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RAF-2203-01: Well forgotten new. Minibuses raf car raf ambulance

Minibuses of this type were widely used as route taxis, emergency cars and in the role of official transport until the mid-90s, then in Russia were gradually ousted by "gazelles", and in Latvia, Mercedes minibuses and other foreign cars.
SERIONY SUBJECT OF PERSONAL PICTURE RAF-2203 "LATVIA" (Latvija. RAF-2203 Latvija) (1976-1987 - RAF-2203; 1987-1997 - RAF-22038), produced by the Riga bus factory in 1976 -1997.
In 1976, a new plant in Yelgava under Riga was put into operation a new plant named after the XXV Congress of the CPSU, designed for production of 17,000 buses per year and began the manufacture of 11-seater 95-strong minibuses of RAF-2203 "Latvia" on the aggregates of the passenger "Volga »GAZ-24. Four-door model with advanced design preserved the main constructive features Predecessor - RAF-977DM. Moreover, the "Volga" remained the main donor of the aggregates, but already the GAZ-24 models. On the basis of this, a somewhat more comfortable minibus was distributed route taxis and ambulance carriages. The 8-seater "Suite" version was also made by small parties, which was sometimes delivered to personal use of large families. There were other rare species of the type of Finnish reanimobals Toro based on RAF. In 1987, a modernized model of RAF-22038 was mastered in the Gorkovskaya Volga-24-10, which inherited the ZMZ-402 engine (-4021) and the two-circuit brake system from the "donor". Externally, RAF-22038 was distinguished by the facing of the front with the new false radiator lattice and aluminum bumpers with plastic side sections, as well as the lack of branded emblem of Rafa. On the prototype 22038, which was demonstrated at the exhibition "Auto industry of the USSR 60 years" in 1984, in the back of the sidewalls were located narrow swivel vents, but the body of type 2203 was actually stored on the serial model. Since 1993, RAF-22039 was produced. This modification was characterized by increased passenger capacity (thirteen man). It was achieved due to a reduction to a minimum of the luggage space.
RAF-2203 was the most massive Soviet minibus and actually the only domestic, not counting the imported "domestic" and "beetle", as well as all-wheel drive UAZ-452V which was produced at the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant in a relatively small amount and mainly supplied to export.
The factory modification of a minibus designed to work in mode route taxiThe seats were located on the sides of the cabin, while in a modification designed to work as a service of seats were located crosswise. However, later (in nineties), many service minibuses were also used as a route taxi, so there were cars with different layout of passenger seats on urban routes.
The length of RAF-2203 was the same 4.9 meters as the 977th model, but the width increased up to 2.035 meters, which made the salon noticeably spacious. By default, the cabin was still set ten seats. The eleventh passenger could ride next to the driver. The twelfth, in violation of all rules, could be pressed on the engine compartment and go back forward until some seat is free.
A few words about the shortcomings of the bus construction. The problems of the operation of this model were associated with the location of the heavy engine over the front axle, directly between the driver's and passenger seats, which, with a bad weighing, on the axes led to constant breakdowns and, as a result, failure of the front suspension, as well as disgusting handling on slippery road, What the drum brakes of all wheels contributed to a considerable degree. All shortcomings engine ZMZ. In a more severe and, as a rule, always fully loaded minibus are manifested significantly earlier and sharpen stronger (for example, fuel consumption and oil, overheating in hot weather, vibration, etc.). To the well-known disadvantages of the carriage layout in general, somehow: an uncomfortable entry and exit from the driver's seat, the actual absence of passive protection in front, complicated steering design and transmission drive, increased level Noise and gaspace in the cabin - also added "specific" problems of the quality of components and assembly, especially if we consider that the lion's share of parts for the production of RAF received from the sediments from all over the Union.
The production of RAFs was stopped in early 1997 due to the loss of the main sales market in the CIS countries, where a more modern analogue appeared - Gazelle Gorkovsky Automobile Plant.
Predecessor - RAF-977DM

Experienced RAF-2203

The bus of a particularly small class of general purpose is manufactured by the RAF minibus factory since 1987 the body is a whole metal, carriage-type, 4-door (two doors in the front compartment, one side for the entrance to the salon and one behind). Front engine location. The driver's seat is adjustable in length and tilt back. The heating system is a liquid, using the heat of the engine cooling system. Previously, the RAF-2203 bus (1976-1987) was produced (1976-1987), characterized by the use of the mod engine. CMP-24D lower power and some separate elements of the body (bumpers, doors, mirrors).

