The ZIL-131 was a 3.5 tonne 6×6 truck designed for the Soviet army and introduced in 1966. It was a military version of the ZIL-130, shared many of its components and was exported widely across the Soviet bloc and beyond.
ZIL-131 at a glance
| Maker | ZiL, Moscow |
|---|---|
| Production | 1966–1994 at ZIL, to 2002 at UamZ |
| Class | 3.5 t 6×6 army truck |
| Engine | 6,960 cc V8, 150 hp |
| Gearbox | five-speed with two-speed transfer case |
| Curb weight | 6,700 kg |
| Payload | 5,000 kg on road, 3,500 kg off road |
| Top speed | 80 km/h |
| Length | 7.04 m |
| Fording depth | 1.4 m |
| Updated model | ZIL-131N from December 1986 |
History of the ZIL-131
From the ZIL-130
The ZIL-131 was introduced in 1966 as the military counterpart of the ZIL-130, which had entered production two years earlier. The two trucks shared many components: the same V8 petrol engine of 6,960 cc and 150 hp, a five-speed gearbox and a two-speed transfer case. The 6×6 chassis had solid axles on leaf springs, pneumatic brakes and a cab seating three over the engine. In April 1974 the truck received the State Quality Mark. A four-axle ZIL-132 had been proposed in 1960 but did not enter production.
On the road and off it
The ZIL-131 was 7.04 m long, weighed 6,700 kg and could carry 5,000 kg plus a 5,000 kg trailer on the road, or 3,500 kg plus 4,000 kg off road. Its top speed was 80 km/h, it could ford 1.4 m of water and climb a 31-degree slope with a 3,750 kg load; the turning circle was 10.8 m. The wooden platform had folding benches for 16 passengers, a removable central bench for eight more and a canvas tilt on hoops. Compared with the ZIL-157 it brought a V8 engine, power steering and an electro-pneumatic front-axle engagement that could be switched on from the dashboard.
Versions
The range included the ZIL-131V tractor unit, the ATZ-3,4-131 fuel tanker and the 9P138, a 36-tube version of the BM-21 Grad rocket launcher. Standard bodies for workshops and laboratories were developed as the KUNG K-131 and KM-131, and the chassis carried a long list of tankers, cranes and special equipment. In December 1986 the updated ZIL-131N arrived with the ZIL-5081 engine and a 3.75 tonne payload, and it was built both with petrol and with diesel engines as the 131N1 and 131N2. Northern versions were the 131S, 131NS, 131AS, 131NAS and 131NVS.
Long service
Production of the ZIL-131N in Moscow ended in 1994 with the arrival of the ZIL-4334, but the Ural Motor Plant continued building it until 2002, followed by the ZIL-433420 and the AMUR-531320. Many operators later re-engined their trucks with diesels, among them Cuba with the MMZ D-245 and Moldova with a Mercedes unit. The type served in the armed forces of the USSR and dozens of allied and friendly states, and examples remain in service today.
Design and features
- 6×6 chassis: solid axles on leaf springs, a two-speed transfer case and a 1.4 m fording depth.
- Shared ZIL-130 V8: 6,960 cc and 150 hp, with power steering and an electro-pneumatic front axle.
- Military versatility: cargo truck, tractor, tanker, workshop and rocket-launcher chassis.
- Wide export: used by the Soviet army and by dozens of allied and friendly countries.
ZIL-131 versions
- ZIL-131 (1966): the basic 3.5 tonne cargo truck.
- ZIL-131N (1986): updated truck with the ZIL-5081 engine and 3.75 tonne payload.
- ZIL-131V: tractor unit for trailers and rocket transporters.
- ATZ-3,4-131: fuel tanker on the 131 chassis.
- 9P138: 36-tube BM-21 Grad launcher on the ZIL-131.
The ZIL-131 was the military version of the ZIL-130, and it replaced the earlier ZIL-157. More trucks are in the ZiL collection.
Sources
- ZIL-131, English Wikipedia: specifications, variants, operators
- ЗИЛ-131, Russian Wikipedia: history, production, body and equipment
