Weird ONES - Sedan has been known as a classy, elegant vehicle, and is used to transport officials or dignitaries. But you know, that the largest sedan in the world is actually used to pull the plane (strange isn't it?)
The Soviet aircraft tug MAZ-541 was known as was the largest sedan ever built with a weight over 3,5 ton, and powered by a 38.8 litres, 12 cylinder 300hp D-12A diesel engine. (Picture from: Wikiwand) |
In the mid-1950s, when aircraft evolved into large jet aircraft and where the airport had to find a larger vehicle to pull the plane. And in Russia (the Soviet Union at the time) offered one of the most curiously revolutionary solutions ie making sedan-shaped cranes with large bodies and machines outside the tank.
Yes, these weird sedan is the MAZ-541, that made by the Minski Autamabilny Zavod (Minsk Automobile Plant). This car is only produced as many as three units and was first launched in 1956. In some articles indicate that the car manufacturer has produced 13 units, but other sources claim that 10 other cars have been planned to be produced but never implemented.
A Soviet sedan-shaped tow truck called MAZ-541 with a TU-144 supersonic aircraft or Soviet Concorde. (Picture from: Wikiwand) |
With a box-shaped body, it seems to be tailored to its function as an aircraft tow truck. With this function, the car has two drivers, just like a train that has two engineers to facilitate the operation of the car at the airport.
A Soviet MAZ-541 tow truck on action at Sheremetyevo International Airport. (Picture from: Flickr) |
But for a tow truck class, driving style and features installed on this car was more surprising. Yes, seen on the sedan-shaped tow truck has a wide body, there are chrome features in some parts, and a stylish grille shape. These MAZ-541 uses a Soviet-made T-34 liquid-cooled V12 diesel engine that has capacity of 3,888 liter. The machine is capable of supplying the power for MAZ-541 up to 500 horsepower assisted by a five-speed transmission with three forward gears and two gears for retreat.
MAZ-541 sedan-shaped tow truck appearance from front, side and back. (Picture from: Devianart) |
This car is clearly shown in a promotional footage of the TU-144 supersonic plane, also known as Soviet's concorde. As time goes by and as the aircraft continued to be grown (its size and weight), then in the 1970s those three sedan-shaped tow trucks were no longer in use. The MAZ-541 may be the largest, powerful, and arguably charming design and weird as well that the Soviets once made. Did you know, until now the MAZ-541 still holds the title as the world's biggest (and weirdest) sedan ever made. *** [EKA [04052018] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DEVIANART | ]
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