The Carpați was a truck produced by the Romanian manufacturer Steagul Roșu from 1960 onwards. The first versions of the vehicle to go into production were the SR-131 Carpați (4×2) and the SR-132 Carpați with all-wheel drive (4×4) with a payload of 3 tons. Its cabin was designed by the Société des usines Chausson in France, which developed and produced bodies for other vehicle manufacturers. The vehicle was named after the Carpathians.
| SR Carpați | |
|---|---|
 Wreck of an SR-113 Bucegi in Harghita (2017) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Steagul Roșu DAC |
| Model years | 1960–1995 |
| Assembly | Brașov, Romania |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2 door truck |
| Layout | |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 312 cu in (5.1 L) Ford Y-block V8 5.5 L (340 cu in) I6, 99 kW (133 bhp) |
| Transmission | 5 speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase |
|
| Length |
|
| Width | 2,350 mm (92.5 in) |
| Height | 2,350 mm (92.5 in) |
| Curb weight | 5,500–7,500 kg (12,125–16,535 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | SR-101 |
| Successor | DAC 8135 |
History
edit
The Carpați replaced the SR-101, which was a copy of the Russian ZIS-150, but still contained several assemblies of the Russian vehicle, such as the chassis and axles. The truck had a V8 engine, the design of which came from Ford (Ford Y-block), but was heavily modified in Romania. The dimensions in inches were changed to metric and the dimensions of the cylinders (bore 97 mm, stroke 85 mm, displacement 5025 cm3) also differed from the American prototype. The design was inspired by various American trucks of the Chevrolet and Ford brands of the time, as well as the Citroën Type 55.[1]
The vehicle was modernized in 1964 as the SR-113 Bucegi, while the SR-132 was renamed the SR-114 Bucegi. In conjunction with this, the payload increased to 5 tons. With the oil crisis of 1973, the V8 engine proved uneconomical and was replaced in 1975 by an in-line six-cylinder diesel engine built under license with 133 hp (98 kW). This engine had been developed by Saviem, but was licensed by MAN to Romania, as MAN and Saviem had been working together since 1969. In connection with the new engine, the vehicle was renamed DAC 6.135 and the payload increased to 6 tons. As with the previous models, The 6135 was a normal control truck with a ladder type frame manufactured in four wheelbases: 3,620 mm (142.5 in), 4,000 mm (157.5 in), 4,400 mm (173.2 in) and 4,800 mm (189.0 in). These corresponded to three overall lengths: 5,580 mm (219.7 in), 6,915 mm (272.2 in), 7,433 mm (292.6 in) and 8,207 mm (323.1 in). Overall width and height to the top of the cab were both 2,350 mm (92.5 in). The 5,488 cc (335 in3) French engine was placed longitudinally mounted under the hood. The V8 gasoline engine was still used in various other Romanian vehicles such as buses and military trucks.
The new truck variant soon became popular, both as a general transport for goods, and in more specialised roles, including as a mobile workshop to support urban tram and trolleybus networks. The truck soon came to dominate the streets of Romania, particularly as a transport for bread and other foods. Improvements were made in 1980, when non-structural steel parts of the design, including the hood, were replaced by plastic, saving 1,000 kg (2,205 lb) in weight.[2]
By 1983, the plant had been renamed Intreprindea de Autocamione Brașov.[3]
In 1983, the vehicle was revised one last time to become the DAC 7.135. The payload increased to 7 tonnes, the front was redesigned and various parts such as the steering gear and rear axle were taken from the current ROMAN production. The ROMAN 8.135, a licensed production of MAN vehicles, had been produced in parallel as a successor for some time. The production of the trucks ended in 1995, after which the trucks were used for several years in almost all sectors of the country, as well as by the Romanian army.[1]
Although the trucks were mainly intended for the domestic market, there were also some exports to Eastern Bloc countries, China and in the 1990s a small number were sold to America.
References
editCitations
edit- ^ a b "CC Global: Steagul Rosu 131/132 – The Ford Y-Block V8 Goes To Work Behind The Iron Curtain". Curbside Classic. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ Mocanii 1980, p. 3.
- ^ Georgano 1983, p. 16.
Bibliography
edit- Davies, Peter J. (2001). An Illustrated A-Z of World Trucks. London: Southwater. ISBN 978-1-84215-459-5.
- Georgano, Nick (1983). World Truck Handbook. London: Jane's. ISBN 978-0-71060-215-2.
- Ivan, Ionuț (9 June 2009). "În 1989, "Steagul Roșu" exporta fără discriminare politică în URSS și Statele Unite" [In 1989, "Steagul Roșu" exported without political discrimination to the USSR and the United States]. Jurnalu. Special.
- Mocanii, Nicolae (26 December 1980). "La întreprinderea de autocamioane din Brașov, Oamenicare prețuiesc metalul și îi sporesc valoarea" [At the truck company in Brașov, people value metal and increase its value] (PDF). Scinteia (in Romanian). p. 3. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
- Opriș, Petre (2020). "Relații economice româno – vest-germane, chestiunea despăgubirilor de război și înființarea unei societăți medicale cu circuit închis (1974–1975)" [Romanian-West German economic relations, the issue of war reparations and the establishment of a closed-circuit medical company (1974–1975)]. In Opriș, Petre; Marczuk, Karina; Sava, Laura-Antoaneta; Stan, Radu (eds.). Foreign licenses for civilian and military products made in Romania (1946–1989) (in Romanian). Retrieved 16 April 2021.
- Kennett, Patrick (1990). The West European Commercial Vehicle Sector: 1992 and Beyond. London: Economist Intelligence Unit. ISBN 978-0-85058-354-0.
- "The Exhibition of Achievements of the Rumanian People's Republic National Economy". Rumanian Bulletin (6): 1–7. November 1964.