RAF-977
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The RAF-977 was a Soviet cabover van made by Riga Autobus Factory (RAF) based on components from the GAZ-21 Volga. It was introduced in 1958 and was manufactured in two main styles: a 10-seater minibus and an ambulance. In 1961, an updated version called the RAF-977D was put into production; this had a one-piece windshield, instead of the split, and Volga steering wheel among its other detail changes.[1] Variants included the 977I ambulance and a special Intourist model, which had better seats, roof lights, and sunroof.[1]
The RAF-983, based on the 977, was a fire department vehicle.[1]
The shortened RAF-978, powered by the Moskvitch 407's Script error: No such module "convert". Script error: No such module "convert". engine, was not a success, in part because the engine lacked torque, and ride quality suffered due to the shortened wheelbase.[1]
In 1969,[1] it was replaced by the improved RAF-977DM. This had a wider passenger door and fewer but longer side windows (three on driver's side and two on passenger's, rather than five and three before).[1] The ambulance now had the same number of windows, rather than fewer; it was now the RAF-977IM, and the tourist variant was the RAF-977EM.[1]
A one-ton cargo panel van, the RAF-977K,[1] was also developed, but due to insufficient assembly capacity (only 3000 units a year)[1] at the RAF plant (which still used trolleys, rather than a modern assembly line),[1] its production started at the ErAZ factory in Yerevan, Armenia, 1 May 1966 as ErAZ-762.[2][1] This was nicknamed Yeraz (Armenian for "dream").[1] By 1973, ErAZ's production reached 6,500 per year; with the innovation of overhead carriage, capacity almost doubled, to 12,000 a year.[1] The 977 was also produced under licence by Lugansk Avto Remontnyi Zavod (LARZ).[1]
In 1969, an improved ErAZ-762A also appeared.[1]
Production of the RAF-977 ceased in 1975, when it was replaced by RAF-2203 Latvia.[1]
The RAF-977 was never promoted for export nor made available except to state groups.[3]
References
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