ZIL 131 6x6 5 Tonne with radio bodyThis ex Warsaw Pact ZIL is fitted with a central tyre inflation system a common feature on many Russian built military vehicles. The road noise from those off-road tyres must be horrendous at speed.
This beast of a Russian military truck was seen at the Pickering Steam Rally, North Yorkshire, England in August 2013.
Some notes on Soviet built trucks:
The various Soviet makes of truck were given the initial letters of of the factory at which they were built.
Hence ZIL comes from the Zavod Imieni Likhachev site near Moscow, which also built the luxury limousines used by high ranking Russian politicians during the 1960' and 70's.
Kraz comes from Kremenchug Avto Zavod with Avto Zavod meaning Vehicle Works, there was also a factory at Minsk whose trucks are called MAZ.
Hope this info sheds some light on Soviet/Russian truck makers names.
Picture added on 20 August 2013 at 07:15
