The first industrial batch of LiAZ-677, eleven units, rolled off the line in 1967. The model entered production in 1968 and was manufactured in Likino-Dolyovo near Moscow until 1996.
The LiAZ-677 replaced the aging ZIL-158, whose production had shifted to the Moscow region in the late 1950s. In many respects the LiAZ-677 was new, even groundbreaking for its time.
The bus that reshaped urban transit
The 677’s home city quickly became the focus of the fleet. It featured a low entry step right behind the front door, the first of its kind among Soviet buses, designed to ease passenger flow on crowded routes. A slightly steeper climb followed along the route. The suburban version LiAZ-677MB dispensed with the platform, offering a flat cabin floor. Both configurations retained three steps at the rear and front endpoints.
In city layouts the LiAZ-677 carried a single left-hand seat, which produced a noticeably higher passenger capacity. The suburban version arranged seats symmetrically, totaling 35 seats with a passport capacity of 87 passengers. Over time, some 677s were restored from the original city-bus layout, while the city variants retained double counters and plastic door pockets intended for used tickets, an arrangement that complemented a conductor’s duties.
The passenger version increased seating to 25 and maintained a total passport capacity of 110, though peak crowds often exceeded this figure.
Power, practicality, and a touch of friction
To the driver’s right sat the heart of LiAZ-677’s operation: the ZIL-375 engine. This seven-liter V8 was derived from the ZIL-130, delivering 180 horsepower, offering both strength and a track record of reliability. However, fuel economy proved tricky to balance. Official estimates started at 45 liters per 100 kilometers, later adjusted to 40 l/100 km, yet real-world consumption often hovered around 50–55 l/100 km.
Fuel costs were a minor concern for the state and the passenger alike during those years. A token fare—five kopecks—could cover a modest handful of goods, such as matches or a small bottle, with or without syrup. The more significant factor was the LiAZ-677’s two-speed automatic transmission. In addition to automatic, neutral, and reverse, the gear selector included a forced first-gear position for steep climbs. The system—developed in collaboration with a Lvov factory—emerged from a longer experimental program and became a standard feature on LiAZs. The shifter sits beneath the steering wheel to the right.
First-line suspension and resilience
LiAZ’s innovation extended to suspension, introducing air springs in the USSR. Each front wheel received one pneumatic cylinder while the rear wheels used two. This setup yielded a noticeably smooth ride and confident handling. If a cylinder failed, the bus could sway or even tip in cornering, or occasionally drift in a straight line, underscoring the technology’s vulnerability as well as its benefits.
Suspension components, such as bushings, depended on pneumo cylinders to maintain ride quality.
A sturdy nickname and lasting legacy
Among enthusiasts, the LiAZ-677 earned the moniker “moon rover” in later years, a tag associated with the era of sweeping innovations. Earlier in the 1970s, drivers sometimes referred to the vehicle as a “cattle truck”—a biting but affectionate nickname reflecting the way passengers themselves became part of its daily life. These buses became a defining feature of the Soviet urban landscape and a familiar sight on suburban highways. They endured harsh winters and stifling summers alike, their presence a nostalgic constant for many riders.
Over time, the LiAZ-677 became a cultural touchstone, connected not only to daily commuting but to the broader memory of a very specific era. The experience of riding in such buses remains a vivid memory for many. For some, the LiAZ represents a personal doorway to childhood—an emblem of a time when public transport shaped daily life as much as it did infrastructure.
Modern readers can still encounter retellings of these experiences, including firsthand accounts shared through modern channels and communities that reflect on the era. This article echoes those memories and situates them within the broader history of Soviet and post-Soviet urban transport.
[Citation: LiAZ-677 production history and design details are drawn from archival accounts of Soviet vehicle development and retrospective analyses.]