As an important early manufacturer of special heavy-duty vehicles in China, Hanyang brand trucks have always been an important brand for military and large-scale transportation. But today, it is difficult to see Hanyang's civilian truck series on the road. In fact, in the 1970s and 1980s, Hanyang also manufactured a series of civilian truck products. A few days ago, the editor found two old photos of Hanyang special tractors on the Internet, which are very precious.

According to the information, the history of Hanyang Special Automobile Manufacturing Plant in producing military vehicles can be traced back to the 1960s. At that time, the plant completed the trial production of torpedo transport vehicles and entered the ranks of military production. Subsequently, Hanyang developed missile transport vehicles, pontoon bridge vehicles and other military vehicles. In the 1970s, as the contradiction of my country's automobile industry lacking heavy vehicles and lacking light vehicles became increasingly prominent, Hanyang successfully developed the HY470 25-ton 4x2 heavy-duty semi-trailer tractor in 1972, and in 1979, it successfully developed a 50-ton 6x4 tractor.

In the 1980s, Hanyang developed the HY472/480 all-wheel drive special tractor based on the development experience of the special vehicle series of German FAUN company, based on the development of civilian 50-ton tractors in accordance with the "1981-1990 National Automobile Model Development Plan Outline" issued by the then State Machinery Industry Commission.

Hanyang HY480 is 8x8 drive, while HY472 is 6x6 drive. Both vehicles are dual-use military and civilian. Military vehicles and civilian vehicles differ only in individual usage parameters. They are generally used in conjunction with semi-trailers. When used in conjunction with trailers, the allowed towing weights are 200 tons and 150 tons respectively.

Both vehicles have double-door front-control driving style, which can be flipped forward to facilitate maintenance and repair of the engine and other parts. There are 1 driver and 1 passenger seat, and 1 sleeper or 4 passenger seats can be set up in the rear.

In terms of engine selection, the HY480 uses the air-cooled V-type 12-cylinder KHDBF12L413FC engine produced by Huachai Deutz Company using the German Deutz KHD technology, with a maximum output power of 373 million (507 horsepower) and a maximum torque of 1618 Nm. In the 1980s, this power could be regarded as a violent machine.

Since the HY472/480 all-wheel drive special tractor has a total traction weight of more than 100 tons, the gearbox is equipped with a hydraulic torque converter, which is why many large state-owned automobile transportation companies at that time used the Hanyang all-wheel drive special tractor as a large-scale tractor. The gearbox comes from the German ZF company, model 4S150GPA+WSK400 hydraulic torque converter.

In terms of the choice of vehicle braking system, the standard of Hanyang HY472/480 all-wheel drive special tractors was also much higher than that of all domestic trucks at that time, with dual-circuit air brakes, all brake valves were original WABCO, and three independent brake devices (main brake: foot-operated pneumatic, hand brake: air spring brake for rear axle, auxiliary brake: engine exhaust brake). And these two special tractors equipped with torque converters are also equipped with retarders!

Of course, in the 1980s, the Hanyang Special Vehicle Manufacturing Plant not only produced monsters like the HY472/480 all-wheel drive special tractors, but also produced civilian versions of ordinary tractor vehicles, such as the 20-foot/40-foot container transporter shown in the picture.

Finally, let's talk about the cab. Some people say that the cab of the Hanyang truck imitates the Isuzu truck of the time. However, this is an obvious mistake! Because the prototype of this cab is the FP series of Mitsubishi Fuso in the 1970s. See the picture above for your own comparison.