Overview

The GAZ-51 was a Soviet 2.5-tonne 4×2 light truck produced by Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod (GAZ—Gorky Automobile Plant) from 1946 to 1975. Designed as a post-war replacement for the American Lend-Lease Studebaker US6 and obsolete GAZ-AA/AAA trucks, the GAZ-51 became the backbone of Soviet logistics, serving military units, collective farms, construction enterprises, and civilian transportation across the USSR and Warsaw Pact.

Over 3.5 million units were manufactured during its 30-year production run, with variants including cargo trucks, ambulances, fuel tankers, and specialized military vehicles. The GAZ-51's simple, robust design suited Soviet conditions—unpaved roads, extreme temperatures, minimal maintenance infrastructure—making it one of history's most successful utility vehicles.

Historical context

Post-war Soviet reconstruction

Following World War II, the Soviet Union faced massive reconstruction needs but lacked modern truck production. During the war, Soviet logistics relied heavily on:

  • Lend-Lease trucks: 400,000+ American Studebaker US6, GMC CCKW, Dodge WC series
  • GAZ-AA/GAZ-AAA: Obsolete 1930s-era Soviet trucks based on Ford Model AA

By 1945, these vehicles were worn out, and Lend-Lease deliveries ceased. Stalin's Five-Year Plans prioritized restoring industrial capacity, requiring reliable medium-duty trucks for:

  • Military logistics (ammunition, supplies, troop transport)
  • Collective farm produce transport
  • Construction material delivery
  • Civilian goods distribution

GAZ-51 development (1941-1946)

GAZ chief designer Andrey Lipgart began the GAZ-51 project in 1941, but Nazi Germany's invasion halted development. Design work resumed in 1943 at GAZ's relocated facilities in the Urals. Lipgart's team studied captured German trucks (Opel Blitz) and American Lend-Lease vehicles to inform the GAZ-51's design.

Key design requirements:

  • 2.5-tonne payload: Balance between light GAZ-AA (1.5 tonnes) and heavy ZIS-150 (4 tonnes)
  • Simple construction: Minimize precision machining, enable field repair
  • Durability: Operate on unpaved roads, withstand Siberian winters
  • Fuel economy: Efficient gasoline engine (diesel technology not yet mature in USSR)

The prototype completed testing in 1944-1945, with production beginning at GAZ (Gorky) in late 1946. The GAZ-51 designation followed Soviet vehicle nomenclature: "51" indicating the 1951 design year when mass production ramped up (despite 1946 initial production).

Production and legacy

1946-1975: 3.48 million GAZ-51 and variants produced 1966-1975: Phased replacement by GAZ-53 (more powerful, 3.5-tonne capacity) Export: Poland (license production as FSC Żubr), China (reverse-engineered as Yuejin NJ130), North Korea

The GAZ-51 remained in Soviet military reserve stocks through the 1980s, with civilian examples operating into the 1990s in rural areas.

Specifications

Commonly cited specifications (GAZ-51A standard cargo):

Dimensions:

  • Length: 5.71 m (18 ft 9 in)
  • Width: 2.28 m (7 ft 6 in)
  • Height: 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in) cab
  • Wheelbase: 3.30 m (10 ft 10 in)
  • Track (front/rear): 1.62 m / 1.64 m (5 ft 4 in / 5 ft 5 in)

Weights:

  • Curb weight: 2,250 kg (4,960 lb)
  • GVW: 4,750 kg (10,472 lb)
  • Payload: 2,500 kg (5,512 lb) on-road, 2,000 kg (4,409 lb) cross-country
  • Towing capacity: 1,500 kg (3,307 lb) trailer

Cargo bed:

  • Length: 3.37 m (11 ft 1 in)
  • Width: 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)
  • Sideboards: 0.52 m (20 in) height
  • Volume: 3.6 m³ (127 ft³)

Powerplant:

  • Engine: GAZ-51 inline-6 gasoline
  • Displacement: 3.485 L (213 cu in)
  • Power: 70 hp (52 kW) at 2,800 rpm
  • Torque: 186 Nâ‹…m (137 lbâ‹…ft) at 1,400-2,000 rpm
  • Fuel system: Single carburetor (K-23)
  • Cooling: Liquid-cooled with radiator
  • Fuel capacity: 90 L (24 gal) main tank

Transmission:

  • Type: Manual 4-speed (1st-4th + reverse)
  • Clutch: Single dry plate
  • Final drive ratio: 6.83:1

Performance:

  • Maximum speed: 70 km/h (43 mph) on road
  • Cruising speed: 50-55 km/h (31-34 mph) with load
  • Range: 450 km (280 mi) on road, 300 km (186 mi) cross-country
  • Fuel consumption: 20-22 L/100 km (10.7-12.8 mpg) loaded
  • Gradient: 30% (17°) with full load
  • Fording: 0.6 m (2 ft)

Suspension:

  • Front: Independent with transverse leaf spring
  • Rear: Live axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs

Brakes:

  • Type: Hydraulic drum brakes on all four wheels
  • Parking brake: Mechanical driveshaft brake

Electrical:

  • System: 12V DC
  • Generator: 150W
  • Battery: 6-ST-68 (68 Ah)
  • Lighting: Two headlamps, side/tail lights

Crew:

  • Cab capacity: 3 (driver + 2 passengers)

Design characteristics

Chassis and drivetrain

Ladder frame: Traditional steel channel frame with cross-members

  • Simple construction enabled war-damaged factory production
  • Field-repairable with basic welding equipment

4×2 rear-wheel drive:

  • Single drive axle (rear) reduces mechanical complexity
  • Adequate for paved/unpaved roads, limited deep mud/snow capability
  • Differential lock not standard (added to some military variants)

GAZ-51 engine:

  • Inline-6 configuration for smooth power delivery
  • Side-valve (flathead) design: simple, durable, low-compression
  • Multi-fuel capable: Could operate on low-octane gasoline (72-octane), kerosene, or gasoline/alcohol blends
  • Cold-start assist: Manual choke, starting handle (crank) for extreme cold

Transmission:

  • 4-speed manual: 1st gear for starting/steep grades, 2nd-4th for road travel
  • Synchromesh on 3rd-4th gears (1st-2nd non-synchronized)
  • Heavy-duty clutch designed for 100,000+ km service life

Cab and body

All-metal cab:

  • Steel construction (some early models used wood framing with metal panels)
  • Three-person bench seat
  • Canvas or metal roof (canvas on many military variants)
  • Windshield: Two-piece flat glass, manual wipers
  • Heater: Optional (standard on military arctic variants)

Cargo bed:

  • All-steel construction with removable wooden sideboards
  • Drop-down tailgate
  • Tie-down rails on cargo bed sides
  • Removable canvas cover with metal bows (military standard)

Variations:

  • Flatbed: Remove sideboards for oversized cargo
  • Stake truck: Extended sideboards (1.2 m high) for bulk cargo
  • Box van: Enclosed cargo compartment (civilian deliveries)
  • Open cab: Cargo area extends forward (specialized military variants)

Variants and specialized vehicles

GAZ-51 (baseline, 1946)

Initial production: 1946-1948 Features: Basic cargo truck, 2.5-tonne payload Production: ~150,000 (early production ramp-up)

GAZ-51A (standard, 1948)

Improvements over GAZ-51:

  • Enhanced suspension (stronger leaf springs)
  • Improved brakes (larger drums)
  • Upgraded carburetor (better fuel economy)
  • Standardized cab (eliminated wood framing)

Most common variant: 2+ million produced (1948-1975)

GAZ-51P (1955)

"Polutorka" (semi-cab):

  • Reduced cab (driver + 1 passenger)
  • Extended cargo bed (4.2 m vs. 3.37 m)
  • Payload: 2,700 kg
  • Use: Long cargo transport (lumber, pipes, steel beams)

GAZ-51B (1950s)

Fuel tanker:

  • 2,300 L (608 gal) cylindrical tank
  • Hand-pump or gravity-fed fuel transfer
  • Military fuel resupply (frontline refueling stations)

