This is a superb clean example and has only arrived this week! Zil131's are unarguably the most successful 6x6 truck ever built. Manufactured near to Moscow from 1966 to the 1989, they didn't really change in 23 years of production. In a nutshell, they were designed to be driven for abuse, by conscript soldiers, who did their best to destroy them (and nearly always failed). They also can cope with a wide range of cross fuels (see FAQS). A Ukrainian general told me once 'As long as it burns, Zils will run'.

Personally, Zils always amaze me. I have gone to collect dead Zils with seized engines that haven't started for years. Fixed a link bar to the front, rocked the engine backwards and forwards. And, with a new battery and fuel, started up and driven home. What you have to remember is, unlike our military vehicles that are often designed for the commercial market first, and then converted for military use. The Russians do it the other way round.

The Zil is most definitely, a fantastic truck in everyway, design is perfect. Whether it’s listening to that V8 barking on full throttle through the Dartford tunnel, or flames blowing out the exhaust on the long hill down into Lincoln, either way they’re great fun.

Also, Zils are easy to repair. Cabs can be removed in about 4 hours. Panels unbolt. Wiring is simple and accessible. I carry a huge range of parts, from engines to locking rings. Starting with the front, you have hand starting if you fill up to it, although I prefer the standard electric start myself, although they are easy to start by hand and good for showing off, also you have a foot bracket under the front bumper, to help you step up unto the front bumper. When you lift the bonnet, you have the iron reliable Zil V8, the engine seems to have similar layout to the ford 360 block, but that’s where it ends. Engine block is cast iron, and you have aluminium heads. Again like all Russian military trucks you have a central heating system that once fired up, warms coolant as well as engine oil. You also have an adjustable louvre in front of the radiator to shut off cold air. One thing I have never heard people complain about these trucks is the cabin heater. Not only are Zils fantastic, you also have a brilliant windscreen demist control.

Engine electrics are shielded of course and this means they are also waterproof, and to give you some idea of how iron reliable the Zil is. I left the bonnet up on my Zil by mistake last year when we had some snow, mine is a soviet intelligence unit with fancy roof antennas that when switch on fry anything within 100 metres, I often do the school runs. That was until parents complained about commotion being caused by on lookers whilst parked outside the school. Anyway, going back to the story, snow had gathered all day and drifted filling the bonnet up right up to the top, all you could see was the rubber pipe poking out the snow going to the air filter. The strange thing was, having been involved with Russian military for a few years. I never gave a second thought. I just slammed the bonnet shut forcing the snow to compact inside the bonnet like a sand castle mould, picked up my empty ‘Thomas tank’ lunch box, brushed the snow from the step up to the cab. Put the keys in the ignition, looked at my watch to see if was late for tea and turned the ignition. Turned the key and instantly the beast fired into life, grumbling at first as is it didn’t know what to do with a cubic meter of compact snow. Then it realised the side louver vents on either side of the bonnet were available, the sight was something to see. Snow being forced out like a snow plough.

So I ask you, what would you want to be in, where temperatures are minus sixty and the nearest civilisation is five hundred kilometres away… And it’s three in the morning. I know, its struggle to think of anything else.

Anyway in the roof you have the opposite for extreme hot, a roof vent that blasts cool air from th

SUMB (4 x 4) 1,500 kg MH 600 BS truck (France), Trucks

Development
The SUMB (Simca-Unic Marmon-Bocquet) 1,500 kg model MH 600 BS truck was developed in the late 1950s by M Bocquet, who was president of Marmon-Herrington which subsequently became Marmon-Bocquet. Series production was undertaken from 1964 and although production ceased some time ago, it remains in service with the French Army.

Description
The engine and cab of the SUMB are at the front with the cargo area at the rear. The cab has two doors and a canvas top mounted on an articulated frame, which enables the top to be folded to the rear to reduce the vehicle's overall height. The windscreen can be folded forward onto the bonnet. The rear cargo area has a drop tailgate, bows and a removable tarpaulin cover. A bench seat can be fitted down the centre of the rear cargo area when the truck is carrying passengers. A locking differential is fitted to the rear axle. Some versions have a front-mounted winch with 60 m of cable.A long wheelbase model of this vehicle, known as the SUMB (4 × 4) 3,000 kg truck, was produced from 1971 with the same engine, transmission and cab as the 1,500 kg version.Variants include a fuel servicing vehicle and a light digger with a Poclain light shovel mounted to the rear of the cab. The SUMB is also used to carry communication shelters.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has
been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his
birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be
remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
Knowing when to come in out of the rain; Why the early bird gets the worm;
Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more
than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in
charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but
overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy
charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from
school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding
an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job
that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent
to administer sun lotion or an Elastoplast to a student; but could not
inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an
abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became
contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better
treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't
defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue
you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to
realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her
lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his
wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is
survived by his 4 stepbrothers;I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else
Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you
still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.'

And a little extra........................

Can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 600
employees and has the following statistics ?

29 have been accused of spouse abuse
7 have been arrested for fraud
19 have been accused of writing bad cheques
117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
3 have done time for assault
71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
4 have been arrested on drug-related charges
8 have been arrested for shoplifting
21 are currently defendants in lawsuits
84 have been arrested for drink driving in the last year

Which organization is this ?





It's the 635 members of the House of Commons, the same group that cranks out
hundreds of new laws each year designed to keep the rest of us in line.