"Shishiga" is an animal with a winch and on wheels

According to one of the versions found in Slavic mythology, the shishig is a devil with a mane of hair sticking out in all directions, the spirit of evil and nightly dreams. According to another version, it's watermark. According to the third, it's a bastard. In general, there are many versions, one thing, shishiga is evil. But among the Soviet, and then Russian motorists there is a version in this regard.

The appearance of the first "shishigi"

In the summer of 1964, a unique car with the GAZ-66 marking, which immediately got its nickname "shishiga" for its number in the abbreviation, began its journey from the conveyor of the Gorky plant. True, during that period of time, when the machine was manufactured by the plant, this car became so legends that many began to think that the car was nicknamed "shishigi" precisely because it feels great on forest impassable roads. As for the passability of the car, GAZ really managed to create an excellent SUV.

Description

High permeability of the car is stipulated by the fact that the car is four-wheel drive (4x4), in the front and rear bridges are installed self-blocks, excellent clearance under the bridges (over 30 cm), the ability to disconnect the front axle. In addition, in the design of the car there is a device that centrally regulates the air pressure in the tires, pumping is carried out by the compressor, with a drive operating directly from the engine of the machine. Eight-cylinder, gasoline ZMZ-66-06, with a working volume of about 4.3 liters, gave out 120 liters. from. Power. At the same time, fuel consumption fluctuated within 20 liters per hundred kilometers. For comparison, it should be noted that the passenger GAZ-69, whose power and engine capacity was twice less, "ate" 14 liters at the same distance.

The location of the center of gravity of the machine, which is exactly between its axes, allows you to control the car in critical roll conditions. By the way, it was precisely because of this balance that the GAZ-66 was adopted into the Soviet airborne troops. However, the fighting during the war in Afghanistan revealed a large shortage of the car, which put an end to the future fate of the Shishigi in the ranks of the armed forces. The fact is that the location of the cab directly over the wheels and its tightness threatened the crew with a virtually 100% fatal outcome when they hit a mine.

But on a civilian, the car got a decent estimate. Most car owners believe that "shishiga" is a machine that is indispensable for heavy roads. Unstable soils, water obstacles with a depth of up to 80 cm, a relatively small turning radius (9.5 meters), maneuverability, compact dimensions with a carrying capacity of 2 tons. All this allows us to conclude that "shishiga" is really a "monster with a winch", however, in a good way.

Gas-66 named Partizan

Some motorists owning GAZ-66 decided to reconsider the purpose of the car in their own way. One of such transformations is tuning "shishigi" into a car, very much like the well-known "Hammer". They called him Partisan.

True, the Russian version of the American car is similar to it only externally. The internal filling - engine, gearbox, distributing, suspension - remained "native". What exactly wanted to achieve the owner of this car is not entirely clear, since the cabin though increased, but remained tight, sound insulation deteriorated, amenities - no, in the maneuverability of the car only lost. The only thing left at altitude, so it's payload and patency. Apparently, the owner's dream of an American SUV has done its job.

Shishigina "Button"

A deeper tuning of GAZ-66 was carried out by a group of other Russian "self-made" ones. They created a real "marvelous SUV". This machine is able to drive where the three-axle KamAZ is buried on the bumper.

From "shishigi", the alteration got the best, that is, everything related to off-road driving. The cockpit was welded from the two cabs of GAZ-66, reinforced with a tubular frame. The engine was replaced by a more powerful (250 hp), taken from the tractor Mercedes Actros. Five-speed gearbox machine received from him.

All 4 wheels as a result of rework became steerable, that is, the rear wheels had the possibility of synchronous rotation with the front wheels. Thus, the car became not only all-wheel drive, but also full-control. And this miracle with the wheels from the combine has received from its owners a sweet name - "Button."

The new GAZ-66 4x4 "shishiga", it's "Sadko"

Together with folk crafts, GAZ-66 producers also decided not to stand still and after 35 years made a replacement for the traditional "shishige" 4x4 by releasing a new model of GAZ-3308 "Sadko". In fact, the car is the same "shishig", but with a different cabin, and naturally more comfortable. Since the cabin received a hood arrangement, the manufacturer had to extend the chassis of the new "shishigi". But even on this machine Gorky residents did not stop.

The newest "shishig"

In the summer of 2014, they presented the newest GAZ Sadko truck NEXT at the STT-214 exhibition. Of course, outwardly it is completely different from the good old GAZ-66. For the sake of time, he got a completely new look with various options, manageability comparable to a car, and incredible for the truck smooth ride. But that's just the classic features of the "shishigi" never erased. If you do not go into details and do not go into the depths of the aggregates, but simply remove the new cabin and replace the old one with the GAZ-66, the "shishig" will look the same. But for the sake of justice it is necessary to say that only externally ...

The machine was equipped with a disconnectable ABS. The body, in comparison with all the predecessors, increased by 20%. Steering, cardan gear, shock absorbers, brake system, climate system, driver's seats and even the motor from windshield wipers, as well as door locks the manufacturer has installed imported, from leading manufacturers.

But the heart of the new "shishigi" remained Russian, issued by the Yaroslavl Motor Plant - turbocharged diesel YaMZ-534 with a resource of 700 thousand km.

Despite all the innovations and updates, the constant remains that "shishiga" is reliability, economy and simplicity in operation.