of socialism. But, mind you, on all subsequent models of trucks, the front panel of the cab carried the LIAZ inscription and the SKODA emblem at the same time. At the same show of the latest technology, but in 1975, a truck tractor (100.45) received the Gold Medal.

The cars of the new generation really looked very modern, with unexpectedly competent design and styling. The cockpit did not carry anything superfluous. One got the impression that it was born in the same breath, very quickly, and was created by very talented designers, linkers and designers. She was in the right place at the right time. As for the "ease" of its creation, the best thing about it is the large number of prototypes that preceded the serial samples. The MS637 and MS638 engines, designed and manufactured by LIAZ, are in-line six-cylinder turbocharged diesels. They developed powers of 270 or 304 hp. at 2000 rpm. The mounting of the engines was exactly the same, so that any of them could be installed on the desired modification. The cylinders are tilted to the right by 45 °, which made it possible to lower the floor and freely equip the cabin with a middle seat. In addition, there is a berth and a luggage rack behind the seats. The previous model, of course, did not have this. In general, the cabin of this generation looked beautiful and convincing for its time. By the way, cars of these series can be found on the track today, however, very rarely. At the same time, AVIA plants received a license from Renault for the production of light duty trucks. LIAZ immediately installed the French Berliet cab on its chassis. But this design was unsuccessful, and the experiment had no continuation.

The “100” family grew, trucks with a short cab (no berth) for construction and special equipment appeared, three-axle modifications, four-axle ones, with a different radiator lining and other engines. Even an airfield tractor with ballast was made on the basis of a flatbed truck. We did not forget about export here either. A passenger body was specially developed on an all-wheel drive chassis, and the car itself was named Africabus. There were a lot of buyers ... It was from this family that Skoda-LIAZ took part in the most popular and difficult Paris - Dakar rally. But these rallies require special cars, sometimes so different from their "donors" that it is time to assign them independent indices. And the teams need to be trained! And so every year ... This same cab served as a prototype for the new Tatra. Naturally, all the requirements and wishes of the engineers of the other company were taken into account. The car turned out to be extremely successful and proportional. A short cab with a radiator lining specially adapted for the round Tatra emblem, a high seating position (the car had a 4x4 wheel arrangement) gave it a high cross-country ability and a clearly militaristic sight and character.

Just before the collapse of the bloc of socialist countries, the Czechs tried to bring the old cabin, albeit slightly "altered", into a divine form. The most interesting thing is that it was at this time that the initiative project of a car with a cabin over the engine with a mass of interesting design and technical solutions was completed at the Moscow Automobile Plant "ZiL". The leader of this project was the author of these lines. How surprised he was when, with a fully finished cockpit (made of metal, of course), this project was rebuffed. And in the Czech Republic, a whole family of prototypes, similar, like two drops of water, to the "Zilovskaya" cockpit, appeared soon. Then several high-ranking officials of ZiL worked in this country ... Believe me, it is simply impossible to make a mistake! And so that the cabins still differ from each other, the Czechs decided to be original and performed one of its variants with a large radiator grille in the form of L-I-A-Z. In addition to cars with a wagon layout, specialists worked with a bonnet. Moreover, the cabins of both options were maximally unified. In addition, the bonnet version was supposed to suit the TATRA firm. With the hard work of their trucks, the wagon layout is not suitable.

1989 brought huge changes in the statuses of the companies that belong to the association. LIAZ got out of the influence of Truck International AS, subordinate to the machine-building giant Skoda AS, and in 1992 formed a joint-stock company. During the years of the existence of Czechoslovakia, the Skoda-Liaz association produced up to 18 thousand cars and buses and 23 thousand engines per year. In 1995, four families of trucks were produced at the plant in Mnichovo: S, FZ, 300 and M300. Trucks of the S and FZ families belong to the middle class. They were powered by Austrian diesel engines STEYR WD 612.37 with 180 hp. The FZ family included chassis and dump trucks with a gross weight of up to 16 tons. The most numerous family of 300 consisted of 27 (!) Base models. These are dump trucks, flatbed trucks, chassis for municipal and construction equipment and all kinds of tractors with different wheel formulas. Diesel power ranged from 230 to 380 hp. The M300 family of two semitrailer tractors was designed exclusively for international transport. In the same year, Skoda acquired the remaining shares at a fabulous price and founded a new venture called Skoda Liaz AS. And in 1996, at the next international exhibition in Hannover, everyone was pleasantly impressed by the truck tractor shown by the Czech Skoda Liaz AS. Its unusual shape attracted visitors to the stand like a magnet.