Modifications:
RAF-22031-01 - Linear emergency room;
RAF-2203-02 - working on liquefied gas.

Engine.

Maud. ZMZ-402.10, gasoline, inline, 4-cyl., 92x92 mm, 2.445 l, compression ratio 8.2, work order 1-2-4-3, power 72.1 kW (98 hp) at 4500 / min, torque of 180.4 N-M (18.4 kgf) at 2400-2600 rpm; K-126GM carburetor; air filter - inertial and oil.

Transmission.

The clutch is one-piece, shutdown drive - hydraulic. Gearbox 4-st., Transmit. Numbers: I-3.50; II-2.26; III-1.4 5; IV-1.00; Zh-3,54; Synchronizers on all transmissions of the front turn. The cardan transmission consists of two shafts with an intermediate support. Main transmission - single, hypoid, transmit. number 3.9.

Wheels and tires.

Wheels - disk, rims 5k-15 or 5 1 / 2j-15, fastening on 5 studs. Tires 185/82p15 mod. I-288, tread pattern - road, pressure in front wheels 3.2-3.3 tires, rear - 3.7-3.8 kgf / cm. sq. The number of wheels 4 + 1.

Suspension.

Front - independent, spring, with transverse levers, two shock absorber, rear suspension - dependent, on semi-elliptic springs, two shock absorber.

Brakes.

Working brake system - two contour, with a hydraulic drive with two vacuum amplifiers, drumming mechanisms (280 mm diameter, 50 mm pad width), sprinkle cam. Parking brake - on the brakes of the rear wheels, with a mechanical drive.

Steering.

The steering mechanism is a global worm and a three-grass roller, transmitted. number 19.1.

Electrical equipment.

Voltage 12 V, AK. 6T-60EM battery, G16.3701 generator with voltage regulator 13.3702, Starter St230-B1, Sensor-distributor 19.3706, ignition coil B116, Candles A14-B. Fuel tank - 55l, gasoline AI-93;
Cooling system - 13l, water or Tosol A-40;
The lubricant system is 6l, the All-season M-6 / 10G, in the summer M-12G, in winter M-8G;
Carter of the steering mechanism - 0.40 l, TAP-15B or TAD-17 and;
gearbox - 0.95 l, TAD-17 and or TAP-15B;
Carter of the leading bridge - 1.20 l, TAD-17I or TSP-GUI;
Hydraulic brake and clutch - 0.95 l, brake fluid BSK;

Shock absorbers:
Front - 2x0,14,
Rear - 2x0.2 1 l, oil spindle AU;

Windshield washer tank - 2 l, water or niiss-4 liquid in a mixture with water.

Mass of aggregates (kg).

Engine with equipment and clutch - 185,
gearbox - 26.5;
Cardan shaft - 12;
Rear axle - 85.5;
Body - 890;
wheel assembly with a bus - 25;
Radiator - 12.6.

SPECIFICATIONS

Capacity:
number of seats	11
total number of seats	11
number of service seats	1
Curb weight	1815 kg.
Including:
on the front axle	980 kg.
on the rear axle	835 kg.
Full mass	2710 kg.
Including:
on the front axle	1275 kg.
on the rear axle	1435 kg.
Max. Sign	125 km / h
Overclocking time up to 60 km / h	14 p.
Max. overcome. climb	25 %
Flood from 60 km / h	600 m.
Brake Path with 50 km / h	32 m.
Control fuel consumption at 60 km / h, l / 100 km	11.8 liters.
Radius of rotation:
by external wheel	5.5 m.
overall	6.2 m.

