Exhibits  /  #274

Story of the exhibit

Minibus of the former Orava state farm in Põlva district, used to take the farm's people on trips near and far. The RAF bus was said to be a very comfortable vehicle for trips to the capital. Before the end of the state farm era the bus was still in working order and used by the local hunting club – a tow hook was fitted instead of the rear bumper to make it easier to haul game home in a trailer. A partition was also added to separate the luggage area from the passenger compartment. The seats differ from the original too. The tail lights have been replaced with those of a VAZ-2103. The bus was brought to Estonia second-hand from Russia.

About the model

Production years: 1969–1976 The RAF-977 – base model of the family. Besides the base model, an ambulance and a route taxi with the same body were also built. Technical data: Seats: 11 Doors: 3 Dimensions (L*W*H): 4900*1950*2110 mm Top speed: 115 km/h Engine: make: ZMZ-977 number and layout of cylinders: 4, inline fuel: petrol displacement: 2450 cm3 power: 72 hp/53 kW gearbox: 3-speed manual tyres: 7.00–15 brakes: hydraulically operated drums
RAF

Manufacturer

Riga Bus Factory

Rigas Autobusu Fabrika (Рижская автобусная фабрика) · Latvian SSR

Founded in 1954, the company first built the RAF-251 bus on the GAZ-51 truck chassis. The story of Latvian-built minibuses, however, begins with the RAF-10, built in 1957–1959 on the units of the GAZ-20 Pobeda car. The next model, the RAF-977, was based on GAZ-21 Volga engineering and, modernised…

Read the manufacturer history
Want to see it in person?Old Tech Park is open 24/7. Ticket €7. · Lai tn 1, Järva-Jaani
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