The model, called the 400 XENA, was really good! The car, equipped with an American Detroit Diesel engine with a capacity of 530 hp, was intended to operate as part of a road train with a gross weight of up to 42 tons. The most famous Czech designers Jiri Spaniel and Pavel Hushek worked on the car. The design and layout of the cabin, which is made of light alloys according to the frame-panel principle, are unusual. The car is distinguished by an unusual level of design and the highest comfort and interior decoration. It's a rare occasion to meet this model on the road. After all, only about a hundred of them were released in six years. Dimensions of the truck tractor - 6,040 x 2,550 x 3,580 mm. Engine - Detroit Diesel Series 60 (S6067 GK62), displacement 12,700 cm 3. Eaton RTSO 17 316A transmission. Rear axle at the buyer's choice: Rockwell U 180E RSX6 or Raba A 013.41-3300 with a hypoid final drive. There were no modifications and upgrades to this tractor, they just did not have time to carry out them ... The fateful day has come. In 1999, at the turn of the century, Skoda, with the help of Truck International AS, acquired the newly organized Skoda Motory from Jablonek, which became a subsidiary. On February 28, 2002 Skoda Motory turned into JAMOT (Jablonecky Motory) and on June 17 declared itself bankrupt.

And since July 1, 2003, JAMOT has become part of the TEDOM concern. All these events took place so rapidly that millions and billions flew right and left. The exchange was unable to track all these conversions and mergers. Let's try to figure it out ... The lack of worthy consumer demand for trucks of the Czech brand LIAZ made the leadership of the automobile giant, well-known in the socialist years, take a difficult step for itself - to close the assembly plant in the city of Mnichovo. This enterprise LIAZ was opened in 1951 and for more than half a century of history has managed to assemble about 350 thousand trucks and bus chassis. The most difficult times for the plant were the nineties and early 2000s, when the number of orders decreased several times. The LIAZ bankruptcy procedure was initiated by TEDOM four years ago, and in 2002 the engine plant in the city of Yablonets was declared insolvent, the main supplier power units for conveyors of the former giant SKODA-LIAZ.

And the winner was TEDOM with new FOX models (with a huge number of modifications) and its own foundries, stamping and other industries. And, most importantly, without any "ballast" that any enterprise grows over time. In addition, this young company, formed only in 1990, has its own motor production. Here's how you can get pretty much anything in such a short time. True, what all this resulted in in monetary terms, no one has yet considered ... And one more thing. Skoda Holding AS and Skoda in the city of Mlada Boleslav, which today belong to the VW concern, remained behind the scenes. They have no direct relation to LIAZ, so we did not talk about them.

Laurin & Klement Typ MS, 1922


RAF FW25, 1909


Skoda 706, 1947


Skoda 100 Proto, 1963


Skoda 706 RTTN, 1967


LIAZ 100, 1973 outside

LIAZ 100, 1973 outside

... and from the inside (photo 2)


LIAZ Proto 2 and ZIL 5350 layout, both appeared in 1987. Find the differences! (photo 1)

LIAZ Proto 2 and ZIL 5350 layout, both appeared in 1987. Find the differences! (photo 2)


LIAZ 300, 8x4, 1995


LIAZ Steyr, 1990


TEDOM FOX, 2005, respectively civil ...


... and the military version

The history of the SKODA automobile concern begins in the distant 1869, when a young engineer Emile Skoda acquired a small mechanical plant, founded in the city of Pilsen by the noble family of Waldstein ten years ago. In 1899, the SKODA plant was transformed into a joint stock company, after which it gradually began to turn into one of the largest automobile factories in Austria-Hungary. The first heavy trucks and tractors began to be produced in 1905, they were produced for military purposes with 45-90 horsepower engines and all driving and steerable wheels.

In 1919, at the Skoda plant, located on the territory of Czechoslovakia, workshop No. 83 was opened for the production of military tractors and the manufacture of civilian vehicles. In 1921, the first 3-ton trucks "Skoda-304" and "306" with 4 and 6-cylinder engines with a capacity of 45-65 "horses" appeared. In 1923, in the locomotive shop of the Skoda plant, under the license of the British company Sentinel, the assembly of 5-ton steam trucks with a 2-cylinder steam engine with a capacity of 70 Horse power... In the summer of 1925, a new stage in the development of the Škoda brand began: the company Laurin-Klement from the city of Mlada Boleslav, which received the name Škoda, was incorporated into the Plze Industrial Plant.

From that time on, the production of trucks developed there was transferred to Pilsen. The first products were the modernized 2- and 4-ton machines Laurin-Clement 500 and 540 with 35-40 hp engines, which received new indexes “505” and “545” and a mixed brand “Skoda- Laurin-Clement ”. The 1-ton Laurin-Clement 115 pickups have undergone similar changes. They were assigned the index "125". The first truck new brand in 1927, the 5-ton Skoda-550, based on the 545 chassis, with a more powerful 4-cylinder low-valve engine (6786 cm3, 50 hp), was introduced.

