Morning all,
Csepel, that name makes the little grey cells turn very slowly!
The lorry industry of the former communist bloc is largely ignored, but they did produce some very good products. Hungary is probably best known for its Ikarus public transport buses and coaches, and of course its rip snorting DAF cabbed, MAN licence powered Raba lorries.
But Csepel produced some outstanding vehicles. Starting in 1949 with the formal acquisition of a licence from Steyr of Austria to build its 380 model, (though the original version of this was handed to Csepel in the mid `40s when Soviet troops began to push into Austria.
Anorak is right about the double bed!, perhaps that was because Csepel was run , (very well), by a Soviet trained female head, Ferenché Biro! Amechanical engineer of some capacity. The first real Csepel lorry came in 1950, the model D350, the base chassis being available in conventional, cab over, and Fire applications.
This, and Csepels own design engine was produced at the former aircraft factory @ Szigethalom, where the later 4x4 B130 was to be produced. Comecon policy dictated that design and manufacture should be shared across the bloc, hence Ikarus being produced in Poland by Jelcz, and Star.
This joint production can lead to confusion in identifying various vehicles, and where they were produced. Csepel ceaced production of its own engines, concentrating on MAN licence designs, as seen in the RABA vehicles, (followed in the `70s by pure RABA charge cooled versions.
The last Csepels of the late 80s and 90s utilised the Fiat looking, but pure Polish Jelcz cab, a quite handsome beast. This had the RABA MAN designed engine up to 280 hp, with a Csepel, (ZF), gearbox.
Csepel ceased production in the late 90s, joining other former Hungarian lorry builders, Magmobil, Fejes, MARTA, and Hogep. Csepel had also ties with Volvo to produce the Laplander 4x4, and had quite some success with off road 4x4, and 6x6 models.
Can anyone enlarge on the history of this company? The ex Communist Bloc industry is very interesting…Berliet had strong ties with Ikarus on the bus side. Their people that I occasionally met were very professional…but could consume alcohol like no tomorrow!!!
Incidentaly, our village Hungarian Hairdresser, Elizabeth Pastor tells me that Cse