RAF-2203-01

The building on the street Dutz in Riga of the architect Gurevich, where the NTCs and the experimental workshop of the Riga bus factory once were located and near which we photographed RAF-2203-01, released in 1990, appeared much later than the model 2203. And yet the minibus and brick corps There is a lot in common. And that and the other look unusual, original. And all because they designed them with a soul ...

Riga - Moscow - Jelgava

He lived, there was a small plant in the Riga Street Duznes. There were about three thousand minibuses RAF-977 per year. The conveyor is manual: the body was rolled on the trolleys on the rails laid on the concrete floor. Of course, the heads of the plant - director Ilya Ivanovich Poznyak and chief engineer of Reginald Albertovich Balode-awards - understood: to get good for the construction of a new powerful enterprise (there was nowhere to expand on Duzen), you need to show in Moscow at all new model. "A very new" - of course, relatively, since the components and aggregates could only be borrowed from the serial Soviet cars.

Rigaan chose not the most common way for the USSR way to create a new car - the competition of two independent groups of artists and engineers. In 1967, a minibus of a Mason group with the conditional name of RAF-982-I was seen. The car looked quite modern, but unoriginal - reminded Ford Transit..

Arthur Eiser Group graduated from RAF-982-II only in 1968. But her angular minibus with rectangular headlights looked like an aliel from another galaxy, then certainly no less bold than other Western concepts. The aggregates and nodes have both buses, of course, serial. By the way, on the second sample, futuristic, at first it was not a Volgovsky engine, but a completely new 75-strong unit from Moskvich-412, which was not inferior to the Motor ZMZ-21.

12 RAF2203 ZR03-15

The first prototype of RAF-982 was held on the farthest approaches to the new Rafa, created in 1965 on the Mason Group Nodes. In 1967, two next prototypes were built, which differed from the first external elements.

13 RAF2203 ZR03-15

The prototype of the Eiser group appeared in 1968. On the futuristic car stood the engine from Moskvich-412. Both minibuses were drove in Moscow, where they showed the interdepartmental commission, which even did not even do the medical supplies - Rafa were the main sanitary machines of the USSR. The bosses then approved a sample with a more traditional design that did not like the Riga. They were a nail avant-garde car. In addition, they believed that it was under such a car that would be allowed to build a large and modern factory. As a result, Riga won. A little united (in the literal sense - the body lines have become less sharp) RAF-2203 with a gaza engine, gearbox and suspensions stood on the conveyor of the new plant in Jelgava, reasoned, as was customary in those days, in honor of the XXV CPSU Congress. The first cars were released in 1975, and large-scale production began in February 1976.

03 RAF2203 ZR03-15

RAF-2203-01

WAYBILL

Today, he looks slightly strange on his narrow wheels in wide arches: with some angles - very modern, with other things - naive and funny. But it is certainly recognizable. That's how life turned! More recently, such cars caused interest except for the most accuracted bus services. Now even in Latvia, where the Soviet car inheritance disappears from the roads especially quickly, our striped "raffik" was politely passed during rebuilding. To greet, they even quarreled out a cool salon in an unprecedented heat for Riga. By the way, we have in the rafe to fight her - only not to the end of the downstream doors and sliding the rear. To quickly take or leave the driver's seat, we need certain skills: a chair - over the wheel. But comfortable: the back for a couple hundred kilometers is not tired at all. To the lever of the gearbox, strongly displaced back (the original cover to the standard Volgo box was done in Riga), it would also be used to it too long. It is not very well to include the fourth and rear, but it can be bought with it. Especially considering that the designs are four decades. Dynamics, of course, not at all modern. A melting Niower Valvage Motor, delivered by frequent inclusion of reduced gears, as the car can hold in the urban stream of the XXI century. But on the highway to go on 90-100 km / h permitted rules. That's just a car noise to everyone than it can, yes, so that you can only talk to a more or less calm voice with a sitting side. There is an unpleasant vibration on the floor - probably from mediocrely balanced cardanian Vala. And if you translate for 100 km / h, the car is quite roven road Begins to swim. For example: at lower speeds, RAF-2203 behaves quite decently.

