A short history of the RAF

Sept. 30, 60 years ago in Latvia, or rather, in the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic was founded Riga bus plant, or rather - the RAF.
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However, the development of the first RAF was not micro, but quite the contrary - makroavtobus. RAF-251 - only cabover body on lengthening and strengthening of truck chassis of GAZ-51.



First minivan (or, if you prefer, minibus) Riga factory became RAF-977 "Latvia". Built on the units and aggregates 21 minutes of "Volga", 977 minutes produced 17 years and used ... However, where it is just not used ...



For instance, the medical version of "Rafik" with stretchers, radio and spotlight-seeker called RAF-977I.



Served as "Latvia" and in taxis. However, in terms of mass with the current generation of "gazelles", "transit" and "boxers" could not argue. Probably because not left a bad memory.



"Latvia" in the format of metal vans under the brand Yeraz produced on ErAZ.



In 1976, to replace the 977-mu came a new model. RAF-2203 was based on units of "Volga" GAZ-24 and boasted a much more modern (at least, as it seemed) design.



New "Rafik", of course, immediately called to special work, and firefighters, and the police and an ambulance.



Specifically for the Olympics-80 in Riga created several curious spetsversii. Among them pick breakdown for cyclists, car with a fixed roof and even the electronic scoreboard referee minivan's electric! Apart is the passenger truck RAF-3407 for the guests and participants. After the Olympics, these fun "avtoparovoziki" was used actively in parks and recreation at ENEA.



But the coolest of the "Rafikov" - an armored car-collector with a registered body of French firm Labbe. Tjazhelennyj Razorback badly combined with slebenkoy suspension and plywood flooring Latvian minibus. So the age of the armored cars was short-lived.



The disintegration of the Union and led to a collapse of the Riga bus factory. Due to lack of spare parts issue RAF-2203 stopped and promising model of "Roxanne" to the conveyor is not reached.



The same fate, however, awaited and RAF Stils. Although front-wheel drive minivan with a design developed in the US, for its time (early 90's, for a moment) looked very cool.



Production in the shops Riga Autobus Factory stopped in 1997. Today on the site of the former USSR leader minivenostroeniya located retail and office space. About cars here today no one remembers.

The End.