The GAZ M-72 was a Soviet four-wheel-drive passenger off-road car built by the Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ) from 1955 to 1958. It was based on the M-20 Pobeda body and the drivetrain of the GAZ-69 army vehicle, and 4,677 units were built. This page covers the key facts, the history, the design and the questions people ask most often.
GAZ M-72 at a glance
| Manufacturer | Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ) |
|---|---|
| Production years | 1955–1958 |
| Units built | 4,677 |
| Drive | Four-wheel drive |
| Based on | M-20 Pobeda body and outer panels; GAZ-69 drivetrain units |
The sources give the production count, years and the donor vehicles, but no engine or weight figures for the M-72, so the table does not include them.
History
After the war, the outdated GAZ-61 was withdrawn, and the M-20 Pobeda was put into production. This raised the question of a new comfortable passenger car with off-road ability. The result was the M-72, created on the body of the Pobeda and the units of the GAZ-69 army all-terrain vehicle.
Only the outer body panels and the load-bearing frame were taken from the M-20 Pobeda. The rest of the car was adapted for four-wheel drive and off-road use. The car was built from 1955 to 1958.
Design and features
- Four-wheel drive, using the drivetrain of the GAZ-69.
- A passenger body based on the M-20 Pobeda, adapted for off-road use.
- A rare model: 4,677 units were built in total.
Variants
- M-72: the production passenger off-road car, 1955–1958.
- GAZ-69: the army vehicle whose drivetrain units the M-72 used.
- M-20 Pobeda: the passenger car whose body the M-72 was built on.
See also: the GAZ collection, the GAZ 69 and the GAZ 21.
GAZ M-72 questions and answers
How many GAZ M-72 cars were built?
4,677 units, from 1955 to 1958.
What was the GAZ M-72 based on?
The body and outer panels of the M-20 Pobeda and the drivetrain units of the GAZ-69.
Was the M-72 a military vehicle?
No. It was a passenger car with four-wheel drive, while the GAZ-69 was the army vehicle.
Video: GAZ M-72 Pobeda 4×4
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- М-72 (автомобиль), Russian Wikipedia: production years, 4,677 units, Pobeda body and GAZ-69 units, history
- Chernogolovka Military-Technical Museum, Wikimedia Commons: photo and licence
