From the mid-1920s, the USSR actively purchased licenses from the USA and Europe to launch its own production of equipment. In the automotive industry, cooperation with General Motors was initially considered, but in 1929, Ford was chosen as the main partner. The American company's model range better suited the tasks facing Soviet industry.
The basis of the future "Polutorka" was the American Ford AA truck model of 1930 with a carrying capacity of 1.5 tons. To produce these machines, Albert Kahn's architectural bureau designed a factory based on the River Rouge plant. Later, it became the famous Gorky Automobile Plant. After production began, the Ford AA received a new name – GAZ-AA.
The first Soviet-assembled truck rolled off the assembly line on January 29, 1932. Later, the car's design was constantly refined, and modifications based on it were used both in the national economy and in the army. It was the military who gave the car the nickname "Polutorka" (one-and-a-half-tonner), associated with its carrying capacity.
How an American Truck Became Soviet
Almost immediately after the start of production, engineers began adapting the machine to local conditions. The GAZ-AA had its clutch housing reinforced, steering modernized, an air filter installed, and a number of other components redesigned.
By 1933, the car was entirely assembled from Soviet components. The factory produced up to 60 vehicles daily.
Later, the design continued to change:
— in 1934, the cabin, which was previously made of chipboard and pressed cardboard, was replaced with a metal one with a leatherette roof; — after 1938, the car received a new 50-horsepower engine instead of the previous 40-horsepower one; — also, reinforced suspension, a new steering mechanism, and a modernized driveshaft appeared.
The updated version received the index GAZ-MM. By 1941, the Red Army had more than 150,000 GAZ-AA and GAZ-MM trucks.
Wartime Simplification
After the start of the Great Patriotic War, the Gorky Automobile Plant continued to operate even under bombing. About 140,000 more "Polutorkas" were produced for the army.
Military vehicles were simplified as much as possible for speed and cost reduction in production. The design became increasingly utilitarian:
- metal doors were replaced with canvas rolls
- the roof was made of canvas
- the cabin was assembled from thin roofing metal
- only one headlight was left on the car
- the wiper was only on the driver's side and had a manual drive
In addition, the vehicles lost their mufflers, bumpers, and front brakes. The cargo platform was also simplified and had only one folding side. This version was designated GAZ-MMV.
The Machine That Saved Leningrad
In the autumn of 1941, Leningrad was blockaded. Soon, a severe shortage of food began in the city.
On the night of November 22-23, military road No. 101 began operating, later becoming known as the "Road of Life." 2877 vehicles participated in the transportation, more than two thousand of which were GAZ-AA and GAZ-MMV.
The first convoy of 60 vehicles delivered about 70 tons of flour across the ice of Lake Ladoga.
From November 1941 to April 1942, trucks transported almost 362 thousand tons of various goods, primarily food. At the same time, more than 550 thousand residents of besieged Leningrad were evacuated by transport.
In total, during the existence of the "Road of Life" — from 1941 to 1944 — road transport carried more than 2 million 336 thousand tons of cargo in both directions.
Armored Cars, Ambulances, and Tractors
Many different vehicles were created based on the "Polutorka."
Among them:
- the GAZ-55 ambulance, used for evacuating the wounded
- the three-axle GAZ-AAA with increased cross-country capability for towing artillery
- the BA-10 armored car
The BA-10 was developed in 1938 at the Izhorsky Plant design bureau based on a modified GAZ-AAA chassis. The vehicle received a 45-mm cannon and two 7.62-mm machine guns. Some armored cars were equipped with 71-TK-1 or 71-TK-3 "Shakal" radio stations.
From 1937 to 1941, almost 3400 BA-10A and BA-10M armored cars were produced. This made the vehicle the most mass-produced Soviet medium armored car of that period.
The Truck That Survived the War
The last GAZ-MM left the Gorky Automobile Plant's conveyor on October 10, 1949.
After the war, the "Polutorkas" continued to operate throughout the country and participated in the restoration of the destroyed economy. These trucks could be found in cities and villages of the USSR until the late 1960s.
Today, one of the preserved GAZ-AA is presented in the exhibition of the G.O.R.A. Museum, where the legendary "Polutorka" can be seen among other examples of historical equipment.