Miguel Sánchez
Because of its extreme geography and military history, Russia is a wonder for lovers of Spartan and rugged vehicles. A quick look at their classic cars tells us about it: Indestructible diesel engines, four-wheel drive, simple bodies, sober interiors ... even the most 'luxurious' of the models you can see has that touch of 'Soviet rudeness'. It has its point: here we are very followers of Lada Niva.
The particular history of Russia, and especially the period of collective military obsession during the Cold War, led to the appearance of civilian vehicles where the military is very present. The finding that we bring you today has something to do with that. There is a PT-76, but it would not cost us to see him cross the tundra or the jungles of Vietnam or Angola, as did some of these tanks under the flags of the USSR, North Vietnam and Cuba respectively.
THE CLASSIC CHELYABINSK CATERPILLAR
The dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 took many by surprise, especially in the field of industry. For this reason, a large number of military and industrial vehicles were abandoned in factories that, suddenly, were emptied due to the lack of direction or market. Thinking of all the possible finds that are waiting in warehouses spread throughout the country with the largest surface area on the planet… it is impressive. One of them has recently been made in the city of Chelyabinsk.
(What a coincidence, in the same city where there is a Russian museum full of Spanish classics!)
It is a unique vehicle, with a mobile chassis split in two halves: a front one for the passenger compartment and a rear one with the function of locating the engine. The body is made of aluminum, finished off with a multitude of rivets that give it a very apocalyptic look. Not to mention the curious front door, by way of Isetta primitive…
For the time being almost all are doubts about the finding, although the first inquiries made by its owner Ivan Ivanov -We do not know if he is the cyclist who helped Perico Delgado not to lose the Vuelta España '89 going down Navacerrada- point out that the vehicle was made around 1950, with Maxim Nikolaevich being responsible for himself: head of hydrostatic drive at the Chelyabinsk State Tractor Factory.
AN AMPHIBIOUS BARNFIND WITH 8 WHEELS AND 11 MOTORS
Yes, you read it right. This vehicle has more motors than wheels. And is that each of the 8 wheels of the same has its own hydraulic support motor. In addition, it mounts two other hydraulic thrusters that provide power to two propellers that help this amphibian in a hypothetical aquatic movement through a quagmire.
The main engine appears to be that of a GAZ M-20 Pobeda, one of the most successful Soviet utility vehicles, produced from 1946 with a four-cylinder of about 50 hp. So… check it out, in total we have put together 11 engines for such a small vehicle.
However, this excess has its explanation: Due to its shape and design, it is most likely that this curious amphibian was designed to pull heavy military cargo planes through terrain turned into swamps by the cold Russian winter. And it is that, when in a country you combine freezing weather and military needs ... these strange vehicles come out.
