The Intrall Lublin was the last version of the light commercial vehicle that had been built in Lublin since 1993. From 2004 it was made by Intrall Polska, a Russo-British company that took over the rights from Daewoo Motor Polska, and it stayed in production until Intrall’s bankruptcy at the end of 2007.
Intrall Lublin at a glance
| Maker | Intrall Polska, Lublin, Poland |
|---|---|
| Production | 2004–2007 |
| Earlier names | FS Lublin 1993–1998, Daewoo Lublin 1998–2001, Andoria Lublin 2001–2003 |
| Bodies | chassis-cab flatbed, container, furgon, integral van, crew cab |
| Diesel engines | Andoria 4CT90 turbodiesel, 4CTi90 with intercooler from 2006 |
| Added in 2005 | 2.8-litre Iveco 8140.43S, 125 hp |
| Petrol engine | 2.0 MPFI, 105 hp (earlier cars, small numbers) |
| Gross weight | 3.5 t versions offered from 1997 |
| Gearbox | five-speed manual, Kia-sourced from the Lublin 3 |
| Layout | front engine, rear-wheel drive, rigid axles |
| Also assembled | SKD kits at Unison near Minsk from 2004 |
| Sold in Germany as | Intrall L3 |
The Lublin is described in the Polish Wikipedia article on the FS Lublin; the English article on Intrall supplies the company background.
History of the Intrall Lublin
The Lublin before Intrall
Production in Lublin began on 15 October 1993, when the lines for the Lublin 33 with the 72 hp 4C90 diesel were started up; the model replaced the older Żuk. At first only chassis were built, fitted with a flatbed, a container or a fibreglass furgon body. From 1996 the range gained a turbocharged 4CT90 diesel of 90 hp and a 2.0 MPFI petrol engine of 105 hp from General Motors, of which only a small number were made. The integral furgon followed in September 1996 and a raised-roof version a year later.
Daewoo and Andoria years
In 1997 production of the much modernised Lublin II began, with a new gearbox, power steering, front disc brakes, a new grille, a dashboard modelled on the Polonez Plus and a Polonez steering wheel carrying the DMP logo. Late that year a 3.5-tonne version and a 2.2 C22 NED petrol engine of 117 hp from Holden joined the range. Between 1996 and 2001 Lublins were also assembled in Romania at Daewoo Automobile Romania in Craiova, and from 1997 to 1999 at the Czech Avia works. The Lublin 3 of 1999 brought new indicator and parking lamps in the body corners, better corrosion protection, a Kia gearbox and a new propshaft. After the Lublin factory went bankrupt in autumn 2001 it was taken over by the engine maker Andoria of Andrychów, which restarted production in spring 2002.
Under Intrall
At the end of 2003 the production rights passed to Intrall Polska, which restarted the lines at the beginning of 2004. In 2005 came the Lublin 3Mi, with a new grille carrying round lamps, new rear indicator and stop lamps arranged much like those of the Żuk, and a 2.8-litre Iveco 8140.43S diesel of 125 hp. In 2006 the 4CT90 was replaced by the intercooled 4CTi90 of 102 hp. Assembly from SKD kits also ran from 2004 at the Unison works at Obczak near Minsk, and for a short time the 3Mi was offered in Germany as the Intrall L3. In December 2007 production stopped because of the bankruptcy of Intrall, and in May 2009 the DZT Tymińscy company bought the rights to the Honker and Lublin from the receiver of Daewoo Motor Polska.
Design and features
- Long-lived Lublin body: the same basic van that had replaced the Żuk in 1993, updated step by step.
- 3Mi facelift: a new grille with round headlamps and rearranged rear lamps from 2005.
- Iveco power: a 2.8-litre 125 hp diesel joined the range in 2005.
- Intercooled Andoria diesel: the 4CTi90 of 102 hp replaced the 4CT90 in 2006.
- Many bodies: flatbed, container, furgon, integral van and crew cab on the same chassis.
Intrall Lublin versions
- Lublin 3Mi (2005–2007): the facelifted van and chassis range with the round-lamp grille.
- 3Mi with 2.8 Iveco: the most powerful diesel version, 125 hp.
- Intrall L3: the name used for a short period for the 3Mi sold in Germany.
- SKD cars: 3Mi vans assembled near Minsk from kits sent from Lublin.
- Furgon and chassis-cab: the integral van and the flatbed, container and crew-cab bodies.
The Lublin shared its factory and later its owner with the Intrall Honker off-roader. The company behind both is described in the article on the Intrall marque.
Sources
- FS Lublin, Polish Wikipedia: production history, engines, bodies, assembly
- Intrall, English Wikipedia: company history, end of production