GAZ-63 (4×4 variant, 1948)

All-wheel drive version:

  • 4×4 drivetrain with transfer case
  • Payload: 2,000 kg off-road
  • Higher ground clearance (0.30 m vs. 0.24 m)
  • Military forward-area logistics
  • Production: 470,000+ units (1948-1968)

Military variants

GAZ-51 command vehicle:

  • Enclosed shelter on cargo bed
  • Radio equipment (R-105, R-108 series)
  • Map tables, communications gear

GAZ-51 medical (ambulance):

  • Enclosed insulated shelter
  • 8-stretcher capacity or 12 seated wounded
  • Medical equipment storage

GAZ-51 workshop:

  • Mobile repair station
  • Toolboxes, vise, welding equipment
  • Generator for power tools

GAZ-51 signals truck:

  • Cable-laying equipment
  • Telephone switchboard
  • Field communications wire reels

Civilian variants

GAZ-51 fire truck:

  • Water tank (1,000 L)
  • Hand-pump fire suppression
  • Municipal fire departments

GAZ-51 dump truck:

  • Hydraulic dump bed
  • Construction material transport

GAZ-51 bus (GAZ-51R):

  • Passenger body (18-seat capacity)
  • Rural/suburban transport

Operational deployment

Soviet military service

Service timeline:

  • 1946-1950: Initial deployment, replaces Lend-Lease trucks
  • 1950-1966: Backbone of Soviet motor transport
  • 1966-1975: Gradual replacement by GAZ-53
  • 1975-1985: Reserve stocks, territorial army units
  • 1985+: Disposal, export to civilian sector

Military roles:

  • Logistics: Ammunition, rations, fuel resupply to frontline units
  • Troop transport: 20-24 soldiers with equipment (bench seating in cargo bed)
  • Towing: Anti-tank guns (ZIS-2 57mm, D-44 85mm), light artillery, trailers
  • Support: Command vehicles, signals trucks, workshops, ambulances

Unit allocation:

  • Motor transport battalions: 50-100 GAZ-51 per battalion
  • Divisional transport companies: 20-30 GAZ-51
  • Regiment supply platoons: 10-15 GAZ-51

Export and license production

Poland: FSC (Fabryka Samochodów Ciężarowych) produced GAZ-51 under license as FSC Żubr (Bison)

  • Production: 1950-1960 (~180,000 units)
  • Polish Army standard transport 1950s-1970s

China: Reverse-engineered as Yuejin NJ130 (Victory Brand 130)

  • Production: 1958-1987 (Nanjing Automobile Works)
  • Millions produced, People's Liberation Army standard truck
  • Civilian variants widespread in Chinese agriculture/industry

North Korea: Unlicensed copies produced (designation unknown)

Direct exports: East Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Mongolia, North Vietnam, Cuba

Civilian use

Collective farms (kolkhoz): Produce transport from fields to storage/rail Construction: Material delivery to building sites Forestry: Timber hauling on logging roads Urban deliveries: Goods transport in Soviet cities (bread, milk, consumer goods) Rural passenger transport: Improvised buses (bench seating in cargo bed)

Longevity: Simple design, parts availability, and ease of repair meant GAZ-51 trucks operated 20-30 years. Rural examples common in Soviet Union through 1980s, some operating into 1990s in remote areas.

Strengths and limitations

Advantages

Simplicity: Minimal complex components, field-repairable with basic tools

Reliability: Robust construction, proven GAZ-51 engine (100,000+ km service life)

Cold-weather capability: Side-valve engine tolerates low-compression starts, starting handle for dead batteries

Fuel flexibility: Multi-fuel capable (gasoline, kerosene, alcohol blends)

Parts availability: Massive production (3.5 million units) ensured ubiquitous spare parts

Maintenance: Low-skill mechanics could service/repair (collective farm workshops, military depot-level maintenance)

Cost: Inexpensive production, affordable operation

Versatility: Platform for dozens of body variants (cargo, tanker, ambulance, workshop, etc.)

