KrAZ 259B

At the end of 1961, the Ministry of Defence developed requirements for a brand new range of 3-axle 8-tonne AWD trucks. In 1962, a team of ambitious young engineers of KrAZ factory developed the first prototypes of the first generation trucks with a 240 hp diesel engine YaMZ 238 V8 – a 8-ton truck KrAZ-253B with an all-metal flatbed platform and a tractor +active trailer combination 259B.

To speed up the development Kraz engineers borrowed a cabin from MAZ-500 trucks. KrAZ-259B had a system of gears and a special fifth wheel to transfer torque to axles of a 2-axle KrAZ-834B semitrailer. Tires were similar to wheels of KrAZ-255B.

Gross weight of Kraz 259B – 17.8 tonnes, maximum lenght – 15,410 mm, maximum speed on offroad – 20 kph. The prototypes of the first generation proved to be too ambitious and difficult for the domestic auto industry, costly and equally unreliable.