Independent production of Škoda trucks began in Pilsen only since 1929, when a range of 2-axle bonneted vehicles was presented (models “104”, “154”, “304”, “306”, “504” and “506” ) with a lifting capacity of 1.25-5.0 tons with its own 4- and 6-cylinder gasoline engines (1661-7274 cm 3, 30-75 hp). A year later, a 2-ton model “206” was added to them, but the main event of 1930 was the appearance of two diesel cars “404D” and “606D” with a carrying capacity of 4 and 6 tons, equipped with 4 and 6-cylinder engines, respectively. engines (5702 and 8554 cm 3, 66 and 100 hp). 1934 was marked by the installation of a 100-horsepower diesel engine on the 4-ton model “406D” and the beginning of production of small series of 3-axle cars 656D ”(6 × 4) from the rear independent suspension and “806D” (6 × 2) with a lifting capacity of 6.5-8 tons.

The next year, the most popular 2.5-ton diesel truck "254D" with a 4-cylinder engine (3768 cm 3, 55 hp) rolled off the assembly line, for the first time received more streamlined external forms, and prototypes were collected 8 -th ton model “806DT” (6 × 2) with the most powerful 6-cylinder overhead valve pre-chamber diesel engine (11781 cm 3, 135 hp). All trucks were equipped with spar frames, single or multi-plate clutches, 4 or 5-speed gearboxes (for heavy models - with a 2-stage range), suspension on semi-elliptical springs and a hydropneumatic braking system.

Usually all of them were also offered in low loader “N” versions and as chassis for buses. Their maximum speed ranged from 40 to 80 km / h. In the second half of the 30s. Skoda modernized the previous models, equipping them with new units and creating more advanced forms of empennage and cabins. Only in 1939 did new cars appear: light series “100” and “150” with a carrying capacity of 1.4-1.8 tons with a front independent suspension, a 2.5-ton model of the second generation “256B” and a 7-ton truck “706D ”With an 8.6-liter diesel engine of 110 hp, which was destined to become the basis for all post-war products of the Skoda brand.

It should be recalled that in Mlada Boleslav a wide range of Skoda cars was produced, on the basis of which delivery vans and pickups were offered. In parallel, the Skoda company produced 3-axle army and special trucks and tractors. The first in this family in 1932 was the Skoda L (6 × 4) car with a carrying capacity of 2.0-2.5 tons. With a 6-cylinder gasoline engine(3140 cm 3, 66 hp) and freely rotating spare wheels, suspended from both sides of the cab. In 1935-39. produced a new generation of 3-axle bonnet machines “6ST6” (6 × 4) and “6STP6” (6x6) with a carrying capacity of 4-5 tons. rear wheels.

The 4-ton truck “6VD” (6 × 6), unified with them, received a cab over the engine for the first time. For Czechoslovakia, the Second World War began in March 1939, when German troops occupied a number of regions of the country. At first, Skoda continued to produce almost the entire range of its cars, but in 1941 the German authorities took over the management of the enterprise and rebuilt it in a military fashion. Of the trucks, only the “150”, “254D”, “256C” and “706D” models remained in production. On the basis of passenger cars began to assemble army utility vehicles "Skoda-952" (4 × 2), "956" (4 × 4) and "903" (6 × 4), and since 1942, 90-strong tractors RSO ( 4 × 4).

Part of the aircraft production was transferred from the Avia plant in Prague to Mlada Boleslav. The development of the post-war program began in the midst of the war, but immediately after its completion, it was decided to transfer the production of trucks to the Avia plant in Letняany, a suburb of Prague. Since 1946, the production of the updated Skoda-706K bonneted car began there. Compared with the basic version "706D", it had a carrying capacity of 7.5-9 tons, and the power of the 11.8-liter diesel engine created before the war was brought to 145 horsepower.

The RGP base produced a 706RS dump truck with 3-sided unloading and a 706RO bus of a wagon layout. When the Avia plant decided to resume the assembly of aircraft, their production was transferred from January 1952 to the plant in the village of Rynovice, which was part of the united group of enterprises in the Liberec region of Czechoslovakia, known by the abbreviation (LIAZ). In 1957, the serial production of one of the most popular Skoda trucks, the cabover model 706RT, with a lifting capacity of 7-8.5 tons, began there.

