LAZ-697
| LAZ | |
|---|---|
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| LAZ-697 | |
| Manufacturer | Lvovsky Avtobuzny Zavod |
| design type | Coach |
| Production period | 1958-1985 |
| axes | 2 |
| engine | Eight-cylinder gasoline engine |
| power | 150 hp (110 kW) |
| length | 9.19 m |
| width | 2.50 m |
| height | 3.12 m |
| Wheelbase | 4190 mm |
| Turning circle | 19.2 m |
| Seats | 33 |
| Standing room | 0 |
| Empty weight | 6950 kg |
| Perm. total weight | 10,230 kg |
| Previous model | none |
| successor | LAZ-699R |
| Similar models | LAZ-695 |
The LAZ-697 (Ukrainian and Russian ЛАЗ-697) is a Soviet coach that was built from 1958 in Lwowski Avtobusny Sawod ( Russian Львовский автобусный завод , Ukrainian Львівський Львівський авдозавський авдозусвський авдозусвський авдовский for short. It is a version of the widely used LAZ-695 city bus , which has been specially converted for tourist purposes. In 1985 production was stopped and only the very similar LAZ-699 was built, which had been produced in parallel since 1964, is also based on the LAZ-695 and is about one and a half meters longer than the LAZ-697.
Vehicle history
The first prototype of a long-distance version of the LAZ-695 city bus was completed in September 1958 under the name LAZ-697 “Tourist”. In addition to the manufacturer itself, the Moscow vehicle construction institute NAMI also participated in the project. The main differences were that the two folding doors of the city bus were removed. While the rear was completely omitted, the front was replaced by a door hinged on the side, which can be opened by hand. In addition, the floor of the passenger compartment has been raised to accommodate storage compartments for luggage that are accessible from the outside.
The interior has been designed to be more comfortable than the city traffic model. Each passenger received an individually adjustable upholstered seat. In addition, ceiling lights have been added and a net for magazines and other small items has been attached to the back of each seat. The prototype was first shown at an exhibition that presented the economic successes of the Soviet Union at that time. A test drive was then made to Poland and Czechoslovakia .
A second prototype was built in mid-1959. The large panoramic windows in the roof have been significantly reduced in size due to known rigidity problems in the body. Instead, a large sunroof was installed, also for ventilation. This was also used in various series models, but was not always installed. The engine from the ZIL-164 truck served as the engine , and the storage space below the floor was measured at 3500 liters. The vehicle was shown at various international motor shows, including the 1960 Geneva Motor Show .
The series production of the LAZ-697 began in 1959. As early as 1961, the revised version LAZ-697E was put into production, which ran off the production line until 1969. From this point on, the modernized LAZ-697M was built, which was replaced by the LAZ-697N in 1971. The last version, called LAZ-697R, was built from 1978 to 1985, after which the model was discontinued. From this point on, LAZ only produced the similar LAZ-699 . It is also based on the LAZ-695, but has a longer body, more seats and a more powerful engine. The vehicle was produced until 2002, the original version, the LAZ-695 city bus , even until 2008.
As early as 1960, the Soviet Post dedicated a stamp to the LAZ-697.
Since production, unlike the LAZ-695 and LAZ-699, was stopped over 30 years ago, the vehicles are relatively rare today. Nevertheless, the LAZ-697N and LAZ-697R versions in particular are still in regular use in parts of the Ukraine.
Model variants
In the course of the long construction period of almost 30 years, various variants of the vehicle were produced, the following list is only intended to provide an overview.
LAZ-697
The LAZ-697, which was manufactured in series from 1959, essentially corresponded to the second prototype. However, it was equipped with the in-line six-cylinder ZIL-158A gasoline engine, which originally came from the ZIL-158 city bus . The same engine with 109 PS (80 kW) and a displacement of around 5.6 liters also ran in the LAZ-695B, which was built at the same time.
LAZ-697E
From 1961 the company received smaller quantities of the ZIL-130 engine, a V8 gasoline engine that was built for the ZIL-130 truck of the same name in Moscow and has an output of 150 hp (110 kW). The engines were installed in both the LAZ-695 city bus and the LAZ-697 touring coach, although not enough engines were delivered until 1964 to completely switch production. Due to the more powerful engine, the top speed could be increased by 7 km / h. The version of the vehicle with the new engine was named LAZ-697E. At this point in time the buses did not differ from one another externally.
At the beginning of 1964, the supply situation in the area of engines improved and production could be completely converted. From this point on, other wheelhouses were also installed, making both models visually different. Production of the LAZ-697E ran until 1969.
LAZ-697M
In 1969 the prototype LAZ-697M was presented at an exhibition in Moscow . The most noticeable change was that some windows were redesigned so that they can be used as emergency exits and did not contain small sliding windows in the upper area.
The LAZ-697M, which was built in series from 1970, had further changes that corresponded to those on the LAZ-695 at the same time. The panorama windows in the roof were completely eliminated, but the side windows were extended upwards. The roof line changed accordingly. The air inlet on the roof has been removed and the air is now directed into the engine compartment through slits in the body. In addition, power steering was installed for the first time and the rear axle was supplied by Rába from Hungary .
Production of the LAZ-697M continued until 1975, when the vehicle was replaced by the LAZ-697N. There were some vehicles in the transition between the two factories that still had the front of the LAZ-697M, but the rest of the body already corresponded to that of the LAZ-697N.
LAZ-697N
The first prototypes of the LAZ-697N "Tourist" were already available in 1971 on the occasion of an exhibition on the subject of "Economic Success in the Soviet Union". It was a LAZ-697M that had a newly designed front. Series production only began in 1975 and only lasted for a very short time. After less than three years, the first transition models were built, which already indicated the development to the LAZ-697R. The side windows that could be opened disappeared and ventilation was provided centrally via a large hatch in the roof. In addition, a rear passenger door was added as an emergency exit, as was the case with the LAZ-699 of that time.
LAZ-697R
From 1978 the last version of the LAZ-697 was mass-produced, the LAZ-697R. Compared to the previous models, the additional emergency exit in the back was omitted because the seating capacity of the already short bus should not decrease any further. Otherwise only the arrangement of the indicators and the headlights changed optically. In 1985, production was discontinued and only the longer LAZ-699 was manufactured.
In the 1990s, some LAZ-697N were converted. The automatic door opening was removed and more comfortable seats from the LAZ-697R were installed.
Technical specifications
The data given refer to the model version LAZ-697R, as well as the data in the info box.
- Engine: eight-cylinder gasoline engine
- Engine type: ZIL-508.10 (corresponds to the one from the truck ZIL-130 , was therefore also referred to as ZIL-130Ja5)
- Power: 150 PS (110 kW)
- Torque: 402 Nm
- Displacement: 6.0 l
- Compression: 7.1: 1
- Fuel consumption at a constant 60 km / h: 35 l / 100 km
- Top speed: 75 km / h
- Transmission: five-speed mechanical transmission
- Transmission type: ZIL-158W (from the city bus ZIL-158 )
- Drive formula : 4 × 2
Dimensions and weights
- Length: 9120 mm
- Width: 2500 mm
- Height: 3120 mm
- Wheelbase: 4190 mm
- Front track: 2116 mm
- Rear track: 1850 mm (double tires)
- Ground clearance: 320 mm
- Width of the passenger doors: 840 mm
- Width of the aisle between the seats: 450 mm
- Turning circle (diameter): 19.2 m
- Seats: 33
- Standing: 0
- Empty weight: 6950 kg
- permissible total weight: 10,230 kg
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f g website for the vehicle including history, technical information and model versions (Russian)
