RAF-251
| RAF | |
|---|---|
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A restored RAF-251 in Moscow (2013) |
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| RAF-251 | |
| Manufacturer | Riga bus factory |
| design type | minibus |
| Production period | 1955-1958 |
| axes | 2 |
| engine | R6 petrol engine |
| power | 80 hp (59 kW) |
| length | 6.696 m |
| width | 2,450 m |
| height | 2,700 m |
| Wheelbase | 3300 mm |
| Turning circle | 15.2 m |
| Seats | 22 + 1 |
| Standing room | 7th |
| Empty weight | 4040 kg |
| Perm. total weight | 6365 kg |
| Previous model | GZA-651 |
| successor | RAF-977 |
The RAF-251 ( Russian РАФ-251 ) is a minibus from the Soviet Riga Bus Factory (RAF). The vehicle was the manufacturer's first own model and was produced in series at RAF from 1955 to 1958. Like other similar Soviet vehicles of the time, the bus was technically based on the GAZ-51 truck . A total of 1460 copies were made before the type was replaced by the smaller and completely redesigned RAF-977 . In 1958, two more modernized variants were built in a repair shop, also in Riga , under the names RAF-975 and RAF-976 .
Vehicle history
The later Riga bus factory began producing wooden bodies for the GZA-651 , a minibus based on the GAZ-51 truck, which was built by various Soviet manufacturers until the 1970s , at the latest in 1953 . Based on this experience, a dedicated bus was developed in 1955, which is also based on the chassis of the GAZ-51. Contrary to the standardized designation system for Soviet motor vehicles , the model received the designation RAF-251. The number 251 was actually intended for the Novosibirsky Awtomobilny Sawod , which however never started production.
Series production of the RAF-251 began in 1955. Some changes were made to the truck's chassis, in particular it was lengthened at the front and rear. In contrast to the GZA-651, which was still designed as a long-bonnet truck , the RAF-251 has a forward control body, the engine is located in the interior next to the driver. Accordingly, various changes had to be made to the technology. The steering column has been shortened and is almost vertical, all pedals and the gear lever have been moved. The position of the handbrake has also been changed. Since there was significantly more weight on the front axle, the front leaf springs were reinforced by two layers each. The body of the bus consisted of a wooden frame that was planked with sheet metal from the outside. The floor is made of treated, 15 mm thick plywood with linoleum laid on top . Two air inlets were installed on the roof for better ventilation of the passenger compartment. In addition, the vehicle was equipped with a radio from the Moskvich-400 , the antenna was on the roof and the loudspeakers in the partition between the driver's seat and the passenger compartment. The doors were operated pneumatically. The main disadvantage of the new front control arm construction was the poor access to the engine compartment for maintenance and repairs. The prototypes still had closed wheel arches, but this was not taken over into series production. The interior lighting was realized with headlights from the GAZ-12 ZIM .
The series copies were provided with a different radiator grille than the prototypes, the windows were no longer mounted directly in wooden frames, but provided with rubber seals. By 1958, a total of 1460 copies had been made by RAF, officially the series production ended. In fact, from this point onwards, the vehicles were produced in the 2nd Riga auto repair plant (ARZ No. 2) as RAF-975 and RAF-976 with only slightly different optics, until exactly when is unclear. In contrast to the RAF-251, however, they were given the correct designations for vehicles from the Riga bus factory and corresponding emblems. In the second half of the 1960s, long after production had ended , a small series of new buses with a completely different steel body was built at the same plant as the RAF-976M . As early as 1958, RAF produced the successor RAF-977 , which was completely different from the RAF-251 in terms of both looks and technology.
Model variants
Various vehicles and model variants were built on the basis of the RAF-251.
- RAF-251 - basic version with 22 + 1 seats, built for inner-city traffic from 1955.
- RAF-251S - variant with only one passenger door and 27 seats. Small changes have also been made to the radiator and the wheel hub . This model was intended for suburban traffic or rural areas, where fewer stops were used and the higher passenger capacity was more important than getting on and off quickly.
- RAF-251T - Freight taxi for the combined transport of passengers and cargo. 14 passengers and 800 kg payload can be carried. The bus only has windows in the front area for the passengers.
- RAF-251 Pickup - Similar to the RAF-251T, but with an open cargo area in the rear, may not be mass-produced.
- RAF-975 - RAF-251 built in the 2nd Riga auto repair plant (ARZ No. 2) from 1958, still with a wooden body frame. Both the name and the logo on the vehicle were adopted from the Riga bus factory.
- RAF-976 - Modernized version of the RAF-975 with minor innovations. Outwardly, the models differed only in a modified radiator grille .
- RAF-976M - The 2nd Riga car repair plant built a completely new bus with an all-metal body and a new design under this name from 1967 in small series, which has only very little to do with the original model. It offered space for 30 passengers.
Technical specifications
For the basic version RAF-251.
- Engine: six-cylinder in-line petrol engine
- Engine type: "GAZ-51", from the GAZ-51 truck
- Power: 80 HP (59 kW) at 3600 min -1
- Displacement: 3.48 l
- Bore: 82.0 mm
- Stroke: 110.0 mm
- maximum torque: 211 Nm
- Compression: 6.2: 1
- Mixture preparation: Carburettor, type K-49A or K-22G
- Firing order: 1–5–3–6–2–4
- Starter: ST-8, 1.7 hp
- Alternator: G-21, 224 W power
- On-board voltage: 12 V.
- Transmission: four-speed manual transmission with reverse gear
- Clutch: single-plate dry clutch
- Top speed: 70 km / h
- Fuel consumption: 30 l / 100 km
- Tank capacity: 105 l petrol with at least 66 octane
- Braking distance from 30 km / h: 9.3 m
- Drive formula : 4 × 2
Dimensions and weights
- Length: 6696 mm
- Width: 2450 mm
- Height: 2700 mm
- Wheelbase: 3300 mm
- Ground clearance: at least 245 mm
- Front track: 1585 mm
- Rear track: 1650 mm (double tires)
- Turning circle: 15.2 m diameter, measured on the front wheel
- Seats: 22 + 1
- Standing: 7
- Total passenger capacity: 29
- Empty weight: 4040 kg
- permissible total weight: 6365 kg
- Front axle load: 2235 kg
- Rear axle load: 4130 kg
- Tire size: 7.50-20 ″
- Number of doors: 2 passenger doors + separate driver's door
literature
- Ministry of Automobile Transport of the RSFSR ; Vehicle Construction Institute NIIAT: Short Automobile Manual (краткий автомобильный справочник). Transport publisher, 1st edition, Moscow 1958.
- LM Shugurov: АВТОМОБИЛИ России и СССР . First part. Ilbi / Prostreks, Moscow 1993, ISBN 5-87483-004-9 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c L. M. Shugurow: АВТОМОБИЛИ России и СССР . First part. P. 222.
- ↑ a b c d Report on the RAF-251 bus from Maksim Schelepenkow in the specialist journal Коммерческий Транспорт , issue 3/2003 (Russian)
- ^ Ministry of Automobile Transport of the RSFSR ; Vehicle Construction Institute NIIAT: Short Automobile Manual (краткий автомобильный справочник). P. 87 ff.
