LAZ-4202: out of production, but left the appearance

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:41

About 20 years ago, we went on excursions on Ikarus, and more often on LAZ-695. As the name suggests, these are buses produced by the Lviv Automobile Plant. However, sightseeing options are far from the only vehicles that wore a large "L" on the hood. One of the representatives of the same Lviv plant can be called the LAZ-4202 bus, positioned as a public transport for urban and suburban traffic.

It should be noted that the first machines of this line were not perfect. That is why in most cases LAZ-42021 was used - an improved model. And although this bus has long been discontinued, its features are still visible in some modern copies. Without it, perhaps the Lviv bus would never have become comfortable for both passengers and the driver.

LAZ: brand history

The beginning of the history of the LAZ plant can be called 1945. Even before the end of the war, in April, a decree was issued on the laying of a car assembly plant in Lviv. Construction starts in a month. In 1949, the still unfinished plant receivesthe first assignment for the production of cranes, buses and electric vehicles. Documentation for the ZIS-150 bus is being transferred from Dnepropetrovsk. However, the young designers of the design bureau at the plant, at their own peril and risk, decided not to modernize someone else's development, but to create their own. By the end of 1955, prototypes of the future LAZ-695 were presented to the public.

Over the next few years, these machines are gaining popularity. Spaciousness, unpretentiousness, ease of maintenance - all this was in the new bus. From 1969 to 1973, several modifications of the 695 were developed, but they never made it into the series. For some reason, the Soviet Union is curtailing the production of buses with increased capacity, and Hungarian Ikaruses appear on our roads.

Nevertheless, the plant is not idle. In 1979, the construction of a new large workshop was completed and the development of intracity transport began, which received the factory name LAZ-4202. This model will roll off the assembly lines of the factory for 5 years. In 1984, due to problems in the basic version, it is replaced by a modified bus, which, like the prototype, is a machine for working on urban and suburban routes. Model 42071, along with the 695th, was produced by the plant until the collapse of the USSR in 1991.

Passenger capacity

What were the characteristics of the LAZ-4202 bus? The city bus (this is how this model was positioned), as opposed to the still produced "Tourist", must carry a large number of peoplewith comfort. And if you can argue with the second parameter, then the first, according to the carriers, should comply with the principle “the more the better”. The new model had 25 seats and a total capacity of 80 people. The parameters for 1979 are very good. However, it was the carriers who played their part in the fact that the novelty lasted only 5 years.

Flaws of the model

Why did this model live so little on the assembly line? The bus received a KamAZ diesel engine, “fuel-efficient”, as it was called in those years. But, although it surpassed the needs of KamAZ itself in terms of power, it was designed for trucks in terms of its external parameters, and in the rear arrangement (as is customary in LAZ cars) it took up a lot of space. The result of this was the decision to move the second door to the middle of the cabin.

The next disadvantage was the work in tandem with a hydromechanical gearbox, with which the KamAZ engine did not want to work normally.

And finally, the third and main shortcoming of the LAZ-4202, which became decisive in the refusal of further production, was body flaws. The bus could be operated up to 4 years, but the first defects appeared after 3-4 months.

Technical data

Now let's take a closer look at all the parameters of the LAZ-4202 bus.

• Technical characteristics of the engine for all 15 years of production have not changed. Even for the modified version, the plant still ordered KamAZ engines. It was a model 7401-05 with a capacity of 180 hp. s., allowingreach a maximum speed of 75 km/h.
• Checkpoint in 1984 was changed to the usual mechanics from YaMZ - model 141. This immediately solved many problems of repairmen. The box is not the best, but familiar.
• The new version also received a reinforced body, resulting in a significant (4 times) increased service life. The bus could now operate for more than 10 years.
• A tank of 250 liters, which, with a consumption of 20 liters per 100 km and an insignificant cost of refueling, gave good performance.

And a few words about external parameters. The bus had two double doors. Some suburban models received a regular hinged door instead of automation, due to which the number of seats slightly changed, a third wide window appeared between the doors, and the total capacity was 95 people.

• Length - 9700 mm.
• Width - 2500 mm.
• Height - 2945 mm.
• Wheel track - 2100 mm.
• Gross weight - 13,400 kg.
• Curb - 8600 kg.

Conclusion

20 years ago, carriers used LAZ-42021, a car from the Lviv plant, to solve the problems of public transport. And although it is hopelessly outdated, in its heyday it was no worse than the Hungarian-made bus - the well-known Ikarus.