This project was developed in a real secrecy mode, despite the fact that cars of this type have already appeared in the armies of other countries. However, the Soviet command wanted more - to create an ambulance that could drive through the snow and swim through the water, and protect it from the bullets whistling during the battle. This is how the LuAZ-967 was designed - a car in which, for safety reasons, you can ride … lying down.
The history of this unusual military vehicle began in the 50s of the last century, when the command first thought about the concept of a military ambulance called the "front line transporter", or TPK. In a sense, this idea was inspired by foreign experience, because the Austrian Steyer Haflinger or the American M274 satisfied the same goals that were set in the Soviet project - a machine on which the wounded would be taken from the battlefield, and in order not to fall under the bullets, it could be controlled would be lying.
But in the USSR they decided to create a more perfect car - it should be not only as small as possible, but also a light amphibian with high cargo capacity, and, of course, universal cross-country ability.
The first attempt to implement such an idea was the development of engineers at MZMA (now AZLK). But this option could not overcome water "barriers" and was eventually rejected. The next attempt was a car on the nodes of the Moskvich-415 SUV, but it did not suit the military command - this time with its dimensions.
The matter got off the ground when engineers from the Moscow institute "NAMI" joined the development. For four years (1957-1961) they created a satisfactory prototype, which eventually became a car with the index NAMI-032M. But if in theory the car met all the requirements, then during the tests it turned out that the motorcycle engine for such a unit is not strong enough. The project was again suspended for a while.
As a result, the development of the TPK was soon transferred to the Zaporozhye Automobile Plant for finishing. This is how they were able to find a satisfactory engine for the car. As a result, in 1967 - more than ten years after the start of the project - the leading edge transporter was nevertheless completed.
In general terms, the car was similar to the original NAMI-032M, but the new TPK was equipped with a powerful 1.2-liter 27-horsepower engine, a 4-speed manual transmission, and a standard bilge pump. This upgrade allowed the vehicle to retain its amphibious functions even in unfavorable weather.
It is interesting that the serial production of TPK was launched almost immediately, in 1968, but not on the basis of ZAZ, but at another plant of the Ukrainian SSR, in the city of Lutsk. The production of LuAZ-967 lasted only a few years, and in 1972 an improved model LuAZ-967M was developed. In total, at the time of the collapse of the Soviet Union, a total of about 20 thousand copies of this machine were built.
The military service of the TPK LuAZ-967 and LuAZ-967M was carried not only in the army of the USSR, but also outside it - in other member countries of the Warsaw Pact. However, this state of affairs is not surprising - in the Soviet period, the leading edge of possible hostilities was located precisely on the border in the West.
If you want to know more about similar American development: Then read: Why did the Americans create a car that they drove on while lying on their stomach