RAF-977


The RAF-977 was a Soviet cabover van made by Riga Autobus Factory based on components from the GAZ-21 Volga. It was introduced in 1958 and was manufactured in two main styles: a 10-seater minibus and an ambulance. In 1961, an updated version called the RAF-977D was put into production; this had a one-piece windshield, instead of the split, and Volga steering wheel among its other detail changes. Variants included the 977I ambulance and a special Intourist model, which had better seats, roof lights, and sunroof.
The RAF-983, based on the 977, was a fire department vehicle.
The shortened RAF-978, powered by the Moskvitch 407's engine, was not a success, in part because the engine lacked torque, and ride quality suffered due to the shortened wheelbase.
In 1969, it was replaced by the improved RAF-977DM. This had a wider passenger door and fewer but longer side windows. The ambulance now had the same number of windows, rather than fewer; it was now the 977IM, and the tourist variant was the 977EM.
A one-ton cargo panel van, the RAF-977K, was also developed, but due to insufficient assembly capacity at the RAF plant, its production started at the ErAZ factory in Yerevan, Armenia, 1 May 1966 as ErAZ-762. This was nicknamed Yeraz. By 1973, ErAZ's production reached 6,500 per year; with the innovation of overhead carriage, capacity almost doubled, to 12,000 a year. The 977 was also produced under licence by Lugansk Avto Remontnyi Zavod.
In 1969, an improved ErAZ-762A also appeared.
Production of the RAF-977 ceased in 1975, when it was replaced by RAF-2203 Latvia.
The 977 was never promoted for export nor made available except to state groups.