ZIL-131
Soviet Union
Truck (1967) - 998,429 built.
The ZIL-131 is a general purpose 3.5 tonne 6x6 army truck designed in the Soviet Union by ZIL. This general cargo truck was declined into variants such as a tractor-trailer, dump truck, fuel truck, 6x6 towing vehicle and 4-wheeled powered trailer. Introduced in 1966 this was a military version of the civilian ZIL-130, the two trucks sharing many components. The ZIL-131 6x6 also shares equipments with the widespread GAZ-66 and Ural-375D. The ZIL-130/131 was in production at the AMUR truck plant: The ZIL-130 was later internally called the AMUR-531350 (the remaining UamZ factory which produced it was renamed Amur) and the military ZIL-131 was called the AMUR-531340 before the production stopped for good in 2012. The existed in gasoline and diesel engines from 1987, and they were produced until 2012 until AMUR shut down, filing for bankruptcy.
Development of the ZIL-131
About the ZIL-130
The ZIL-130 preceded the ZIL-131. The former (factory name ZIL-431410) is a 3rd-generation Soviet/Russian medium truck developed and manufactured by the Likhachev Automobile Plant in Moscow. It was widely used all over Russia and contributed to the national economy and was well exported. It became one of the most popular vehicles in the history of the Soviet automobile industry with over 3.5 million produced over almost half a century. The ZIL-130 is the third (after AMO-F-15/AMO-2/AMO-3/ZIS-5 and ZIS-15/ZIS-150/ZIL-164) generation of ZIL trucks. It has a payload of 5-6 tons and occupy a niche of medium trucks between the lighter GAZ-53 family and the more powerful MAZ-500, YaAZ (later KrAZ), ZIL-133, KamAZ families. Since 1986 is was produced under a new standardized index, ZIL-431410. Today out of production, it is still in use in many countries, appreciated for its rock-solid reliability and off-road capabilities.
The ZIL-131
![]()
Development of the ZIL-130 dated back to the mid-1950s, with issues encountered while developing the ZIL-157 from its predecessor, the ZIS-151. The company started to research a new three-axle military truck, with all-wheel drive. Initially it was named ZIS-131, but a 1956 first prototype was presented, very similar to the ZIL-130 prototypes. three years later in 1959, prototypes of the ZIL-131 were successfully completed. The vehicle was named eventually the ZIL-131 in a context of de-Stalinization and production was planned for 1961-1962 but the ZIL-130 only started in 1964,and the more complex ZIL-131 only started in 1967. Many components of the military variant such as axles and winches were manufactured at a subsidiary, Brjanski Awtomobilny Zavod (BAZ).
In 1974, so many years after production started, it had passed all state trials and was accepted for service, with its certificate signed that year. In 1986, there was a major revision, designated ZIL-131N. A year later, production this new moden was started at Uralski Awtomotorny Sawod (UAmZ). It ended in 1990 with a total of 998,429 trucks, shy of a million. And this included 48,000 trucks for 1989 alone. At UAmZ, production remained unchanged until 2002, so it went on, despite a design dating back to the 1950s. The plant was renamed AMUR, and the model became the AMUR-531340. When the plant went bankrupt in 2010-2011, the truck was still on catalog, with many parked in search of customers after 43 years. The ZIL plant in Moscow started producing its successor, the ZIL-4334 from 1994.
Design of the ZIL-131
Both the ZIL-130 and 135 are very close in design, but the latter has a rear twin axles and single tires instead of 2+8. This set of six new military tires instead of doubled axles ensures to have a central inflation system. The military variant also has a winch, capable of pulling up the same vehicle's weight unladed. It is a standard bonnet forward, curved glass windield with central reinforcement and sun deflector on top. The base vehicle's cab comprises a driver seat and large bench for two more passengers.
The dashboard is analogic and quite simple with three main gauges. The cabion top has two small square hatches hinged back but no large hatch to install a pintle. The vehicle is unarmed. But there are fixations for an utility rooftop rack. There are additional toolboxes under the chassis on both sides. The side windows are manually operated, but the two wipers are electric. Many versions have two spare tires under the ladder chassis, others had them behind the cab, vertical. There is a classic radiator behind vertical louvres, straight-shape mudguards forward, and roadslight, including a night reduction light behind brush guards. Since the cabn is relatively tall there is also a step.
