At present, few people remember the LiAZ 677 bus, but it’s enough to say “cattle truck” or “moon rover”, as people begin to understand and remember. Someone will remember this bus with a slight ironic smile, someone will smile more contemptuously.
But in most cases, these popular names and the buses themselves are rejoiced like children. And it is very easy to explain. In these cars childhood passed, as well as the youth of all those who were born in the Soviet Union and modern Russia. Let's try to look into the pages of the history of this legendary car and get to know it better.
These reliable and low-maintenance buses plowed the city expanses 30 years ago, but they earned the right to be considered a real symbol of the bygone Soviet era. The history of LiAZ 677 is not just the story of the birth of the model, but part of the history of each, a huge era.
He was a ZIL, and became a LiAZ. Model history
In the late 50s, the city bus ZIL 158, which actively worked on routes in all cities of the big country, predicted a quick death. The car by that time was already pretty outdated and urgently needed to be replaced. The design was archaic, and there were very few passengers there.
At the same time, these years are known for their powerful and rapid growth in housing construction. So, in cities there were more and more inhabitants, and large settlements began to need large buses that would allow transporting a larger number of passengers. Every day, tens and hundreds of thousands of people had to get to work, and most of the factories and industrial enterprises were at a sufficient distance.
Cars that were used as public transport could accommodate up to 60 people. Cities grew, and such transport could not satisfy the needs. That is why LiAZ began to develop new large passenger buses to work on city routes.
So, spring, the 58th year. In a small town near Moscow Likino-Dulyovo began to produce buses. Production moved from the factory to them. Likhachev. The plant was very busy and simply could not ensure the assembly of the required volume of machines. In the winter of the 59th year, the first developments appeared to create a more capacious city bus.
In the 62nd year, the first prototype, the prototype LiAZ 677, was released.
In the 63rd, the model managed to earn its first reviews. The following year, a test drive of the bus in the mountains was carried out. In the 65th year, the plant increased production volumes and became the largest enterprise that produced buses.
After the design work of LiAZ 677 was completely completed, the state commission gave the go-ahead to launch production. And in the 66th year, buses began to arrive at the car makers of the capital. The first batch was assembled in the 67th, mass production was organized in the 68th. At first, these machines only worked on the streets of Moscow. In other cities of the vast country, these models appeared later.
In the 71st year, the plant completely and massively began to produce the legendary LiAZ 677 bus.
Why a cattle truck?
This car was not nicknamed because of the quality of transportation. Everything is simple. The USSR in all and always helped fraternal Cuba. And of course, buses also delivered there. But due to the fact that people were valued very low there, the car found another use. So, since the bus had a low threshold, it was very convenient for transporting cows. There was no need to create special ramps. The animal easily entered LiAZ 677. The Cubans changed the structure a bit - they cut the roof due to weather conditions. Hence the "cattle truck".
Legend device
The model is considered to be the first real city bus, which was produced in the Union. Unlike past projects, the novelty was not only designed for a larger number of passengers, but was also more comfortable.
The bus was distinguished by comfortable seats, good work of the heating system. Even in wild frosts, some people managed to fall asleep very firmly in the cabin - it was so warm there.
Comfortable for the city
LiAZ 677 had an excellent suspension with automatic body position control. It was distinguished from other buses by smoother movement. In bumps and various road troubles, this model rode confidently. It was possible to achieve excellent characteristics of elasticity and energy intensity of the suspension due to the fact that rubber-cord air cylinders were used in the design.
Capacity and geometry
The cabin accommodated up to 110 passengers, and 25 people could ride while sitting. The seats are arranged in three- and four-row patterns. Between the rows of seats was a fairly wide passage, which made these buses very comfortable and convenient for passengers.
The bus length is 10 530 mm, width - 2500 mm, and height - 3033 mm.
Body and interior
What was LiAZ 677 - a model that is for many a symbol of happy days?
The body of the carriage layout had a supporting structure. Sections and body parts were connected to each other using rivets hidden under the overlays, which performed a decorative function.
The interior was sheathed in laminate. There was a full house above the windshield, where on the one hand they put the number of the route on which the car worked, and on the other hand - information about the route.
Lighting was organized by six ceiling lights with fluorescent lamps.