05 RAF2203 ZR03-15

RAF-2203-01. Neither from the point of view of security, nor in part is the location of the ignition castle is not perfect. Well, did not find the other ... Plastic platform with sides, fixed on the engine casing, is the factory equipment of late machines.

Former Rafovets say that for the usual conveyor machine (this RAF-2203-01 released in 1990, mileage 24,500 km) all this is normal. Testers and most meticulous and hardworking drivers modified machines for themselves: attached additional noise insulation, balanced and regulated everything and everything.

RAF, like most soviet cars, Woven from contradictions. The smoothness of the stroke is even with four rides - excellent. But the car is designed for twelve people. Only here the Volgov front suspension of the 1950s with a kins and threaded sleeves was worn very quickly. On a neglected car, the brakes work quite well, but if you take on board the same twelve people, drums and pads from the Volga cope with their work with difficulty. Although there are already two Muscovite hydraulic amplifiers under the plywood floor (to put it mildly, far from the most reliable assemblies in the history of the Soviet car industry): one - on the front contour, the other is on the rear. Well finishing touch To a runaway portrait: the driver's legs and the front passenger are protected only with a thin wall with fashionable in the 1970s rectangular headlights. However, in this sense, modern buses left "Raffi" not very far.

09 RAF2203 ZR03-15

RAF-2203-01. The current owner took off several seats to register the car as passenger.

From the congress to the road

For the USSR of the mid-1970s RAF-2203 - quite modern carlike the plant in Jelgava. By the way, even the most congestive seventies in the country built plants (we will also recall the VAZ and KAMAZ), even if it is not so intense, as now - shopping centers. The new "Rafik" (by the beginning of the 1970s, this nickname was still in relation to the model 977) with the inscription Latvija on the hood seemed like a lot of Baltic, a bit foreign. Well, for example, Latvian knitwear, an architecture of Yuggendistil in the center of Riga, small cozy cafes and a calm Raymond Pauls with its "yellow leaves", which have become one of the Soviet hits of 1975. It was from this song that the All-Union Glory of the composer began. The plant, designed for 16 thousand cars, sometimes did at 18 thousand per year. The need for minibuses was huge, since "Rafika" analogues in the USSR, in fact, was not. Minibuses and nurses, specialists for the police and simply "overclocking" cars in enterprises ... a little later, a lot of modifications for the Olympics-80, experienced electric cars added to them. Rigane was better understood that the car should be modernized. New lanterns and bumpers, steering and instrument panel (they are still gradually introduced) - it's good. But the car was needed more powerful engine, Other suspension (at least in front) and brakes. I tried imported diesel engines, ZMZ-406 and even Vazovsky rotary motor. We are under the leadership of the designer V.A. Mironov created an original suspension of the type McPherson, but with the depreciated shock absorbers, called in Riga "Mac-Miron". Made samples with disk brakes in front with two calipers from "Niva". It could well become RAF-22038. But did not. In the USSR, no one was taken to make original knots for such a small auto plant with relatively modest volumes of release.

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RAF-2203-01. The trunk, in general, conditional. But the spare track, fortunately, not under the belly

The trunk, in general, conditional. But the spare track, fortunately, not under the belly

And soon the USSR began to disintegrate, as a strongly worn and poorly well-kept "Rafik". Plant in Yelgava created a lot of different, sometimes bizarre modifications. Let's say Trucks with onboard platform and dubious handling, mobile shops and other specialists. Combined and completely new models, but by the mid-1990, the company actually died. Sad, but, in general, the story is logical for that era. It would seem that in the unfavorable climate of the last decades, the remaining Riga minibuses was destined to be contraved. But some of them have been preserved, and this, remind, and 25 thousand kilometers did not pass! It turns out, he is almost new Raf. Recall that these cars were called in the 1970s, and you will be spooky: there is a Riga bus in the world and today, which deserves the same epithet. The editors thanks Andris Dambis for the provided car and Valdis Brant for help in preparing the material.

