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Q4412569 · 1963–1968

Start

Start
Photo: Nord794ub · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source ↗

The Start (Russian pronunciation: [Старт]) was a minibus built in the Soviet Union from the end of 1963 in various auto repair and assembly plants. It is technically based on the GAZ-21 car and uses its drivetrain, chassis, and various small parts. The vehicle, of which probably fewer than 200 units were produced, had a futuristic design and a handcrafted body made of fiberglass reinforced plastic. After several small series, production was probably finally discontinued in 1968.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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History

The idea for a minibus with a plastic body and the initiative to implement it go back to A. S. Antonov. He became head of the transport department in the economic council of the Soviet city of Lugansk around 1960. Antonov was described as a restless spirit with many new ideas. He and a team of young engineers from the Severodonetsk Automobile Repair Base (SARB, Russian: САРБ) initially built a caravan with a fiberglass body. The material was readily available, as the region had a large chemical industry. Furthermore, its use was supported by the government. After successful completion, it was decided to transfer the new concept to a minibus. For this purpose, two graduates of the local academy who had experience with plastic bodies from the racing car sector were hired, and a small design department was set up at SARB. Initially, a 1:10 scale draft was created. After the design was approved, a full-size plaster model was made. Based on this, the molds for the subsequent body parts were created. The mechanical components such as the engine, axles, and transmission were taken from the GAZ-21, as were various add-on parts such as lights, door handles, the dashboard, and the steering wheel. To achieve the necessary rigidity, metal reinforcements were laminated into the plastic parts. The first minibus was completed in mid-October 1963. In December, Pravda reported on the project, and in 1964, the East German Kraftfahrzeugtechnik also reported, calling the vehicle a Trambus. The first vehicle was equipped with three benches (two longitudinal and one transverse to the direction of travel). A table was mounted on the hood, located inside the passenger compartment behind the driver and front passenger seats. After the work was completed, the bus was presented to the general pub

Overview

Since only a few Starts were produced by different manufacturers and were hand-built, the technical data provided in the literature differ in some details. The values listed here apply to the "series" vehicles manufactured by SARB before 1965. Powertrain. Engine: Four-cylinder inline gasoline engine Engine type: "ZMZ-21A", from the GAZ-21 Volga passenger car Power: 75 hp (55 kW) at 4000 rpm Displacement: 2445 cc Bore: 92.0 mm Stroke: 92.0 mm Maximum torque: 167 Nm at 2200 rpm Compression ratio: 6.7:1 Mixture preparation: Carburetor, type K-105 Firing order: 1–2–4–3 Starter: Type ST21 Alternator: Type G12 On-board voltage: 12 V Transmission: Three-speed manual transmission with reverse gear, partially synchronized Clutch: Single-disc dry clutch Top speed: 110 km/h Fuel consumption: approx. 21–21.5 l/100 km Drivetrain: 4×2 (rear-wheel drive) Dimensions and weights. Length: 5535 mm Width: 1980 mm Height: 2085 mm Wheelbase: 2845 mm Turning circle: 13.0 mm diameter Minimum ground clearance: 197 mm Interior height: 1408 mm Seats: 10+1, also stated as 12+1 Curb weight: 1770 kg, older sources state 1320 kg Tire size: 7.00-15″ Number of doors: 2 passenger doors + separate driver's door

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name
SARB Start
Manufacturer
SARB, LASCZ, KRZ, DAB
Body style
Minibus
Production
1963–1968
Assembly
Soviet Union: Luhansk
Designer
A.S. Antonov and Yuri S. Andros
Engine
R4 gasoline engine
Length
5,535 mm
Width
1,980 mm
Height
2,085 mm
Wheelbase
2,845 mm
Kerb weight
1320–1770 kg
Related
RAF-977

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Start
Kirill Borisenko · CC0 · source ↗
Start
Fox 3 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source ↗
Start
Пименов А · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source ↗

Sources