The GAZ M20 “Pobeda” – World’s First SUV?
May 16th, 2013Nowadays we all drive a SUV, but what was the first?
It is believed that world’s first real SUV was the GAZ M20 “Pobeda” (победа, which means Victory in Russian) named so after the victory in WWII. It is a passenger car manufactured in the Soviet Union by GAZ from 1946 until 1958.
In 1955 -1957, several thousands were built with a 4WD system adapted from a contemporary Soviet military vehicle (the GAZ 69) for cross-country travel. Some say this is possibly the first comfortable off road vehicle.
The car is the picture is heavily modified. It is a combination of a GAZ M20 “Pobeda” and GAZ 66 army truck.