It was based on the bonnet version "706R", but the previous engine received direct fuel injection and developed a power of 160 "horses". The maximum speed has increased from 55 to 70 km / h. On its basis, a low-loader version “706RTDA”, a 6.5-ton dump truck “706RTS” with 3-side unloading and a truck tractor “706RTTN” for operation as part of a road train with a gross weight of 24 tons were produced. Capacious vans for long-distance transportation were produced on the chassis of the 706RTO buses.

In 1966, in parallel, the production of the modernized 706MT family began, which received an in-line 6-cylinder diesel engine of the new generation “M630” (11946 cm 3, 180 hp). In May 1969, trucks of the 706MT4 and 706MT5 models appeared with an even more powerful 210-horsepower M634 engine and a 5-speed gearbox with a 2-stage demultiplier. They differed only in the wheelbase (4600 or 5400 mm.), Had a carrying capacity of 8.2-9.2 tons and developed a speed of 80 km / h. The machines were also offered as MTTN5 truck tractors and MTS24 (4 × 2), MTSP24 and MTSP27 (4 × 4) dump trucks. Their production ended only in 1987.

By this time, more than 300 thousand cars of the “706” series were produced. While the production of Skoda trucks was increasing at the Liberec factories, the production of new cars began at the headquarters of the People's Enterprise in Mlada Boleslav (Automobilove Za'vody, Na'rodny Podnik, AZNP). On their basis, a small bodywork factory in the town of Vrchlabí assembled light delivery vehicles. Since 1955, on the basis of the passenger model “Skoda-1201” with a 4-cylinder engine (1221 cm 3, 45 hp), cargo-and-passenger variants, vans and pickups have been offered, which were exported to the USSR.

In 1961, the Skoda-1202 passenger car range with an updated design also included a van and a pickup truck with a carrying capacity of 490 and 630 kilograms, respectively. On the units of these machines in October 1968, the production of vans with monocoque body with a capacity of 7.3 m 3 and 1-ton flatbed trucks “Skoda-1203” with a cabin above the engine and independent suspension. Since 1973, their production has been gradually transferred to the Trnavske Automobilove Zavody, or TAZ for short, in Trnava (Slovakia). In 1987 they received a more powerful engine (1433 cm 3, 57 hp) and an updated design of the front end of the body.

After the collapse of Czechoslovakia and the formation of the Slovak Republic, they continued to be produced under the TAZ brand. Economic reforms forced to update a number of passenger cars, and at the same time the program of light delivery vehicles based on them. In 1990, the plant in the town of Mlada Boleslav, on the basis of the Favorit front-wheel drive passenger car, began to produce the Forman utility vehicle with a 4-cylinder petrol engine (1289 cm 3, 56 hp). He, in turn, became the basis for pickups and light vans, which were collected over 75 thousand pieces.

After the inclusion of the Skoda plant in 1994, a front-wheel drive appeared in the Volkswagen concern. a car"Felicia" (Felicia). After 2 years, the factories in Kvasiny and Vrchlabi began to produce light delivery vehicles on its basis - a pickup with a carrying capacity of 600 kilograms and a 450 kilogram van with a body with a capacity of 2.2 m 3. In addition to the standard 68-horsepower gasoline engine, they were offered with a Volkswagen diesel (1896 cm 3, 65 hp) and power steering.

For many years, the USSR and the socialist countries remained the main customers of LIAZ trucks. The desire to find more prestigious sales markets led to the introduction in 1974 of a new generation of machines of the "100" series, on which the Skoda brand was decided to be replaced by the abbreviation LIAZ, practically unknown outside the country. Another attempt to reach the world level failed, and the political events of the early 90s. and the deteriorating economic situation of the enterprise led to the fact that the plant was on the verge of bankruptcy and in September 1995 it was re-incorporated into the Skoda heavy engineering concern.

Having bought out the shares of LIAZ factories and closed a number of unprofitable enterprises, he formed a new Joint Stock Company (Skoda-LIAZ a.s.), which had only 4 enterprises in the cities of Jablonec na Nis, Liberec, Mnichovo Hradiste and Melnik. At first, the program included all previously produced cars that received a new trademark “Skoda-LIAZ” and a modified indexing of models. These include series “S”, “FZ”, “110/150/250”, “300” and “MZOO” with gross weight from 9 to 40 tons with wheel configurations from 4 × 2 to 8 × 4 and diesel engines of our own production or Austrian motors "Steyr" with a capacity of 180-410 "horses".

The first new Skoda-LIAZ vehicle in 1996 was the Xena 19.47TBV (Hepa) long-haul tractor for road trains with a gross weight of up to 44 tons, which headed the new 400 series. It is equipped with a 6-cylinder Detroit Diesel turbocharged engine (12742 cc, 437 or 477 hp), a 16-speed Eaton gearbox, imported axles, front disc brakes , ABC, electronically controlled rear air suspension, new spacious laminated fiberglass cab on an aluminum frame.