Hinged vents in each window allowed the interior to be naturally ventilated.
A separate word deserves a heating system. It was an outflow of hot air, which was obtained from cooling the engine. The air duct passed on the left side of the body, and on the left side in front, immediately behind the driver’s partition, on a frosty day, people even fell asleep in the body.
Salon Features
The power unit in this car was located in front of the right of the bus driver. Engineers decided that it would be very successful, but it happened. This decision allowed a lot of space for passengers in the rear. And if it was necessary to repair the motor, for this it was not even necessary to go out.
The main part of the load was taken over by the rear axle. He had two wheels on the left and the same on the right.
The passenger area was located slightly below the passenger compartment. And it was possible to get into the salon on a gentle slope. To enter and exit the cabin through the rear doors, the developers have provided two steps. In front of the stairs there were three, due to the fact that the bus has a front engine layout. Near the cabin, the cabin is also slightly raised.
Doors
So that the transport does not stand too long at the bus stops, it has wide doors of four wings. There are two such doors on the bus. The driver has a third door in the cab.
Driver's workplace
Engineers sought to conduct the project in such a way that the driver was very comfortable and functional. What can be said about the cabin of the LiAZ 677? Its characteristics are informative and ergonomic. But at the same time there is nothing superfluous. The instrument panel had a distinctive design for those years.
The driver's seat was sprung and allowed you to adjust the height, angle of inclination of the back or pillow. The cab and engine compartment were fenced off by a wall. In some modifications, a window was mounted, as on Ikarus. On such a window was a window for passengers.
LiAZ 677 engine and fuel consumption
The car used a V-shaped unit ZIL 375. Many, with all the many advantages of the bus, considered this engine a big drawback. The 8-cylinder carburetor engine had a power of 180 forces, but had huge appetites.
And even a fuel tank of 300 liters allowed only 1.5 shifts to depart. During breaks, drivers must refuel. But, despite such a huge expense, the model still went into production. Buses on a diesel engine did not exist then, and there was a lot of gasoline. With 93rd gasoline, the unit burned about 75l / 100 km.
This figure today seems simply huge and unrealistic. Many drivers who worked on these cars called the motor an “elephant”. This is because, in addition to huge appetites, he was still not too slow, and a loaded bus was difficult to climb. But after upgrading the LiAZ 677 bus, the technical specifications improved slightly. First of all, it was still possible to create an engine for the 76th gasoline, and it was also possible to reduce the consumption, which according to the passport became 54 l / 100 km.
There was another feature of this unit - its overheating in the summer. In winter, the motor froze. On hot days, the driver opened the engine compartment lid, and when winter came, the unit was insulated.
Transmission
The motor was paired with an automatic transmission. It should immediately be said that this is the first bus with a checkpoint of this type.
Many drivers were immediately able to appreciate all the advantages that automation provided them. A two-speed gearbox made it possible to reach a maximum speed of 70 km / h.
Naturally, this box was significantly different from modern models, but it was quite reliable and simple. It could be repaired very quickly.
Steering and brakes
The steering gear in the bus was hydraulically driven. The brakes were dual-circuit with pneumatic drive.
LiAZ 677 "Moscow"
The design and design, as well as the characteristics, have not undergone any special changes for the entire production period. However, in the 78th year, the production of the upgraded LiAZ 677 M was launched. The gearbox, electrical equipment, and also the brake system were finalized. The instrument panel has changed significantly.
Among the main differences of the new model, the interior can be distinguished. Also, the body was equipped with hatches on the ceiling. In addition, the bus changed color. Now they were yellow.
Finished to produce a modification of "Moscow" in the 97th year.
Tuning
There are many people who are interested in and interested in similar technology - this is a story.
There are even those who find these units of machines and restore them. In general, it is considered good luck to find at least the old LiAZ 677. Tuning it comes down to repainting and restoring the original appearance.
In conclusion
There is much more to say about this bus. There is a lot of interesting information related to it, a lot of interesting technical details. Today it is a rarity, and there are almost none left. This is an endangered species. But those who are really addicted recreated their favorite model in a computer game - LiAZ 677. “OMSI” is a bus driver simulator , and today we can see the symbol of the bygone Soviet era considered by us.