Zil ZiŁ-131
Built: 1966-2002 · Series: Other models
More machines from model year 1966
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
The ZiŁ-131 is a three-axle off-road truck with 6x6 drive, built from 1966 to 2002. It replaced the older Soviet all-wheel-drive trucks and for decades was a standard vehicle of the armed forces and for civil use in rough terrain, for example in forestry, oil and gas extraction or farming. The long production run shows how little the concept aged.
The engine is a V8 with 6.0 l displacement, burning petrol. The gearbox is a 5-speed manual. The dimensions of 7,040 mm length and 2,500 mm width correspond to a three-axle vehicle with load bed and tarpaulin, used on roads and field tracks.
Thanks to all-wheel drive it also copes with deep mud and snow. Examples still run in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and many frames were converted for fire-fighting or crane bodies. For restorers the model is a rewarding object because of its simple technology.
ZIL-131 – Soviet 6x6 army truck
The ZIL-131 is a Soviet all-wheel-drive 6x6 army truck with a 3.5 t off-road payload (5 t on roads), designed by ZIL in Moscow. It was introduced in 1966 as the military counterpart to the civilian ZIL-130. It is powered by a 6.0-litre V8 petrol engine with a five-speed gearbox and two-speed transfer case; top speed is 80 km/h and length 7.04 m.
Read on 2 more paragraphs
Variants include fuel tankers, dump trucks and the 9P138 rocket launcher carrier. It served across the Eastern Bloc and in allied countries such as Afghanistan, Cuba, Syria and Vietnam; diesel versions followed from 2002 as the AMUR-531340.
Listed in the register: ZiŁ-131.
Sources: Wikipedia ZIL-131
Technical data
Engine
| Engine | V8 6, 0 lcorrect |
|---|
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 7,040 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,500 mmcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | 6x6 drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 5-speed manual gearboxcorrect |
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of the Zil ZiŁ-131?
7,040 mm × 2,500 mm.
When was the Zil ZiŁ-131 built?
Production years: 1966-2002.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Shift the gearbox cold and warm — jumps only show up at temperature.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
We do not sell machines. We ask the dealers who carry this model and come back with price and lead time.
Request a quote →
We ask the suppliers and come back with price and lead time.
Request spare parts →
This page carries 5 individual figures for this model. They come from 4 recorded sources; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
Missing a figure you were looking for? Report it →
Know this machine better? Have a photo, a manual, or know that a figure is wrong? Add it to the register →
Sources: Wikipedia (retrieved August 2026) · speccodex.com (retrieved October 2026) · How we check the data
Fire appliance in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
