In Petrovsk, a quiet storage reveal constellates a rare find for truck enthusiasts
In the city of Petrovsk within the Saratov region, a warehouse was discovered to house ZIL-5301 Bychok trucks kept in pristine condition with zero mileage. These units date from 2011 to 2012 and were not produced by ZIL itself but at the Petrovsky Auto Parts Plant (PZAA), which operated as part of the broader ZIL manufacturing complex. ZIL ceased production in 2016, and PZAA ceased operations in 2020. The ten trucks belong to the factory assets that are currently up for sale, presenting a snapshot of Soviet-era engineering repurposed for modern markets.
Most of the vehicles arrive in configurations with a single cabin, though some examples come with a two-door, two-row cabin arrangement as reported by industry outlets. Under the hood lies an MMZ turbo diesel engine with a displacement of 4.7 liters, delivering 136 horsepower. This combination offers a balance of rugged reliability and usable torque, designed to handle demanding work in industrial settings while maintaining straightforward maintenance needs for owners and operators. This information has been cited from contemporary automotive coverage in the sector.
The technical condition of the machines is described as excellent. All units remain in solid shape and have never been registered. Each truck possesses a technical passport, according to a seller’s statement cited in the reporting. The completeness of the fleet is nearly 100 percent, with one caveat: a few trucks lack a robust onboard platform. The seller notes that buyers can either have this platform installed at the buyer’s request or receive a substantial price concession to compensate for its absence. Given their current disconnection from production lines and their excellent exterior and mechanical status, these trucks carry a modest asking price, starting around 2.3 million rubles.
- By the way, the ZIL factory itself has also put up for sale other unsold units: in 2019, one of nine remaining copies could be purchased for a price range of 740 thousand to 2 million rubles.
- Driving footage and a closer look at the trucks can now be viewed on RuTube, offering prospective buyers a direct view of condition and operation.