The GAZ-2752 is the Sobol, a Russian light-duty van and minivan built by the Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ) from November 1998. It is a lighter version of the GAZelle with a shorter wheelbase and a payload of up to 900 kg. This page covers the key facts, the history, the variants and the questions people ask most often.
GAZ-2752 Sobol at a glance
| Manufacturer | Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ) |
|---|---|
| Production | From November 1998 |
| Wheelbase | 2,760 mm |
| Payload | Up to 900 kg |
| Based on | GAZelle, with a shorter wheelbase |
The GAZ-2752 designation is used for the Sobol van in this entry. The English source calls the Sobol a minivan, and its figures apply to the van.
History
The Sobol fills a market that GAZ had left largely empty: a light van of its size and payload. It is essentially a lighter version of the GAZelle, built on a shorter wheelbase.
The Sobol is a compact van. Its 2,760 mm wheelbase and payload of up to 900 kg place it below the GAZelle in the GAZ range. The photo shows a Sobol in Moscow used as an emergency crew truck.
The English source describes the Sobol as a minivan, and the GAZelle as a light commercial vehicle. The two are close relatives, and the difference lies mainly in size and payload, which is why the table lists the Sobol’s wheelbase and payload separately.
Design and features
- A 2,760 mm wheelbase, shorter than the GAZelle.
- Spring independent front suspension.
- Up to 900 kg payload.
Variants
- GAZ-2752 Sobol: the van and minivan body.
- GAZelle and Valdai: the larger GAZ models, described in the GAZ Valdai entry.
- GAZ-2217 “Barguzin” and GAZ-22171 (Sobol Business): the minibus versions of the Sobol family, next to the GAZ-2310 flatbed truck (Russian Wikipedia, article “Соболь”). The old “GAZ Sobol” and “GAZ 22171” pages of this site are covered here.
See also: the GAZ collection, the GAZ Valdai, the GAZ 3302 Gazelle and the GAZ 2705.
GAZ-2752 questions and answers
What is the GAZ-2752?
The Sobol, a light-duty van and minivan built by GAZ from November 1998.
How much can a GAZ Sobol carry?
Up to 900 kg.
How is the Sobol different from the GAZelle?
The Sobol is a lighter version of the GAZelle, built on a shorter wheelbase.
Sources
- GAZ Sobol, English Wikipedia: production from 1998, wheelbase, payload, relation to the GAZelle
- GAZ-Sobol emergency crew truck, Moscow, Wikimedia Commons: photo and licence
