Archive first published
GAZ-69 Reborn with a Hemi V8: The Truck Garage Restomod of 2015
In December 2015 the tuning shop Truck Garage announced a limited run of 12 restomodded GAZ-69 off-roaders. Each car kept the classic body of the Soviet 4×4 but received a Chrysler Hemi V8 of 5.7 or 6.4 litres, an automatic gearbox, Dynatrac axles, disc brakes and a modern cabin. It was a custom project, not a factory revival of the model.
Key takeaways
- Announced in early December 2015 by Truck Garage, until then known for Ford and Toyota pickups.
- Planned run: 12 cars, plus individual builds to order.
- Engines: 5.7 Hemi V8 with about 295 kW (395 hp) as standard; 6.1 and 6.4 options, the 6.4 with about 347 kW (465 hp); a Toyota diesel was also offered.
- Nearly all that remained of the original was the body shape.
What was announced in December 2015
Truck Garage presented its plan in the first week of December 2015. The shop would build 12 cars on the basis of the GAZ-69, the field car produced from 1953 to 1972. Customers could also order bespoke versions, with a folding canvas roof or a hard top. According to reports at the time, the V8s were reconditioned units with up to 30,000 km, imported from the United States.
Size at a glance
Nissan Patrol Y61
The GAZ-69 is 1,195 mm shorter, 90 mm narrower and 95 mm taller than the Nissan Patrol Y61.
| Dimensions | GAZ-69 | Nissan Patrol Y61 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 3,850 mm151.6 in | 5,045 mm198.6 in | −1,195 mm−47.0 in |
| Width | 1,750 mm68.9 in | 1,840 mm72.4 in | −90 mm−3.5 in |
| Height | 1,950 mm76.8 in | 1,855 mm73.0 in | +95 mm+3.7 in |
| Wheelbase | 2,300 mm90.6 in | 2,970 mm116.9 in | −670 mm−26.4 in |
| Boot | - | 810 L28.6 cu ft | - |
LuAZ-969
The GAZ-69 is 460 mm longer, 140 mm wider and 170 mm taller than the LuAZ-969.
| Dimensions | GAZ-69 | LuAZ-969 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 3,850 mm151.6 in | 3,390 mm133.5 in | +460 mm+18.1 in |
| Width | 1,750 mm68.9 in | 1,610 mm63.4 in | +140 mm+5.5 in |
| Height | 1,950 mm76.8 in | 1,780 mm70.1 in | +170 mm+6.7 in |
| Wheelbase | 2,300 mm90.6 in | 1,800 mm70.9 in | +500 mm+19.7 in |
Key specifications and details
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Builder | Truck Garage (tuning shop) |
| Announced | December 2015 |
| Planned run | 12 cars, plus builds to order |
| Standard engine | 5.7 Hemi V8, about 295 kW (395 hp) |
| Options | 6.1 and 6.4 Hemi V8, the 6.4 with about 347 kW (465 hp); Toyota diesel |
| Gearbox | 6-speed automatic |
| Drive | four-wheel drive, Dynatrac axles |
| Brakes | discs on all four wheels |
| Wheels | 17-inch |
The cabin received leather seats with electric adjustment, a new steering wheel, parts machined from aluminium, air conditioning and a multimedia system with Bluetooth. According to the old 1cars text, the strongest option on the list was a 6.4-litre unit of about 400 kW (540 hp), and the diesel was a Toyota engine of about 128 kW (171 hp).
Context: the original GAZ-69
The original GAZ-69 had a 2.1-litre four-cylinder side-valve engine of about 40 kW (55 hp), a three-speed manual gearbox and drum brakes. Series production began in September 1953, and the last cars left the line in 1972 after more than 600,000 had been built. Its full story is on the GAZ-69 page, and the maker's background is in the history of GAZ.
By our calculation the 6.4 Hemi gives about 8.5 times the power of the original engine, and the standard 5.7 about 7.2 times. Such restomods follow a pattern known from Western classics: an old Land Rover Defender, Toyota Land Cruiser or Ford Bronco receives a modern V8, an automatic, disc brakes and a new cabin. The factory successor was the UAZ-469, and today's descendant of that line is the UAZ Hunter.
What happened next
The Truck Garage GAZ-69 remained a small-series custom project. No figures on how many of the 12 planned cars were completed have been published. Original examples are sought by collectors of Soviet off-roaders; similar vehicles appear in the best Soviet classic cars, and you can set a GAZ-69 against a modern 4×4 in the 1cars comparison tool.
Price and availability in Europe
No official euro price exists. The cars were built to order by the shop and not sold through dealers in the EU. Engine swaps of this size usually need an individual approval before a car can be registered.
Who should buy a conversion like this
A Hemi GAZ-69 suits a collector who wants the look of a 1950s field car with modern power, brakes and comfort, and accepts that it is no longer original. Purists should choose a correctly restored car, because the value of a classic GAZ-69 rests on original parts.
FAQ
Who built the GAZ-69 with a V8 engine?
The tuning shop Truck Garage, which until then had worked mainly on Ford and Toyota pickups. It announced the project in December 2015 and planned a limited run of 12 cars, plus individual builds to order.
What engine does the Truck Garage GAZ-69 have?
The standard engine was a 5.7-litre Chrysler Hemi V8 with about 295 kW (395 hp), driving all four wheels through a six-speed automatic. A 6.4 Hemi with about 347 kW (465 hp), a 6.1 Hemi and a Toyota diesel were also offered.
Was the GAZ-69 put back into production?
No. The Truck Garage cars were conversions built on the classic body, not a factory revival. The original GAZ-69 was produced from 1953 to 1972 and was replaced by the UAZ-469.
How powerful was the original GAZ-69?
The original had a 2.1-litre four-cylinder side-valve petrol engine with about 40 kW (55 hp) and a three-speed manual gearbox. The standard 5.7 Hemi of the restomod gives more than seven times that output.
Comments 1
Type 69 th class !!! The plant could have launched into the series, diluted its accidental hunters. How old are they already? And these new, Abramavichem decided vtyuhat?