„PAZ-672“ – the USSR bus

PAZ-672 - Soviet Pavlov Automobile Plant (PAZ) produced in 1967-1989 bus model. Used mainly on suburban, district routes throughout the USSR, sometimes as shuttle taxis or hearses. Now they are still found on the roads of Russia (especially Siberia, the north), Central Asia, the Caucasus, Africa, and Cuba. In Lithuania in 2014 the Biržai Bus Park had a few more running PAZ-672s, in 2013 association "Retromobile" restored such a car and operates it. The standard model was 7.15 m long, 2.44 m wide, 3.6 m base height. Weighs 4.5 t (fully loaded - 7.8 t). The body is rounded, has two pneumatic doors ("screen" type, consisting of 4 parts) and a manual door for the driver. The bus is powered by a ZMZ-672 gasoline engine: 8 cylinders, 115 h. p., 4250 cm³ working volume, consumes 21 l of fuel per 100 km. Has a maximum speed of 80 km/h. There are 23 seats. 24 PAZ-672 modifications were released, totaling 288,688 units. The PAZ-672VJU was intended for Cuba and produced there under the name "Giron", the PAZ-672JU was intended for tropical socialist countries, the PAZ-3742 was produced as refrigerator cars, the PAZ-672Ž was gas-powered, the PAZ-672S was intended for the northern regions, with an additional heating, PAZ-3201 was intended for difficult roads, had 4 driven wheels, did not have rear doors, KT-201 was made as a hearse, had special doors, installed on the rear side. Some of the modifications were collected as tourist buses, laboratories on wheels. Many of these buses also traveled on the roads of free Lithuania during the initial period of its recovery.

They were almost no different from the one, whose details are given in the publication. Only the yellow of the body was more creamy, had Lithuanian registration marks and Lithuanian route boards. So, not much change is needed. It is true, that there were also painted differently, with the emblems of the companies-owners, but that is a separate story. Well designed medium difficulty model with full interior, engine compartment and suspension and transmission detailing. But not so complex, that the versions without engine and interior detailing, with opaque windows, could not be put together by an advanced beginner, working under the supervision of a more experienced colleague.