"Polutorka" GAZ-AA. History, technical characteristics, features

The GAZ-AA, a "lorry", a legendary machine of pre-war and wartime, was produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant in 1932. The prototype of the model was the American truck "Ford AA" of 1930, which was purchased by the Soviet Union under a license agreement. So there was "polutorka" GAZ-AA, which was subsequently upgraded many times. The design of the car was simple and reliable. At that time, the Soviet automotive industry was in its infancy, and a relatively inexpensive license for the production of a truck was very welcome.

The possibilities of the Gorky plant in terms of technical equipment were high, so the production was decided to be launched at GAZ. It is characteristic that the car, manufactured under the American license, quickly switched to providing domestic components. It was simpler to develop an assembly in place than to order it overseas and wait for deliveries for months. Thus, the process of assembling the "semitrack" became technological due to the efforts of Soviet engineers.

Modernization

GAZ-AA's "Half-Gauge" went into mass production in January 1932, and the assembly shops of the Gorky Automobile Plant immediately showed high rates of truck production. A day from the conveyor 60 cars came down, and still there was still the potential for acceleration. The Soviet version differed from the American model in a number of parameters. Instead of a tinplate, a cast clutch housing was installed, a worm steering mechanism was reinforced, an air filter was installed on the carburetor. The body was immediately re-engineered, the on-board variant was manufactured according to the national drawings. Later, Soviet designers developed a unique dump truck "lorry", which differed in that the body did not need to be overturned. The cargo slipped under its own weight on a specially designed body bottom. It was enough to open the tailgate.

Chassis

The design of the rear suspension "semitrack" was original and unusual. Semi-elliptic springs were located in a special way, in front of the beam of the rear axle so that their damping action took a leverage. Thanks to this design, the rear suspension has become compact and much more technologically advanced compared to full elliptical springs. But this design had one drawback - when braking the spring blocks took on multiple loads and often went out of order. Stepladders loosened, and the spring sheets began to shift relative to the longitudinal axis.

Wooden cab

Completely from the components of the Soviet production of "polutorka" GAZ-AA gathered since 1933. The cabins of the first cars were made of wood, and since 1934 a metal module with a tarpaulin roof was installed on the machine.

Technological truck GAZ-AA was designed on a chassis frame type, with spring suspension. The complete absence of shock absorbers made the machine unstable and rigid. Nevertheless, the car successfully performed the task of transporting goods and broke rarely. Motors "GAZ-AA" differed unpretentiousness and high maintainability. They could work on the lowest-grade petroleum products, low-octane gasoline and even kerosene in the hot season.

disadvantages

The weakest point of the "lorry" was a starter and battery. Their service life hardly reached half a year, then the unit went out of order, and the battery had to be repaired. Usually the car was wound with a handle.

Another major problem in the operation of GAZ-AA was the severe shortage of tires. It came to the point that the rear axle of the car was not equipped with four wheels, as was supposed by the passport, but only two, because of what the load capacity of the car fell.

And yet the "half-torpedo" was the most massive Soviet car in the pre-war and war years. The GAZ-AA chassis was also used for modified designs: ambulances, various tanks, light and acoustic installations, repair mobile "flyers", anti-chemical, hygienic and sanitary avtolaboratory, radio stations and radio systems for long-range detection, charging and lighting stations and aviation- Start-up units.

Update

In 1938, the "half-torpedo" GAZ-AA received a new engine GAZ-MM with a capacity of 50 liters. With., Which was previously installed on the car "Molotovets-1" under the designation GAZ-M1. In addition to the modernized motor, the "lorry" was equipped with an improved steering gear and a cardan shaft on needle bearings. The running gear was spring, without shock absorbers.

Since the "polutorka" - a technological machine, and its release was established in a short time, the model became indispensable in the national economy of the USSR. At that time, the carrying capacity of the car within 1.5 tons was considered quite sufficient. During harvesting, hundreds of cars were driven out to the fields, which quickly took out the harvest for processing, and then returned to their auto-farms. The car "polutorka" was considered a universal vehicle. He was trouble-free and unpretentious.

Car "polutorka", technical characteristics

The layout of the machine: front-engine, rear-wheel drive.

Dimensions and weight parameters:

• Length of the car - 5335 mm;
• Height - 1870 mm;
• Width - 2030 mm;
• Ground clearance, clearance - 200 mm;
• Base wheel - 3340 mm;
• The curb weight is 1750 mm.

Power point

Has the following characteristics:

• Engine grade - "GAZ-A";
• Type - petrol;
• Configuration - four-cylinder, in-line;
• Volume working - 3285 cube / cm;
• Power maximum - 40 liters. from.;
• Torque - 1200 rpm at 165 Nm;
• Cylinder, diameter - 98.43 mm;
• The compression ratio is 4.22;
• Stroke of the piston - 87 mm;
• Cooling system - water;
• The block head is cast-iron;
• The block of cylinders is cast iron;
• Number of measures - 4;
• The maximum speed is 70 km / h;

Transmission - a mechanical, four-speed gearbox.

"Polutorka" is a universal machine

In addition to conventional on-board cars, the Gorky Automobile Plant produced a dump truck modification of the GAZ-C1. The principle of operation of this machine was quite unusual. The cargo in the body was initially located so that its weight was pressed on the rear side, which was locked with a simple stopper. The loader or driver opened the lock, and the weight of the building material fell outward under its own weight. Then the empty body was locked again.

"The road of life"

On the participation of the GAZ-AA ("lorry") car in the war of 1941-1945, a huge number of books were written. But the most important historical route along which the legendary car was cruising was the "road of life" laid along the ice of Ladoga Lake. This was the only way connecting blockade Leningrad with the outside world.

On the ice could pass only the light GAZ-AA. Military "polutorka" with darkened headlights cautiously passed the distance under the fire of German artillery, delivering food to the besieged city. A lot of cars went under the ice, but still the city was saved not least thanks to the dedication of the legendary "lorry".

After the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the Gorky Automobile Plant started manufacturing military trucks in a simplified version. The shortage of cold-rolled metal, as well as the lack of a number of components, was affected. The military "lorry" had no doors - tarpaulins were installed instead of them, front wings were made of ordinary roofing iron. The brakes were only on the rear wheels, a single headlight illuminated the road. The lateral sides of the body did not recline.

End of production

Only by 1944 the car's complete set took a normal shape, there were doors made of wood, front brakes, a second headlamp and folding side boards. After the war, the "lorry" was again issued in large quantities, as the country needed transport. Production of GAZ-AA continued until 1956. And on the roads, these cars could be found until 1960, while the outdated car was not replaced by GAZ-51.