After the war, the leadership of Czechoslovakia decided to reduce the range of cars and trucks produced at various factories in the country. As a result, the Škoda car factory began to build railway locomotives, and the production of trucks and buses was transferred to the Avia company in Letняany. By agreement with the designer of the structures, the Škoda company, the same emblem remained on the facings of their radiators and the name of the company was retained.

The first post-war Škoda truck was named Škoda 706 R, its production was established in Letняany from 1946 to 1951, and in June 1951 the production was transferred to a plant in the village. Rynovice, now part of the city of Liberec. In 1952, the new plant, together with branches in the cities of Mnichovo Hradiste and Ganychov, became the center of the "Group of companies for the production of trucks and buses S706". Later this group of enterprises became the basis of the LIAZ company (LIAZ - "Liberec Automobile Plants").

Development of the Škoda 706 R began back in 1930, then the model was called Škoda 706. The post-war model from the 1930 model differed in a more spacious cabin, a more powerful diesel engine and had a higher carrying capacity - 7300 kg.

Diesel engine The Škoda 706 R was a 6-cylinder with wet liners and pre-chamber mixture formation, and had several design features that greatly facilitated its repair and maintenance. The crankshaft was assembled in a seven-piece factory and rotated in a powerful crankcase on seven large-diameter roller bearings. During repair work, the pistons, together with the connecting rods, could be removed from the block without dismantling the diesel engine from the car. The light alloy pistons contained four compression rings and one oil scraper ring.

The timing camshaft with pushers and rocker arms was driven from the crankshaft by a gear drive. The diesel was equipped with a compressor that served the air brake system of the car, and was driven by a gear transmission from the crankshaft. Two filters with replaceable paper elements were installed in the oil line. Starting a cold diesel engine was facilitated by glow plugs located in each cylinder. The high-pressure fuel pump with a centrifugal-type distributor supplied fuel through steel pipes to injectors that were easily dismantled during maintenance. The cooling system included a thermostat that regulates the flow of water in the water jacket.

The volume of the diesel engine was 11.781 cm3 and had a power of 135 hp. at 1750 rpm. The maximum speed was 53.5 km / h. In real operating conditions, the speed of the truck rarely exceeded 40 km / h. Average fuel consumption was about 30 liters per 100 km. The oil consumption was also rather big - 1 liter per 100 km of run!

Paired with diesel engine The Škoda 706 R was equipped with a 5-speed mechanical box gears with three pairs of constant mesh gears. Steering included an actuator of the worm-roller type, while a small effort on the steering wheel was achieved by a large value gear ratio and a huge steering wheel diameter. The designers installed an engine brake (a damper in the exhaust manifold), the presence of which could not boast of many other European diesel trucks of that time.

The cab of the Škoda 706R trucks was very wide - it could easily accommodate the driver and 3 passengers. The cab frame was made of wood, sheathed with steel sheets. In 1954, the cab was replaced with an all-metal one, but by 1956 they had already decided to abandon it, because in 1956, a cab-over-engine prototype was introduced. Trucks with such a cab, welded from steel elements, were assigned the index 706RT... The flatbed trucks were equipped with a 5000 × 2350 mm wooden platform with three drop sides and a steel frame at the base of the floor.

In 1954, trucks of the 706R family underwent modernization: a new radiator grille and fenders became more technologically advanced in manufacturing, and access to the engine for repair and Maintenance(small areas appeared to the right and left of the hood, located behind the front bumper). The maximum power of the diesel engine has increased to 145 hp. with. at 1800 rpm, which made it possible to increase maximum speed up to 68 km / h. The upgraded models with an onboard platform differed in carrying capacity increased to 7750 kg and consumed 32 liters of fuel per 100 km of run. Production of the 706R continued for three more years - it was discontinued in 1957.

The 706R is replaced by Škoda-706MT... The model received an updated cab, which differed from the previous one only in the design of the front end. The new cab was installed on vehicles of the MT family and on the continued production of RT. In 1973, a two-seater cab was developed for vehicles operating on short routes - before that, all Škoda-706RT / MTs were equipped with a "long" cab with a berth.

Simultaneously with the production of onboard versions, the assembly of dump trucks began. 706RS with metal platforms that unload on three sides. The carrying capacity of the dump truck was limited to 6.5 tons with a curb weight of 7.26 tons. The main area of ​​their application was urban and suburban construction. Another version of the truck was a car. Škoda-706RОК with a front cab, unified with the bus one. Cars, as a rule, were offered as a carrier of specialized equipment (like garbage trucks, etc.) or in the form of a van.

