UPDATE: Still Available.
Joe in Mesa has been in contact with Alex, who restored a GAZ in Minsk, Republic of Belarus. He’s wondering if there is any interest in buying the GAZ-67 or trading it for a Willys. You can email Alex at xnnn @ tut.by (remove the spaces around the @) if interested.
Here’s what Alex wrote:
“Perhaps you will be interested in the history of GAZ-67, so I quote it in a concise statement. The translation is done using a computer, so there may be inaccuracies. And I’m sending a few pictures. Built in April 1943 in three prototypes, the GAZ-67 successfully passed the army tests and in August was put into production. The first car came off the assembly line on September 23, 1943, and in October a serial production was already set up. GAZ-67 cars took part in the Great Patriotic War mainly at its final stages, when a lot of machines of this type, mainly American ones, were already in the army. However, they also received distribution there (up to 5,000 cars were delivered before May 9, 1945), and even the famous popularity (under the nickname “Ivan-Willys”) as a distinctive, “Russian” model of the car – sturdy, unpretentious, taut and passable. As you know, each car has its own “face”.
The exterior of the GAZ-67 is a stubborn, albeit unkempt, but firmly knocked down car, confidently moving on any roads on its widely spaced wheels. He worked quite reliably, was used in any weather on any terrain, which earned respect for the soldiers.
After the war, the production of the GAZ-67B was preserved and even expanded. He spread all over the country, on the military line, he got abroad, even to Australia, not to mention Eastern Europe, China, and North Korea. Production of it has grown significantly every subsequent year (until 1950). In the spring of 1950, the lightened GAZ-67B successfully landed on Elbrus. When the drifting polar station was organized in the summer of the same year, GAZ-67B was abandoned on the plane, effectively and for a long time working on the ice as a transport vehicle and tractor. The first parachute dropping from the aircraft was also carried out on the GAZ-67B back in 1949.
GAZ-67B was produced for a long time, until the end of August 1953. In total, over 10 years they were built 92843″
It does look like a Willys on steroids, maybe sort of a PowerWagon. The front axle looks pretty stout. Still, in the field, I think it would be much more difficult to have four guys lift one out of hole. I think the Willys still wins.
How cool would it be to show up at a Mil. Vehicle rally or car show in a WW2 GAZ instead of the usual MB/GPW? I’d love to have one of those! Sadly, I no longer have my MB…..
Here is such an interesting information I found on the Russian site http://www.avtoradio.ru/avtolikbez/uid/491914
Remember – the legendary American “Willis” without doors? Our GAZ-67 was also without doors, like the Willys as a brother of our own, but when the fighters at the front – it was – hooked the rope of the back of our “lawn” and “jeep”, our American easily pulled, as he developed tractive effort more almost 20 percent. Incidentally, even in Soviet times, I was witnessing how, in Cuba, on the sandy beach of the Varadero resort near Havana, our legendary and old GAZ-69, without much strain, pulled the “Jeep” with a cable almost a half times more powerful. I was so impressed by this fact that I did not calm down until I found out: due to what? Experts explained: due to the transmission, designed for true off-road. Americans do not know such impassability.
I love the front end of this GAZ… and notice it had the now-signature 7-Slot grill 2-3 years before Willys! Alex seems like a nice guy and he’s obviously an amazing restorer. I hope he’s able to make his trade/sale. It would be so cool to see (or especially RIDE in) this historic vehicle 🙂
Is it still available?
Yes, available. You can write.
Sincerely, Alex.
Hello,
Gaz still avail?
Pan,
Try emailing Alex at xnnn@tut.by for more info.
– Dave
Yes, not yet sold. Waiting for a good buyer.
congrats Alex on your wonderful restoration ,
Is the GAZ still available?
Hi Dries,
I suspect this GAZ has sold. To learn more, contact Alex at xnnn @ tut.by (remove the spaces around the @)
– Dave
Good day to all fans of retro cars! GAZ-67 has not yet been sold. I’ll finish restoring another one soon.
Alex, thanks for the update! I will move this forward and post on the front page on Saturday morning. Good luck and hope all is well!
– Dave
I like the Bugatti influenced nose and Jeepster tail. Looks sturdy and less car-like. The front fenders don’t seem to go with the rest of the styl, but probably had a purpose for their shape. Thanks for sharing, and I look forward to the next restoration story.
Back in 1990 or 91, I was at the Owls Head Transportation Museum in Owls Head, ME with a bunch of friends showing our MB/GPW’s. We were all gathered around chatting when in drives this medium green colored ‘oddity’ vehicle. After parking, we all scrambled over to check out what it was. An older guy jumped out and stuck a pre-made sign under the wiper. It read, in red, 1953 Russian Jeep. That’s it. Unfortunately, I only got a few pics…ran out of film….Over the years I wondered whatever happened to this GAZ 67. In the early 2000’s I heard that it was sold and transported to either the midwest or west. If I only knew then what I know now. An original GAZ….in Maine no less!
The interesting part about this is the dashboard and gear shift lever says model A Ford. I understand Ford was trying to set a factory in Russia in the 1930s, apparently the model dies were sent over. I think the model A truck was made until 1947 but upgraded to a 6 cylinder engine that looks like a Dodge 218 engine. In Charles Sorenson’s book “my 40 years with Ford” there is a chapter Russian adventure. I wonder if any Ford or bantem Jeep’s sent over under lend lease survived?
Mark,
Well, you sent me down a Russian rabbit hole. The short of it is, apparently it is unclear if ANY Bantams ever reached Russia (https://forums.g503.com/viewtopic.php?t=174213 ), though some Russians visited American Bantam in 1941 (interesting story). As for Ford GPs and or Willys MAs, I didn’t find any discussions about whether any made it or survived there (I imagine some might have??). Certainly, Ford GPWs and Willys MBs (approx 43,000) were sent to Russia and at least some have survived in Museums (and probably personal collections, too).
Now, how many of the jeeps sent to Russia ended up in other eastern block countries and were some of these prototypes? That definitely complicates tracking of the prototypes.
– Dave
keep in mind that very few of these were made during the war. The engine is just like the Ford Model A that was made in Russia in the 30s. I have seen Russian estimates that only 5000 were made in the whole war. But the Soviet war movies reverse the mix of willys and gaz. I believe you can tell that this GAZ is post war because it does not have vents in the cowl area. There is a manual on the internet in Russian.
Bantams definitely reached Russia because I have seen a Bantam chasis there. All types of jeeps made it there including GPA. They got slat grills and the ones with the company logo on the rear.