Truck tractor Skoda Liaz. Difficult story

The beginning of the history of the Skoda Liaz car manufacturing company is considered to be 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 Letnany to the city of Liberec, which was located in the north of what was then Czechoslovakia.

Birth of the enterprise

This was preceded by a series of measures for the reconstruction of small enterprises in the settlements of Rynovice, Mnichovo Hradiste, Sviyany Loukov and Liberce proper. All of them entered the Liberec Automobile Plants association, 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 basis for the first truck, which the enterprise began to produce, was the Skoda 706 D. With a payload capacity of 7 tons and a power of 110 liters. s., 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. updated version received the index 706 R and was presented in 1949 in Moscow at the Czechoslovak Automobile Exhibition. Vans, buses, dump trucks and cars were subsequently produced at its base. special purpose. 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 pistons and connecting rods from the block without dismantling the entire engine. Glow plugs were located in each cylinder. Fuel pump was equipped with a centrifugal distributor that supplies fuel to the nozzles. 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 gearbox.

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

The cabin of the 706 R is spacious, it freely accommodated the driver and three passengers, and it was made of wood sheathed with steel sheets.

New model - 706 RT and its modifications

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

In the 60s, mass deliveries of the Skoda 706 RT family to the USSR began. The main type of semi-trailers with which Czech tractors worked in the Soviet Union were refrigerators, the purchases of which began in 1964. Cars for various purposes based on RT 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 repairs.

Comfort 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 was launched with a 180 hp engine. s., 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-seat cabs for machines operating over short distances began.

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

LIAZ family

Presented at an exhibition in Brno in 1973, the LIAZ 100 family at that time consisted of only two cars - a flatbed truck and a truck tractor with indices 100.45 and 100.05, respectively. The start of mass production of new models took place in 1974, and the family update was introduced in 1984. It included the Skoda Liaz 110 series with a forward-leaning cab, as well as the 122 three-axle vehicles, represented by a 26-ton flatbed truck 122.03 and a tractor 122.48 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 crafted details and unified spare parts. The new MS638 and MS637 engines designed for Liaz, equipped with 6 turbocharged cylinders, produced 270 and 304 hp at 2000 rpm. With. Mounting of both engines was designed in such a way that each of them can be installed on any modification. The 45-degree tilt of the cylinders allowed more space for the middle seat and lowered the cab floor. Also behind the seats in the cab there was a luggage rack and a berth, which the previous model could not boast of.

Interestingly, around the same time, Renault granted the AVIA factories a license to produce light trucks, and LIAZ immediately made an attempt to install a French cab on their 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, an all-wheel drive chassis with a passenger body (Africabus model) were developed. Opportunities for collaboration were not missed either. For example, for Tatra trucks, a cab was developed with a special radiator lining and a high seating position.

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 automobile plant began to build railway locomotives, and the production of trucks and buses was transferred to the Avia company in Letňany. By agreement with the designer of the designs - Škoda, the former emblem remained on the facings of their radiators and the name of the company was preserved.

The first post-war Škoda truck was named Skoda 706R, its production was established in Letnany from 1946 to 1951, and in June 1951 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 enterprises for the production of trucks and buses S706". In the future, this group of enterprises became the basis of the company LIAZ (LIAZ - "Liberec automobile factories»).

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

The diesel engine installed in the Škoda 706 R was a 6-cylinder wet-liner, pre-chamber mixture, with several design features which greatly facilitated its repair and maintenance. The crankshaft was assembled at the factory from seven parts, and it rotated in a powerful crankcase on seven large diameter roller bearings. Pistons together with connecting rods when holding repair work could be removed from the block without dismantling the diesel engine from the car. 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 engine was equipped with a compressor that served the pneumatic brake system car, and was driven by a gear transmission from the crankshaft. Two filters with replaceable paper elements were mounted 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 tubes to the 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. AT real conditions in operation, the speed of the truck rarely exceeded 40 km / h. Average consumption fuel was about 30 liters per 100 km. Oil consumption was also rather big - 1 liter per 100 kilometers!

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

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

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

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

Simultaneously with the production of onboard versions, the assembly of dump trucks began 706RS with metal platforms that unloaded on three sides. The load capacity of the dump truck was limited to 6.5 tons with a curb weight of 7.26 tons. The main scope of their application was urban and suburban construction. Another version of the truck was a car Škoda-706ROК with a front cab, unified with the bus. 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 Skoda-706RS played a prominent role in the restoration of the destroyed factories and cities of 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 an opinion among drivers about the Škoda-706RS (and about the entire line of 706R models in general) as a car that is convenient to work at any time of the year. The design of the engine and transmission worked out for a decade, the high quality of the manufacture of cars guaranteed their excellent reliability and durability.

