Archive first published
Seven Facts About KamAZ That Most Truck Fans Have Never Heard
The first KamAZ truck left the assembly line on 16 February 1976, so the brand turned 50 in February 2026. These seven KamAZ facts rarely reach brand timelines. The design came from another factory, two Western carmakers declined to lead the project, and Dutch and Finnish cabs never got past the prototype stage.
Key takeaways
- The first design began life at ZIL as the ZIL-170 project.
- Ford and Daimler-Benz both turned down a leading role in building the plant.
- DAF and Sisu cabs were tried on prototypes; later trucks used Mercedes-Benz Axor cab parts.
- The factory team Kamaz-Master has won the Dakar truck category 19 times.
Fact 1: the first truck was designed at ZIL
ZIL had been developing a three-axle diesel cab-over truck called the ZIL-170. The project was handed to the new plant on the Kama River and went into production as the KamAZ-5320 with the 740 V8 diesel. ZIL lost its own next-generation truck and struggled against the newcomer from the mid-1970s.
Fact 2: Ford and Daimler-Benz said no
Approved in 1969, the complex was planned for 150,000 trucks and 250,000 engines a year. Ford refused to lead it in 1970 after political objections in Washington. Daimler-Benz was approached next and also declined main responsibility. More than 700 foreign firms supplied equipment instead, among them Renault, Liebherr, Ingersoll Rand, Sandvik and Komatsu. By our calculation, the almost 128,000 trucks built in 1988 equalled about 85 % of the design capacity.
Fact 3: a DAF cab was tested in the late 1980s
By then the original cab looked dated. According to the old 1cars text, several trucks received the cab of the DAF 95, the Dutch flagship of the time, and a MAN cab was also studied. Hard currency was short and a licensed cab was too costly for the plant to build in volume, so neither went further. The German partner's story is in MAN history.
Fact 4: Finnish Sisu prototypes with Cummins power
In the early 1990s the Finnish maker Sisu worked on a modernised truck with the original chassis, a Sisu cab and an American Cummins diesel. A few prototypes were tested, but none reached series production. The Cummins link survived in the Cummins Kama engine joint venture.
Fact 5: the Barkhan, a would-be Humvee
The Barkhan light military vehicle was based on the two-axle 43501. Period reports credited it with all-wheel drive, a diesel of about 177 kW (240 hp), an 18-speed gearbox and central tyre inflation. The truck proved too expensive for its intended buyers.
Fact 6: Mercedes cabs arrived after all
Daimler bought a 10 % stake in 2008, later raised to 15 %, and two truck joint ventures followed in 2009. From 2012 Daimler supplied parts for cabs based on the first-generation Mercedes-Benz Axor, used on the KamAZ-5490 tractor unit. Daimler suspended the cooperation in February 2022.
Fact 7: 19 Dakar wins from a factory team
Kamaz-Master was founded on 17 July 1988 and has won the Dakar Rally truck class 19 times, a record that still stood in 2026. In 2011 the team took the first four places. The full company story is in cars of the era.
KamAZ facts at a glance
| Fact | When | What became of it |
|---|---|---|
| ZIL-170 design | early 1970s | Built as the 5320 from 1976 |
| Ford and Daimler-Benz | 1970 | Both declined; 700+ suppliers instead |
| DAF 95 and MAN cabs | late 1980s | Prototypes only |
| Sisu cab, Cummins engine | early 1990s | Prototypes only |
| Barkhan 4x4 | 1990s | Not adopted |
| Daimler stake, Axor cab parts | 2008–2022 | Cooperation suspended in 2022 |
| Dakar team | since 1988 | 19 truck-category wins |
Collecting a KamAZ: our view
For collectors, the early 5320 and the all-wheel-drive 4310 carry this history best. Set the 4310 against its best-known rival in the KamAZ-4310 vs Ural-4320 comparison, or browse the rankings and the brand catalogue.
FAQ
When was the first KamAZ truck built?
The first truck left the main assembly line on 16 February 1976. Series production followed in 1978, and the millionth truck was built in 1988. The brand marked its 50th anniversary in February 2026.
Was the KamAZ-5320 a copy of a ZIL truck?
Not a copy, but a transfer. ZIL had developed the design as the ZIL-170, and the project was handed to the new plant. It entered production as the 5320 with the 740 V8 diesel.
Did KamAZ use Mercedes-Benz parts?
Yes. Daimler held a stake of up to 15 % from 2008, and from 2012 it supplied parts for cabs based on the first-generation Axor. Daimler suspended the cooperation in February 2022.
How many Dakar wins does KamAZ have?
The Kamaz-Master team has won the Dakar truck category 19 times, more than any other team. It was founded in July 1988, and its most recent win came in 2022.
