GAZ-69A open-top

Development of the updated military off-roader and its civilian version was entrusted to designer G. Vasserman. F. A. Lependin worked on the overall layout, while V. S. Solovyov, S. G. Zislin and B. A. Dekhtyar developed the transmission. Yu. A. Fokin designed the body under the supervision of B. N. Pankratov, GAZ’s leading body specialist. The future GAZ-69A was based on a strong frame with closed-section side members, to which the metal body was attached.

The front suspension used two semi-elliptic leaf springs and double-acting hydraulic shock absorbers. The rear suspension was identical in design. The braking system comprised shoe-type service brakes on all wheels, operated hydraulically by the pedal, and a shoe-type parking brake operated mechanically by a lever. A three-speed manual gearbox was fitted.