Series produced since 1969 Skoda-706MT4 and Skoda-706MT5, equipped with a new M634 engine with an HP 210 power. and a 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 the new family began, and a year later, flatbed trucks. This meant the end of the production of the corresponding models of the previous family. However, the production of 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 and supplied to Czechoslovakia.

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

Subsequently, refrigerators became the main type of semi-trailers used by Czech tractors in the USSR. According to the test results, the Škoda-706RTTN earned high marks, but there were no immediate deliveries. Only in 1964, finally, it was decided to purchase Czech tractors, and Skoda and Prague began to arrive in the USSR with Orličan refrigerated semi-trailers.

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).

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

They were respected for 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 individual copies are still found on the roads today.

In 1973, the production of trucks under the Skoda brand ceased and the production of LIAZ trucks began (although the LIAZ plant became independent back 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 included in the heavy engineering concern Škoda. Having redeemed the shares of the 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-on-Nise, Liberec, Mnichovo Hradiste and Melnik. At first, the program included all previously produced cars, which received a new brand name "Škoda-LIAZ" and a modified model indexing.

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

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

It is equipped with a 6-cylinder Detroit Diesel turbocharged engine (volume 12742 cm3, power 437 or 477 hp), 16-speed Eaton gearbox, imported axles, front disc brakes, ABS, rear air suspension With electronic control, a new spacious cabin made of laminated fiberglass on an aluminum frame. In 2000, a new Fox series was added to it with a gross weight of 19 tons with engines with a capacity of 290-330 hp. In 2003, the production of Xen and Fox trucks ceased.

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

The Skoda-706RT truck can be safely called one of the most successful decisions of Czech automakers, and in the USSR of the "pre-Kamazov" era it was legendary car, the main part of them worked in Sovtransavto on international cargo transportation.

The history of this car began in 1957, when the car was presented to the general public, which caused a well-deserved interest. The first thing that caught my eye was the layout. The hood over the engine was a rarity in the 50s, at a time when "bonnets" still ruled the ball in Europe. Only now the cab did not recline, and access to the engine was directly from the cab.

Diesel (with direct injection) a six-cylinder engine with a volume of 11.76 liters and a power of 160 hp. allowed to produce this truck in many different modifications, the most massive of which was the Skoda-706RTTN truck tractor.

The car is quickly gaining popularity both in the countries of the socialist bloc and in Europe. It is valued for its endurance, unpretentiousness in maintenance, high speed, simple and highly reliable design, easy to repair.

Mass deliveries of Skoda-706RT to the USSR begin in the mid-60s. Basically, these were Skoda-706RTTN tractors, which worked in tandem with a Czech, single-axle refrigerator semi-trailer.

It is such a machine that appears in the frames of the famous Soviet film "Prisoner of the Caucasus"

By the way, since we are talking about cinema, we need to mention the “Pursuit”, where the Skoda-706RTTN actually plays one of the main roles, it also occasionally appears in the films “Mirage” and “Amphibian Man”, “The Adventures of Electronics”.

Skoda-706RTTN gave the Soviet driver an unprecedented level of comfort, because the cabin was with a sleeping bag. First Soviet truck with a sleeping bag "Colchis", only now to call the "circus horse" a full-fledged tractor will not work with all the desire. By the way, when designing the cabin of Colchis, the designers were clearly inspired by Skoda.

In 1966 Skoda-706 receives new engine with a power of 180 hp, and in 1969 even more powerful modifications of the Skoda-706MT4 and Skoda-706MT5 appeared, with a 210 hp engine. a five-speed gearbox with a divider and a slight restyling. Skoda-706RT at the same time continued to be produced.

In 1973, a shortened cabin appears, without a sleeping bag. The cab was mounted on a chassis for special equipment, dump trucks and other modifications, the operating conditions of which did not imply frequent long-distance trips.

The Soviet "truckers" already had their own traction, MAZ-500, but Skoda was still popular and loved, and even the production of Skoda-706RT under the LIAZ-Madara brand began in Bulgaria. It was produced from 1970 to 1981.

Skoda-706RT lasted in production until 1985, and Skoda-706MT in dump truck modifications lasted in production right up to 1987. In total, about 250 thousand different modifications of the Skoda-706 RT and MT truck were produced. Their margin of safety was such that the car was quite common on the roads until the mid-90s. Now you can’t meet them except at oldtimer exhibitions, only a good memory remains about the car.

