Zil Light/Medium-duty truck
1 model in this series
Zil ZIL-5301 (1995–2015): light delivery truck with a 4,690 cm³ engine and an unusual two-speed planetary gearbox, 2,540 mm wheelbase and 1,676 mm width for urban duty
The ZIL-5301 was built at the Likhachov Moscow Automobile Plant, one of the most established Soviet and later Russian commercial vehicle makers. The series ran from 1995 to 2015 as a light truck for delivery duty.
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The engine displaces 4,690 cm³ and was paired with a two-speed planetary gearbox, a design rarely seen in light commercial vehicles. At a height of 1,860 mm, a wheelbase of 2,540 mm and a width of 1,676 mm, this is a compact vehicle built for urban traffic.
Vehicles of this size were built for urban delivery duty, where manoeuvrability and a small turning radius matter more than high payload or long range. The two-speed planetary gearbox is a simple, robust near-automatic design that keeps gear-changing to a minimum in everyday use.
When buying this compact chassis, the main point is the condition of the two-speed planetary gearbox, whose bands and clutches wear at high mileage, along with rust in the cab and frame. Parts for Russian commercial vehicles of this production period are available through specialist suppliers, but availability is worth confirming before purchase. Given the short wheelbase and narrow width, it is also worth checking wear in the steering joints and the condition of the exhaust system, both of which wear faster under stop-and-go urban duty and repeated short trips.
Sources: SpecCodex-Register: Kennwerte des Modells Zil ZIL-5301
Models
Truck in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.