Limitations

Underpowered: 70 hp inadequate for fully loaded off-road operations (especially towing artillery)

2WD only: Rear-wheel drive limited deep mud/snow mobility (GAZ-63 4×4 addressed this)

Fuel consumption: 20-22 L/100 km high for 2.5-tonne payload (vs. modern trucks: 12-15 L/100 km)

Speed: 70 km/h maximum limited strategic mobility

Brakes: Hydraulic drums prone to fade on long descents with full load

Comfort: Harsh ride, minimal driver amenities (no power steering, no heater standard)

Off-road: Ground clearance (0.24 m) insufficient for deep ruts, large obstacles

Obsolescence: By 1960s, GAZ-53 (3.5-tonne, 115 hp) superior in all aspects

Comparison with contemporaries

vs. Studebaker US6 (USA, Lend-Lease):

  • Payload: 2.5 tonnes (US6) vs. 2.5 tonnes (GAZ-51)
  • Engine: 87 hp (US6) vs. 70 hp (GAZ-51)
  • Drivetrain: 6×6 (US6) vs. 4×2 (GAZ-51)
  • Result: US6 superior off-road (6×6), GAZ-51 simpler/cheaper

vs. ZIS-150/ZIL-150 (USSR, heavy truck):

  • Payload: 4 tonnes (ZIS-150) vs. 2.5 tonnes (GAZ-51)
  • Engine: 90 hp (ZIS-150) vs. 70 hp (GAZ-51)
  • Role: ZIS-150 heavy logistics, GAZ-51 light/medium duties
  • Result: Complementary, not competitive

vs. GAZ-63 (USSR, 4×4 variant):

  • Drivetrain: 4×4 (GAZ-63) vs. 4×2 (GAZ-51)
  • Payload: 2 tonnes off-road (GAZ-63) vs. 2.5 tonnes road (GAZ-51)
  • Cost: GAZ-63 more expensive (4×4 drivetrain)
  • Result: GAZ-63 for forward combat zones, GAZ-51 for rear areas/roads

vs. Opel Blitz 3-tonne (Germany, WWII):

  • Payload: 3 tonnes (Opel) vs. 2.5 tonnes (GAZ-51)
  • Engine: 68 hp (Opel) vs. 70 hp (GAZ-51)
  • Similarity: GAZ-51 design influenced by captured Opel Blitz study
  • Result: Comparable performance, similar design philosophy

Legacy and cultural impact

The GAZ-51 symbolized Soviet post-war reconstruction and industrialization. Its ubiquity—collective farms, construction sites, military bases—made it as recognizable in the USSR as the Ford Model T in America.

Production milestone: 3.48 million units made GAZ-51 one of history's most-produced trucks

Longevity: 30-year production run (1946-1975) demonstrated enduring design

Global reach: License production and exports meant GAZ-51/derivatives operated worldwide (Eastern Europe, Asia, Cuba, Africa)

Chinese influence: Yuejin NJ130 derivative remained in Chinese production until 1987, total production exceeded GAZ-51 original

Post-Soviet era: Some GAZ-51 trucks operate today in rural Russia/Eastern Europe as collector vehicles or utility trucks in remote areas with minimal infrastructure

Museums: Preserved examples at numerous Soviet/Russian military museums, Polish Army Museum, Chinese military vehicle collections

Popular culture: Featured in Soviet films depicting WWII aftermath, collective farm life, construction projects (symbol of Stalin-era industrialization)

Related equipment

Related sections

Technical glossary

Side-valve engine : Engine design with valves located beside cylinders in engine block (vs. overhead valves in cylinder head), simpler construction, lower compression, easier maintenance

Multi-fuel capability : Engine ability to operate on various fuels (gasoline, kerosene, alcohol blends) due to low compression ratio and simple fuel system

Ladder frame : Chassis consisting of two longitudinal rails connected by cross-members, resembling a ladder; traditional truck construction method

GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) : Maximum permissible total weight of vehicle including payload, fuel, crew; GAZ-51 GVW 4,750 kg

Lend-Lease : US program providing military equipment to Allies during WWII; USSR received 400,000+ trucks including Studebaker US6, GMC CCKW