Skoda Liaz

Birth date of the automotive company Skoda LIAZ (Skoda LIAZ) 1951 is considered to be the year, since until that time both enterprises - LIAZ and Skoda - existed separately. At different times, the company included up to 12 enterprises of various profiles located in different cities, and in the 70s of the last century, Skoda LIAZ was the largest manufacturer of trucks in Czechoslovakia.

The following video tells about the rich history of LIAZ-Skoda:

Lineup LIAZ Skoda

Skoda 706

At the end of 1951, the government of Czechoslovakia decided to resume the production of aircraft at the Avia plant, and transfer the production of buses and heavy trucks Skoda-706 to a plant in the village of Rynovice, which is part of the LIAZ group of enterprises (Liberec Automobile Plants). Although LIAZ became independent from Skoda in 1953, it still continued to use its name (Skoda LIAZ) until 1984. Photos of the first Skoda LIAZ 706 trucks have been preserved:

Skoda LIAZ 706 is one of the first truck models produced by LIAZ

Since 1957, the Skoda LIAZ factories have produced Skoda 706RTS dump trucks, Skoda 706RTTN truck tractors, as well as the Skoda 706RT chassis, on the basis of which flatbed trucks, buses and various specialized vehicles were produced. All 706RT series cars were equipped with a 160-horsepower direct-injection diesel engine.

Skoda LIAZ 706 RTTN truck tractor

Fire truck based on Skoda 706 LIAZ RT chassis

In 1966, a new series of Skoda 706MT trucks was launched into production, equipped with six-cylinder in-line 180-horsepower diesel engines M630 and a 210-horsepower engine modification developed 3 years later, designated M634.

Skoda LIAZ 100

In 1974, the existing model range was added new car- Skoda LIAZ 100, developed on the basis of trucks of the 706MT series.

The first on the conveyor were two-axle trucks with a gross weight of up to 19 tons and Skoda LIAZ 100.42 truck tractors, designed for road trains weighing up to 38 tons. In the same year, a truck tractor with an index of 100.45 was added to them, and a year later - flatbed truck 100.05 (this is the model shown in the photo):

Flatbed truck Skoda LIAZ 100.05

Technical characteristics of the truck Skoda LIAZ 100.42

• Type: truck tractor
• Overall dimensions (length/width/height), mm: 6350/2500/2810
• Curb weight, kg: 6800
• Make and type of engine: MS 634, diesel R6
• Engine displacement, cm.: 11940
• Power, hp: 201 at 2000 rpm.
• Maximum torque, Nm: 751 at 1400 rpm
• Gearbox type: mechanical, 5-speed
• Maximum speed, km/h: 98
• Fuel consumption, l / 100 km: 35-40
• Volume of fuel tanks: 2 x 175 l

Skoda LIAZ 110

Ten years later the car has changed, he got new design, reclining cab, rear air suspension and a new designation - Skoda LIAZ 110. Initially, the truck was equipped with one of five modifications of the M630 engine with power from 210 to 320 hp. In 1992, the Skoda LIAZ 110.573 truck tractors appeared, equipped with a large-capacity Maxi cab and anti-lock braking system brakes.

Truck tractor Skoda LIAZ 110.57

Both models were actively exported to the Soviet Union. Compared to domestic trucks, Skoda LIAZ 100-110 cars were considered more comfortable and reliable. Many of them are still in operation on intercity routes of the countries of the former Soviet Union.

Skoda LIAZ Xena and Fox

Unfortunately, even the modernized versions of Czechoslovak trucks could not be compared with the models of competitors from Western Europe, and the collapse of the USSR put the car factory on the brink of ruin. In 1995, the Skoda concern bought back the shares of the LIAZ factories, forming the Joint Stock Company Skoda-LIAZ (Skoda-LIAZ a.s.). In addition to the already produced models, it was planned to develop and put into production a new series of trucks.

The first car created by the new joint-stock company was the main truck tractor Skoda LIAZ Xena 19.47TBV. The novelty was intended for road trains weighing up to 44 tons. The tractor was equipped with a fiberglass cab on an aluminum frame, foreign-made bridges, a 16-speed gearbox from Eaton, ABS, disc brakes front and electronically controlled air suspension at the rear. A photo and video review of the cargo Skoda LIAZ Xena 19.47 TBV gives an idea of ​​the scale of the changes made to the design:

Trunk tractor Skoda LIAZ Xena 19.47 TBV

In 2000 the lineup companies replenished trucks Fox series, equipped with engines up to 330 hp, but their release did not change the difficult financial situation of the company.

Tipper Skoda LIAZ Fox

The last truck was produced by LIAZ on September 1, 2003. It was a technical assistance car for the racing team of Martin Masik, who participated in the Dakkar rally.

The last truck produced at the LIAZ plant