Dump trucks Škoda-706RS played a significant role in the restoration of destroyed factories and cities in Czechoslovakia in the first post-war decade. Wheels with large tires (12.00-22) and a huge ground clearance (250 mm) in the presence of a high-torque diesel engine provided a loaded car with good cross-country ability, including on dirt roads. The presence of a heater, a relatively small effort on the steering wheel and on the gear lever formed the drivers' opinion of the Škoda-706RS (and in general about the entire line of 706R models) as a machine that is convenient to operate at any time of the year. The design of the engine and transmission, developed over a decade, and the high quality of car manufacturing guaranteed their excellent reliability and durability.

Since 1969, the series has been produced Škoda-706MT4 and Škoda-706MT5 equipped with a new 210 hp M634 engine. and five-speed gearbox with a two-stage demultiplier.

In 1970, on the basis of the 706MT series, a new family of LIAZ 100 trucks was created. In 1974, the production of truck tractors of a new family began, and a year later, flatbed trucks. This meant the end of the production of the corresponding models of the previous family. Nevertheless, the production of the Škoda-706MTS24, Škoda-706MTSP24 and Škoda-706MTSP27 dump trucks continued until 1987.

Cars of the Škoda-706RT and -706MT families were produced in Bulgaria under the LIAZ-Madara brand from 1970 to 1981. Since 1975, drive axles for these cars were produced in Bulgaria, supplied to Czechoslovakia.

In the USSR, Škoda-706RT cars appeared in the early 1960s. Then truck tractors were handed over to the Soviet Union for testing. Škoda-706RTTN and Praga S5T-2TN with refrigerated semi-trailers.

Subsequently, refrigerators became the main type of semi-trailers with which Czech tractors worked in the USSR. According to the test results, the Škoda-706RTTN were highly praised, but there were no immediate deliveries. It was only in 1964 that a decision was finally made to purchase Czech tractors, and Skoda and Prague with Orličan refrigerated semi-trailers began to arrive in the USSR.

In addition to truck tractors, the USSR received onboard Škoda-706RT and Škoda-706RTS dump trucks (as well as their analogues of the Škoda-706MT family).

The Škoda-706RT trucks have proven themselves from the very best side. On the basis of the 706RT model, trucks were designed for a wide variety of needs and industries: fire trucks, flatbed trucks, tank trucks, truck cranes and other modifications.

They were respected for their reliability and durability, as well as for the comfort of the driver's workplace unattainable for a domestic manufacturer.

Many Škoda-706RTs worked until the mid-nineties, and some examples are found on the roads today.

In 1973, the production of trucks under the Skoda brand stopped and the production of LIAZ trucks began (although the LIAZ plant became independent in 1953, it produced trucks with the Skoda logo for another 20 years). The debut of the LIAZ brand took place at the World Fair in Brno in 1973.

In September 1995, the LIAZ plant was incorporated into the Škoda heavy engineering concern. Having bought out the shares of LIAZ factories and closed a number of unprofitable enterprises, he formed a new joint-stock company - Skoda-LIAZ a.s, which had only 4 enterprises at its disposal in the cities of Jablonec na Nis, Liberec, Mnichovo Hradiste and Melnik. At first, the program included all previously produced cars, which received a new trademark "Škoda-LIAZ" and a modified indexing of models.

These include the "S", "FZ", "110/150/250", "300" and "MZOO" series with a gross weight of 9 to 40 tons with wheel arrangements from 4x2 to 8x4 and diesel engines of our own production or Austrian engines "Steyr "(Steyr) with a capacity of 180-410 hp.

And in 1996, "Škoda-LIAZ" launched a new truck on the market - the main tractor "Xen a 19.47TBV" (for road trains with a gross weight of up to 44 tons, which led the new series "400".

It is equipped with a Detroit Diesel 6-cylinder turbocharged engine (12,742 cc, 437 or 477 hp), 16-speed Eaton gearbox, imported axles, front disc brakes, ABS, electronically controlled rear air suspension, new spacious a cabin made of multilayer fiberglass on an aluminum frame. In 2000, a new Fox series with a total weight of 19 tons with 290-330 hp engines was added to it. In 2003, production of the Xen a and Fox trucks ceased.

In 1999, Skoda, with the help of Truck International AS, acquired the newly organized Skoda Motory from Jablonek, which became a subsidiary. On February 28, 2002 Skoda Motory turned into JAMOT (Jablonecky Motory) and on June 17 declared itself bankrupt. On July 1, 2003, JAMOT became part of the TEDOM concern. In the same year, TEDOM began bankruptcy proceedings against LIAZ, and in 2002, the engine plant in Yablonets, the main supplier of power units for the conveyors of the former giant SKODA-LIAZ, was declared insolvent. In just 50 years of its existence, Skoda-LIAZ has produced about 350 thousand trucks and bus chassis.