On the shores of Lielupe

19 RAF2203 ZR03-15

The city of Yelgava (Latvians say Yalgava, with an emphasis on the first syllable; in Russian was first called Mitava) founded in 1573. In the XVI-XVIII centuries. Was the capital of Kurlyandia. The attractions include Mitavsky (Yelgavsky), the castle, built by Rastrelli and the Danish architect Severin Yensen for the Duke of Kurlendia Ernst Biron.

Even before the construction of Rafa in Jelgava there were small metalworking and engineering enterprises. Since 2005, the AMO-Plant plant has been working, happy import buses and tractors. The main owner is the Department of Property of the Government of Moscow.

Above, longer, harder

For a long life, RAF-2203 got tens of modifications, ranging from all well-known route taxis and ambulance. Only for the Olympiad-80 made one and a half dozen versions. Recall some, especially interesting.

new 1989 RAF 2203 "Latvia" - with storage

RAF-2203 "Latvia" - Minibus, produced by the Riga Bus factory in 1976-1997.

The creation of a new Rafov minibus (instead of the RAF-977 model) began in 1965. The development of a new promising car was led by two groups of four designers, one - under the guidance of Mason, the other - under the leadership of Eyster. In fact, the development was carried out in the competition-competition mode between two groups of engineers. The groups worked completely independently of each other. The projected minibus was to meet two requirements: he had to be twelve and had to be based on GAZ-21 car units.

As a result, two prototype vehicles were created: RAF-982-I Group of Mason and RAF-982-II of the Eyster Group. The first minibus had a half-door layout, this car was called "cyclone". The second promising car had a wagon layout.

Both cars were sent to Moscow to pass the interdepartmental commission. As a result, the Commission found the best RAF-982-I. However, director of Rafa, Ilya Poznyak, was dissatisfied with the decision of the ministry. He considered Futuristic ( wagon layout Buses then was in a novelty) RAF-982-II more promising model. Rafov prototypes were again sent to Moscow. After the "second round" test, the test was made about the future production of RAF-982-II.

On July 25, 1969, the construction of a new plant of Rafa began in Jelgava. After the completion of the new plant was supposed to start the release of new minibuses. Raf-982-II prototype finishes were carried out during the construction of the plant.

The new plant began work in February 1976. From his conveyor, the minibuses of RAF-2203 "Latvia" began to go. Such an official designation received new minibuscreated during the progress of the prototype RAF-982-II. In contrast to the prototype, the serial RAF-2203 used the aggregates from a newer "Volga" - GAZ-24.