ZIL-131 specifications
The ZIL-130 and 131 were similar in many points. It had cab Design had Forward Engine, and its seating Capacity was 3. The vehicle Curb weight was 6,700 kg with a payload: 5,000 kg and a 5000 kg trailer on road or off-road a payload of 3,500 kg and a trailer up 4000 kg off road. It was suspended with solid axles with leaf springs. The overall lenght of the vehicle is 23 ft 1 in (7.04 m) for a width of 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) and an height of 8 ft 2 in (2.49 m) at the top of the cab) and 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) at the top of the tarpaulin frames. It s chassis wheelbase is 10 ft 10 in (3.30 m) between the forward and 1st rear axle, and 4 ft 7 in (1.40 m) between the two rear axles.
Its track witdth at the front is 6 ft (1.83 m) and 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) at the rear. Its turning circle is of 33'5.6" and approach angle of 36°, departure angle of 40°. Its ascent angle is 31° with full payload of 3,750 kg (8,267 lb) load). It has a ground clearance of 13 inches (330 mm) and is able to overcome a 4 ft 7 in (1.40 m) water obstacle (see below in perfs for more).
The ZIL-135 is powered by a V8 gasoline (carburetor) ZIL-130 which displaced 6,960 cc (bore 3.94", stroke 4.36") with a compression ratio of 6.5:1. It develops 150 ch (110 kW). The brakes are of the drum type with pneumatic control. Stopping distance at 35 km/h is 40 ft (12 m). It is connected to a manual 5-speed gearbox with reduction for off-road, 2-speed transfer case. It had six tires, two per axles. These are 305R20 military tires, measuring 12.00x20 with a pressure of 7.1-60 p.s.i. controlled via a central inflation system.
Performances wise, the ZIL-131 had a top speed of 80 km/h. It has a Consumption of 40 liters/100 km based on two 170L (45 US gallons) tanks, for a range of 850 km on road, unloaded. It could climb a gradient up to 58%, side slope of 40%, cross 1,4 m water deep water unperpared and climb a step 0,6 m tall. It could also cross a trench one eter wide. As for its range, exact consuption data are 5.9 mpg/US (40 Liters/100 km; 7.1 mpg/imp) on flatand from 50 to 100 liters/100 km cross-country.
Variants of the ZIL-131
The ZIL-131 was one of the most produced tanks ever, let alone for USSR and the cold war, it equipped many Warsaw Pact armies, notably as base vehicle for the BM-51 Prima multiple rocket launcher, a variant of the BM-21 Grad. It lasted longer in civilian service. NVA. Below are the main variants, but in reality there are far more specialist vehicle, some still used today and probably for many years to come.
ZIL-131: Basic 3.5-ton cargo truck (ZIL-0550 from 2002 onwards)
ZIL-131N: 3.75-ton cargo truck with new ZIL-5081 engine, mass production started since December 1986
ZIL-131V: Tractor unit
ATZ-3,4-131: Fuel tanker
9P138: 36-tube variant of the BM-21 "Grad" on ZIL-131.
Operators of the ZIL-131
No details given, this is verify. Former operators starred.
Afghanistan
Albania
Angola
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia*/Czech Republic
Egypt- Ethiopia
Finland
Georgia
German Democratic Republic*
Hungary*
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Moldova
Mongolia
Nicaragua – Sandinista Popular Army*
North Korea
Poland (inly specialist variants)
USSR/Russia
Slovakia
Syria
Tajikistan
Transnistria
Turkmenistan
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yugoslavia*
| ZIL-131 specs |
| Dimensions: | 7040 x 2500 x 2480 mm (2975 mm top tarp) |
| Wheelbase | 3350 mm + 1250 mm |
| Track | 1820 mm |
| Ground Clearance | 330 mm |
| Turning Circle | 20,2 m |
| Weights: | 6700 kg empty, 11,925 kg max |
| Payload | 5000 kg road, 3500 kg off-road, trailer max 6500/4500 kg |
| Tires: | 9x 12.00 R20 |
| Crew: | 1 drive, 2 seats cab, +20 troops rear |
| Propulsion: | V8 6 liters ZIL 150 hp (110 KW) |
| Speed: | 80 kph |
| Range (road/off road): | 2x 170L, Cons. 40L/100 km, 850km |
| Production: | c1,000,000 see notes |
| Cost: | Price $7,300 to $8,300 USD |