The GAZ-53 is a 3.5-tonne 4×2 truck built by the Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ) from 1961 to 1993. It was introduced as the GAZ-53F and became one of the most common trucks in Eastern Europe. This page covers the key facts, the history, the variants and the questions people ask most often.
GAZ-53 at a glance
| Manufacturer | Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ) |
|---|---|
| Production years | 1961–1993 |
| Drive | 4×2 |
| Payload | 3.5 tonnes (4 tonnes for the GAZ-53A from 1965) |
| Gearbox | Four-speed |
The GAZ-52 was a near-identical 2.5-tonne truck, produced from 1962 to 1989. The payload figures differ between versions, so the table shows the range.
History
The GAZ-52 and GAZ-53 range was designed in the 1950s. The first GAZ-52 prototype was built in 1956 as a modernised GAZ-51 with a new front end. In 1958 a completely new cab, inspired by contemporary American trucks, was developed. Production of the GAZ-53F started in 1961.
In 1965 the payload was raised to 4 tonnes with the GAZ-53A, built until January 1983. The GAZ-53-12 then took over until production ended in 1993.
Design and features
- A vertically fluted grille, which helps tell it apart from the ZIL-130.
- Direction indicators above the headlamps, except on the early GAZ-53F.
- A four-speed gearbox on all variants.
Variants
- GAZ-53F: the first production version.
- GAZ-52: near-identical 2.5-tonne version, built 1962–1989.
- GAZ-53A: 1965 version with a 4-tonne payload, built until January 1983.
- GAZ-53-12: final version, built from 1983 until 1993.
See also: the GAZ 53-12, the GAZ 51 and the GAZ collection.
GAZ-53 questions and answers
When was the GAZ-53 built?
From 1961 to 1993.
How is the GAZ-53 different from the GAZ-52?
The two share most of their design. The GAZ-52 carried 2.5 tonnes, while the GAZ-53 carried more.
How can you tell a GAZ-53 from a ZIL-130?
The GAZ grille is fluted vertically, and the indicators sit above the headlamps. The ZIL has a horizontal grille and indicators below the headlamps.
Sources
- GAZ-53, English Wikipedia: production years, payloads, GAZ-52 and GAZ-53A, identification
- GAZ-53 in Yerevan, Wikimedia Commons: photo and licence