Modifications

Model	Purpose	Years of release
2203	Basic model. Used as service transport.	1976-1987
22031	A ambulance, differed in the presence within medical equipment.
22032	The car to work as a route taxi, the seats in the passenger compartment were located along the sides.
22033	Service car for the police. In a specially equipped cabin, there was a penny on 2 detainees, a place for a dog, 3 seats and a pyramid for weapons.
22034	Service car for firefighters. Designed for transportation 5 firefighters and 5 sets of equipment. A small experienced party was released, mainly the basic minibuses with the forces of firefighters were converted.
22035	Special car for the transport of donor blood.
22036	Special car, having together ambulance and police. A single experienced sample was released.
2912	Small-sector version - window laboratory.
2909	Small-sector "Olympic" version - Picap-bibliovoz with a double-round cabin and an awning.	1979-1980
2911	Small-sector "Olympic" version with a referee board on the roof.	1979-1980
2910	Small-sector "Olympic" version - a judicial electric car.
2907	Small-sector "Olympic" version of the maintenance of a runner with the Olympic flame, the cooling system was appropriately finalized.	1979-1980
3407	Small-sector version - Park road train from saddle tractor and one-two trailed open beables RAF-9225/9226.
Raf-Tamro.	Resuscitation car with the equipment of the Finnish company "Troo". He had a high roof and stained in a bright yellow color with orange stripes.	1979-1989
2203-01	Transitional model from RAF-2203 to RAF-22038.	1987-1990
22031-01	Ambulance transition car.	1987-1990
2921	Small-sector passenger version with a high roof for transportation of disabled.
22038	The updated model with a new suspension system and some other aggregates had a modified radiator grille, there were no subcords.	1989-1997
2915	Ambulance on the basis of RAF-22038.	1991-1997
22039	Car to work as a route taxi.	1993-1997
2914	Reanimobile on the basis of RAF-22038 by type Toro-Raf.	1989-1993
2916 and 2924-Toro	The small version is a chapeless van (postal, mobile shop, catatball, etc.).
33113	Pickup with a double-shot cabin and awning.
	Long bead pickup with a single-row cab and an awning.
33111	On-board mini-row cabin.	1991-1993
2920	Minigurizer-van with a single-row cabin and kung.
3311	On-board minigar with a two-round cabin.	1991-1993
33114	Minigurizer-van with a double-shot cabin and kung.
2926	Minigurizer-van with a double-round cabin and isothermal kung.

Evaluation of the project

Dignity

Compared to the preceding Rafa model (RAF-977), RAF-2203 was a spacious minibus. It raised the level of passenger comfort and had paramount importance for the use of RAF-2203 as an ambulance car: in the Body RAF-2203 there was enough space for the most important medical equipment. In addition, RAF-2203 had a soft smooth move.

disadvantages

Too heavy engine, hosted above the front axle, created a bad wave (over 55% of the mass accounted for the front axle), which led to increased wear and even damage front Bridge, as well as bad manageability of an unloaded minibus on a slippery road and significantly worsened the permeability (because of this, the back of the minibus was sometimes loaded with ballast). The body was different not too high quality welds and paint, as well as bad anti-corrosion properties. The bottom was made plywood (except the latest version of the route taxi 22039), which also aggravated the problems of operation. Significant problems were with the quality of the aggregate base from the GAZ-24 Volga car. Due to the features of the driver's location and gearbox, the gear shift was uncomfortable.

The dynamics of modern standards is modest. Seventy five horse power The engine for a thousand seven hundred with nuts of kilograms of the exhaust mass is not much at all. But in the sixties it was enough. Some European analogs have been loose more. And now Raf, even if it is not fast, you can take it to quite sufficient for urban speeds. We just need not to forget that the brakes are not at all modern here: drum and without amplifier. Of course, they try, as they can restrain the car, but it is not necessary to put pressure on the pedal, and the slowdown is still not the god of the news.

Roured also requires skills. Even on a straight rate at 50 km / h, "Rafik" begins to swim a little, demanding constant infringement. By the way, the car can rather confidently can go and at a speed of 100-110 km / h, but such a pace is not a rustling of the 977th Rafa.

In order to turn turns relatively quickly, you need to choose the back of the steering, then you vigorously scroll through a rather heavy, almost horizontal ram, and then just as vigorously return the car to the straight movement. Do not move with a slippery seat, the driver helps landing: close to the left - the door, and on the right of the driver pressed to the hood motor compartment. To all this, with certain experience you can get used to. But after all, it is no coincidence in the past times to work on the ambulance chasters with qualifications not lower than the second grade (if someone forgot: all of them were three - the third was assigned to professionals immediately after driving school, and then raised with an increase in experience until the first).

In rapid turns, the high minibus is noticeably cubed, but the stroke is soft. In general, in the 1960s, and in the early 1970s, the comfortable RAF-977 was undoubtedly the best Soviet serial nurse and a car, quite comparable in many of the parameters with imported analogues.

