Rare Birds: Kick-Ass Off-Roaders to Remember (PHOTOS)

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People always go for more, hence the wealth of all imaginable all-terrain vehicles that have come along, including the LCC-1-Sno-Train, Russia’s GAZ-VM and a slew of other kick-ass off-roaders.

LCC-1 Sno-Train

Snow-removing equipment - Sputnik International
Russia
Russian Rescuers Will Receive Advanced Snowmobiles, Hovercraft, ATVs
During the 1950 the Pentagon was desperately looking for  a vehicle to haul equipment and supplies over off-road terrain including in the Far North.

In 1955 the Texas-based LeTourneau Company landed a contract to build exactly such a vehicle.

The first of these designs was the 125-ton VC-12 Tournatrain, which consisted of a power truck with a 500-hp Cummins VT-12 engine, and five 25-ton trailers. Follwing a series of successful tests the Tournatrain  was taken to Greenland where it hauled cargoes until 1962.

© Wikipedia / PaulHLambert LCC-1 Sno-Train
LCC-1 Sno-Train - Sputnik International
LCC-1 Sno-Train

Their latest and most famous such land train was the world’s biggest 150-ton Overland Train Mk-II/LCC1, which was 175 meters long and consisted of a 6x6 prime mover and 12 trailers with 68-inch wheels.

Liebherr T 282b

The Liebherr T 282B is an ultra-class two-axle diesel-electric designed and built by Germany’s Liebherr Mining Equipment Co. The T 282B is Liebherr’s largest, highest payload capacity haul truck, offering the world the 2nd largest haul truck payload capacities in the world, up to 400 tons.

It was surpassed in 2013 by the Belarus-made BelAZ model 75710 with a 450-ton capacity.

© Wikipedia / René Engel Liebherr T 282B ultra-class haul truck
Liebherr T 282B ultra-class haul truck - Sputnik International
Liebherr T 282B ultra-class haul truck

A Liebherr T 282b, powered by a 20-cilinder 3,650 horsepower engine, has a huge 4,730 liter fuel tank and costs a whopping $5 million.

GAZ-M72

A reinforced 4x4 version of the Pobeda car. Nearly 400 units were built between 1955 and 1958 and their off-road characteristics were quickly appreciated by professionals and amateurs alike.

However, the high production cost made the car inaccessible for the average buyer. This is apparently why the car was discontinued only four years into production.

ZiL-49061 Blue Bird

The ZiL "Blue Bird" complex was developed in the Soviet Union during the early 80s.

Its purpose was to search for and rescue landing cosmonauts.

It included freight vehicle ZIL-4906, ZIL-49061 Amphibious for passengers and auger wheel swamp and snowmobile ZIL-29061. It was powered by a 136 horsepower engine which ensured maximum speed of 80 km/h on highway and 9 km/h on water.

© Wikipedia / Artem Svetlov ZIL-49061
ZIL-49061  - Sputnik International
ZIL-49061

Mattracks

Mattracks is a customized ATV equipped with four rubber tracks in place of the four wheels.

It was designed by the US Karlstad company famous for its predilection for replacing conventional wheels with rubber ones and putting a customary pulling hoist up front.

Fordson Snow Devil

In the 1920s the Armstead Snow Motor was developed. When this was used to convert a Fordson tractor into a screw-propelled vehicle with a single pair of cylinders, the combination became known as the Fordson Snow Devil.

The Fordson Snow Devil was a very neat screw-type transportation system, ideal for rough terrain situations. And, as if that was not enough, this thing could also float on water!

© Wikipedia / refractionlessFordson Snow Devil
Fordson Snow Devil - Sputnik International
Fordson Snow Devil

 

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