Skoda Liaz is a legendary truck manufactured in the former country of Czechoslovakia. The history of the enterprise dates back to the middle of the last century, when the country's leadership decided to transfer production from the AVIA plant to Lyubertsy. It is curious that in the 70s the enterprise was the largest in the country for the production of trucks. The machines were distinguished by high reliability, unpretentiousness in maintenance, and had other advantages, which we will talk about later.

How it all began?

The establishment of the enterprise was preceded by a grandiose reconstruction of small factories in several settlements of Czechoslovakia. As a result of the merger of small factories, a large manufacturing plant was formed, which was named "Lyubertsy Automobile Plants". It is noteworthy that the newly formed enterprise was part of AZNP - the main Skoda factory... A year after the merger, LIAZ received autonomy, but at the same time, the trucks that came off the assembly line were called the double name Skoda Liaz. This continued until 1984.

LIAZ family

In 1973, an exhibition of trucks of a truck class took place in Brno, at which the family of the company under consideration was represented by only two models - a truck tractor and a flatbed tractor. Serial production of the models began in 1974. Updates touched on freight transport in 1984, when cars with a reclining cab and three-axle vehicles were born.

Skoda trucks of the new generation favorably differed from many foreign counterparts and their predecessors, having excellent design and style. But this did not happen immediately: at first, the management, the engineering staff of the plant had to sweat a lot, creating great truck... So, before getting what I wanted, I had to work hard on several prototypes. After some time, the company undertook to produce from the assembly line Skoda Liaz with shortened cabins, three- and four-axle modifications.

Model 706

Since 1957, modifications have been made at the plants of the combined enterprise:

• dump trucks 706RTS;
• truck tractors 706RTTN;
• chassis 706RT.

The latter option involved the creation of flatbed trucks, buses and all kinds of cars with narrow specializations. All modifications were equipped with engines designed for 160 liters. Other characteristics include:

• Diesel engine
• Fuel injection
• The power of the motors is 160, 180 and 210 liters. with.

Model 100

Introduced in 1974, the two-axle truck weighed 19 tons. The novelty implied operation as part of road trains weighing up to 38 tons. This quality significantly expanded the boundaries of professional tasks for carriers.

Model 110

The changes in design and style became dramatic, as the new exterior of the truck was completely different from the exterior of its predecessors. Initially, the truck was equipped with one of five M630 engines. Later came the anti-lock braking system and the Maxi cab. Other characteristics:

• The direction of the bulk of exports is the USSR
• Motor model - М630
• Engine power - 210-320 hp with.

Loss of popularity and decline of the company

The main strategic partner of Czechoslovakia during the years of production of the Liaz family of cars was the USSR, but this did not mean instant popularity for the company with the release of the LIAZ 100. Sales activity was observed at the beginning of the 1980s, when a truck tractor became the main imported product. The association between Shkola and Liaz began to decline rapidly. Insufficient popularity of machines, insignificant requests from importers, undeveloped sales market are the reasons why the company began to approach bankruptcy.

In 1989, LIAZ becomes independent, and with the arrival of 1992 it takes the form of a joint stock company. After several years, Skoda acquires a stake in the remaining shares from Liaz. At that time, four generations of trucks rolled off the assembly lines of the plant.

A few months since 1992, the reorganized enterprise needed to release a new family member, named 400 XENA. The model was distinguished by an American diesel engine with a capacity of 530 liters. with. In addition, the innovative design and improved design of the tractor are welcome news.

Be that as it may, the truck did not receive proper recognition - for a period of how many years, no more than a hundred vehicles rolled off the assembly line. The loss of the sales market along with the collapse of the Soviet Union did not benefit the manufacturer, as a result, he did not receive income for further competition with Western and European counterparts. At the end of the 90s, a difficult part of the company's history began.

Conclusion

Trucks of the family in question have a long history of development, however, due to the difficult geopolitical situation, they have suffered various troubles and difficulties in different years. Until today, Skoda Liaz cars can be found both on the roads of the Czech Republic and Slovakia and abroad, which speaks of the reliability of the products manufactured in old Czechoslovakia.

The beginning of the history of the company for the production of cars Skoda Liaz is considered the very beginning of the 50s of the last century. It was then that the leadership of Czechoslovakia decided to transfer the production of Skoda trucks from the AVIA plant in the city of Letняany to the city of Liberec, which was located in the north of what was then Czechoslovakia.

