LIAZ (LIberecké Automobilové Závody – Liberec Automobil Works) is a defunct Czech and Czechoslovak manufacturer of trucks. The company was formed in 1951 by the government as a division of Škoda. In 1953 LIAZ became independent of Škoda, but still continued to use its name until 1984 (Škoda LIAZ). Main plants were in Rýnovice, Mnichovo Hradiště and Liberec, later there have been opened factories in Mělník, Zvolen, Veľký Krtíš, Přerov and Holýšov. In the 1970s LIAZ was the biggest Czechoslovak truck manufacturer. The production ceased in 2002.
Škoda 706 R
Škoda 706 RT
RT
100
200
300
S
FZ
400 Xena
400 Fox
The Engine Plant of LIAZ trucks has been purchased by TEDOM Trucks which has also purchased all the technical data and drawings and is now marketing LIAZ Concept Trucks under the brand of FOX. In late nineties LIAZ in Jablonec and Nisou was mainly producing diesel engines which were assembled and tested at the industrial estate.
The engine line production actually tested every single engine by running it and collecting various parameters about it. Every n-th engine was sent to disassembly to check for any engine tolerances. The testing rigs were called Brzda (brake) where the engine was connected to fuel, exhaust extraction piping and electronic probes.
The industrial estate of LIAZ has also been used for production of steam which is routinely used to heat housing estates. This highly presurised steam is piped to smaller transformer stations round the town of Jablonec nad Nisou. In the transformer stations, the pressure is reduced and used for heating blocks of flats.
A few examples of products (click to truck-name redirected you to gallery of this vehicle on www.liaz.cz, or www.busportal.cz)
R series (1952–1958)
RT series (1956–1990)
MT series (1965–1990)
100 series (1974–2003)
200 series (1990–1995)
300 series (1992–2003)
400 series (1996–2003)
TEDOM 400 (2006–2009)
Greatest achievements of LIAZ in motosports
Dakar and other marathons (more informations and images: [1])
1985 – first Czech team on Rallye Dakar
1985 – 1st place on Rallye des Pharaons (kategory: trucks over 12 t), Heritier-Kovář-Brzobohatý
1987 – 3rd place on Rallye Dakar, Moskal-Joklík-Záleský
1987 – 1st place on Rallye Jelcz, Krejsa-Brzobohatý-Joklík
1988 – 2nd place on Rallye Dakar, Moskal-Vojtíšek-Záleský
1988 – 1st place on Rallye Jelcz, Svoboda-Fajtl-Joklík
1992 – 1st place on Rallye des Pharaons (kategory: trucks over 12 t), Kakrda-Fajtl-Joklík
2009 1st place on Baja Spain, Macík-Macík jr.-Kalina
2009 – 2nd place on Baja Hungaria, Macík-Macík jr.
2012 – 3rd place on Rally El Chott, Spáčil-Vodrhánek-Chytka
European truck racing championship (more informations and images: [2])
1987 – first Czech team in European championship
1989 – 2nd place in European championship (class: A), Frankie Vojtíšek
1989 – 1st place in Great Britain Championship, Frankie Vojtíšek
1990 – 2nd place in European championship (class: A), Frankie Vojtíšek
1990 – 1st place in Great Britain Championship, Frankie Vojtíšek
1990 – 2nd place in 24h truck race Le Mans
1993 – 3rd place in European championship (class: B), Frankie Vojtíšek
1994 – first Czech truck in class Super Race Truck
1997 – 3rd place in European championship (class: Race Truck), Frankie Vojtíšek
European truck-trial championship (more informations and images: [3])
1991 – first Czech team in European championship
1991 – 1st place in European championship (class P2), Kakrda – Král
1992 – 1st place in European championship (class P2), Kakrda – Birke
1993 – 1st place in European championship (class S3), Filip – Joklík
1995 – 1st place in European championship (class P2), Filip – Záleský