Latvija from Latvia

Minibuses of UAZ and RAF, including in the sanitation, appeared in the country almost simultaneously. Such machines doctors were very necessary. After all, until the end of the 1950s, the main sanitarian was the Paz-653 - a booth on the chassis of the GAZ-51 truck, as well as the ZIS-110. The car on the chassis cargo was spacious, but very shaking. ZIS and winters went softly, but the doctors were closely in them: you can carry the patient, but you will not find serious help on the road, and you will not place the necessary equipment. In addition, the cost of sanitaries on the basis of a large expensive sedan, especially a governmental melk-sector limousine, was very high.

UAZ was performed primarily for rural areas and at first in very small quantities. So the main urban machine for hospitalization of patients was RAF. In the early 1960s, the challenges, however, began to leave and fast on the basis, but they are again less comfortable for physicians.

It was small, and it is not too great. By the way, the cars collected were drowning on the stands with wheels and pushed along the rails - a shaped hand conveyor. Before the construction of a new plant in Jelgava, there were still almost two decades, so the natives and minibuses on the units of the 21st Volga did only a small Riga plant. In order not to reduce their production, the release of vans was transferred to Yerevan.

The first samples of medical machines were made from 1958 on the basis of RAF-977B. In the large series in 1962, the sanitary raf-977 was launched - this is a modification of the RAF-977D minibus. After modernization in 1968, who touched the main body (it was once again strengthened, the side windows changed), the medical machine received the index RAF-977. The car on which I managed to ride exactly such.

Foreign analogs

Volkswagen T2, 1967-1979. Engines: gasoline, 48 hp, later - from 67 to 71 hp

RENAULT ESTAFETTE, version 1968-1980. Engine with a capacity of 43 hp

Ford Transit (second generation), 1965-1978. Engines: gasoline, power 75-83 hp, as well as diesel in 70 hp

Cabinet number 977.

Of course, the suspension from the Volga worked on a heavy car at the limit of possibilities (especially the front), but the course of "Rafa" is very soft. And this, believe me, is important and those who are taken, and those who are lucky. At one time I experienced a sanitary gazelle, and then an imported minibus. Difference, I share you, huge! And the raf in the smoothness of the stroke is about in the middle between them, and certainly more comfortable gazelles with a rigid cargo suspension.

The doctor here, of course, is much more convenient than in the 22nd Volga, - Mésta plenty. The sanitary "rafiki" was very different from each other with a complete set, but in any case, the medical compartment was accompanied by everything necessary and possible equipment in those years, including an artificial respiratory unit. In this sense, the car was quite modern. He would have a high roof ... the first similar soviet cars appeared on the basis next model - RAF-2203, and even at first only Finnish production.

How many lives saved such rafs, no one knows. They diligently worked in all corners of the Union, in large and small cities. Of course, Raf, especially the sanitary worked during the day and night almost without breaks, demanded constant attention. The details of the already remembered Volgovsky suspension and steering, not the most durable and durable was carrying the body. However separate cars served in the early 1980s, when a completely new, powerful and quite modern at that time, the Yelgava plant was already far from the first year released a new model.

The sanitary 977th was shot in dozens, and even in hundreds of Soviet films - in drams, detectives, household stories from medical life. Thanks to this, the connoisseurs of the Soviet retro today can learn how such cars looked and were staffed. By the way, this RAF, on which we went to the challenge today (of course, fictional), participates in filming, helping more accurately recreate the long-stayed era. In general, a car in good health and is ready for this work. We assume that it is not retired, but simply in stock.

COLLEAGUES

Sectional doctors at home calls in the USSR took all models on Muscovites, starting with the "four hundred." Simultaneously with RAF-977, several other domestic models worked in the ambulance service.

GAZ-22D, 1962-1970. Sanitary Volga could carry a lying patient and two passengers sitting next to him. A similar gas-24-03 car came to the change of this model, created on the basis of the GAZ-24-02 universal.