ZIS » 5 / 5A

ZIS 5 truck is the famous “three-ton” Soviet truck of the era of the Great Patriotic War. The second most popular truck in the country after 1.5-ton GAZ-AA, earned this fame for its ruggedness and reliability. The drivers affectionately called him "Zakhar".

Its predecessor, the AMO 3 , was distinguished by a relatively small carrying capacity (2500 kg) with an excess own weight (2840 kg). It had lack of power and resource of the engine. Therefore, soon there was a question about its radical modernization. The updated truck was called ZIS 5. It received an updated engine of increased volume (5.55 liters instead of 4.88 liters) and more power (73 hp instead of 63 hp), a completely redesigned gearbox, single prop shaft, mechanical brakes (instead of the former hydraulic system). In addition, ZIS 5 differed from its predecessor in the design of the radiator, the fully enclosed driver's cab and the new instrument panel.

ZIS 5 trucks not only entered the national economy and the Red Army, but were also delivered abroad: to Turkey, Iran, and Spain. ZIS 5 was the first Soviet car, which was quite actively exported.

In 1941, a new modification ZIS 5A was launched in the series, which had a body with high sides. These trucks were intended exclusively for the Red Army. In connection with the evacuation of the plant to the east of the country in the fall of 1941, production of ZIS 5 and all its modifications in Moscow was discontinued. A total of 336,728 copies of ZIS 5 were produced, including 41,242 vehicles in the form of chassis for installing special bodies.

In 1942, producing of ZIS 5 was restarted in Ulyanovsk, then in Moscow, and in 1944 production was moved from Ulyanovsk to Miass where a simplified military version ZIS 5B was produced.