One of the epicenters of the development of this idea was ZIL, where at that time the development of a new base vehicle, ZIL-169 with a ZIL-645 diesel engine, began.
According to the original plan, this engine would be ready for series production in 1981. There was a lot of work to be done in terms of fine tuning and testing – after all, it was the first Zilovsky diesel engine …
But the production of ZIL-169 prototypes was slow, there were not enough machines to test the engine. And those that were failed because of the “humidity” of the design of new units and assemblies.
And so the idea was born to put a new diesel engine on a proven and reliable “one hundred and thirty” – now such cars, hiding an experimental “stuffing” under a familiar body, are called mules by testers and journalists.
In parallel with this, in 1975 the ZIL-130G-169 was developed: the ZIL-130 chassis, a new diesel engine and a gearbox with a distributor, and most importantly, a significantly modernized cabin. As a result, a completely different ZIL began to emerge. It is discussed in the video.
- Interesting story, right? Then read about other great ZIL-130s that you definitely haven’t seen yet!
- “Behind the wheel” can be read in Odnoklassniki.
Video: Youtube / CAR HISTORY