The birth of an enterprise

This was preceded by a number of measures for the reconstruction of small enterprises in the settlements of Rynovice, Mnichovo Hradiste, Sviyany-Loukov and Liberec proper. All of them entered the association "Liberec Automobile Plants", which, in turn, was part of AZNP - the main Skoda enterprise located in the city of Mlada Boleslav. A year later, LIAZ (Liberec Automobile Plants) gained independence, but the trucks produced had a double brand - Skoda LIAZ - until 1984.

Models 706 D and 706 R Features and Specifications

The base for the first truck, which the enterprise began to produce, was the Skoda 706 D. With a carrying capacity of 7 tons and a power of 110 liters. with., trucks during the war were produced for the needs of the Wehrmacht. Before the resumption of production in 1946, modernization was carried out. The car was equipped with a new cab and increased power by 25 liters. with. The updated version received the 706 R index and was presented in 1949 in Moscow at the Czechoslovak Motor Show. On its basis, vans, buses, dump trucks and special-purpose vehicles were subsequently produced. The use of a common base greatly simplified the ordering of spare parts, regardless of the intended use of the car.

The development and production of Liaz trucks was established even before the war.

A diesel 6-cylinder engine was installed on the truck, the design features of which made it possible to remove the pistons and connecting rods from the block without dismantling the entire engine. Glow plugs were located in each cylinder. The fuel pump was equipped with a centrifugal distributor that supplies fuel to the injectors. The water cooling system was equipped with a thermostat.

The maximum declared speed of the car was about 53 km / h, in fact, it rarely exceeded 40 km / h with an average fuel consumption of about 30 liters per 100 km. The diesel engine was paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.

The car was equipped with an engine brake, which was not found in most diesel trucks of the time.

The 706 R's cab is spacious, free to accommodate a driver and three passengers, and was made of wood sheathed with steel sheets.

New model - 706 RT and its modifications

In 1957, the 706 R was replaced by a new model - the cabover RT. It was she who soon became a truly massive phenomenon on the roads of the Soviet Union. Based on this model with 160 hp engine. with. and direct injection of fuel were produced dump trucks RTS1 (unloading on one side), RTS3 (unloading on three sides), bus chassis RTO, truck tractor Skoda RTTN and other modifications.

In the 60s, mass deliveries of the Skoda 706 RT family began to the USSR. The main type of semi-trailers with which Czech tractors worked in the Soviet Union were refrigerators, the purchases of which began in 1964. RT-based vehicles for various purposes have earned popularity due to their reliability and endurance in operation. The gearbox, engine and main components worked perfectly, and if necessary, it was easy to find spare parts for repair.

The comfort of the driver's seat was incomparable with what domestic manufacturers offered our drivers.

Series 706 MT

In 1966, the production of the Skoda 706 MT series with a 180 hp engine was launched. with., and since 1969 - the MT4 and MT5 series with a 210-horsepower engine and a 5-speed gearbox. The MT family also received an updated cab, and in 1973, the production of two-seater cabins for vehicles operating over short distances began.

The end of the series production was the development and release of a new model Liaz 100, the production of which began in 1974 with truck tractors, and subsequently flatbed trucks. Nevertheless, the Skoda 706 series dump trucks were produced until 1987.

LIAZ family

The LIAZ 100 family, presented at the Brno exhibition in 1973, at that time consisted of only two cars - a flatbed truck and a truck tractor with indices 100.45 and 100.05, respectively. The mass production of new models began in 1974, and the family update was introduced in 1984. It included the Skoda Liaz 110 series with a forward-folding cab, as well as 122 three-axle vehicles, represented by a 26-ton flatbed truck 122.03 and a 122.48 tractor for 42-ton road trains.

The new generation of Czechoslovak trucks Skoda Liaz 110 was distinguished by an unusually stylish and thoughtful design. This was preceded by the creation of several prototypes, which ultimately made it possible to create a truly optimal model with perfectly worked out details and unified parts. The new MS638 and MS637 engines designed for Liaz, equipped with 6 turbocharged cylinders, produced 270 and 304 hp at 2000 rpm. with. The mountings of both motors were designed in such a way that each of them can be installed on any modification. A 45-degree tilt of the cylinders allows more room for the middle seat and lowers the floor in the cab. There was also a luggage rack and a berth behind the seats in the cockpit, which the previous model could not boast of.

Interestingly, around the same time, Renault granted AVIA a license to produce light duty trucks, and LIAZ immediately attempted to install a French cab on its tractors. However, this idea was unsuccessful, and the Czechs returned to their own design.

Soon, Skoda modifications with a shortened cab, three- and four-axle models, and an all-wheel drive chassis with a passenger body (Africabus model) were developed. Opportunities for cooperation were not missed either. For example, for Tatra trucks, a cab has been developed with a special radiator grille and a high seating position.