IFA G5 Features, Photos and Videos

The IFA G5 is an East German three-axle truck produced by IFA from 1952 to 1964.

The IFA G5 series was produced in the VEB Kraftfahrzeugwerk "Ernst Grube" Werdau. The plant was part of the IFA combine and succeeded the Schumann works in Werdau. The development of the truck began during World War II in the Vogtland Maschinenfabrik AG (Vomag). Although the Soviet occupation forces completely dissolved Vomag shortly after the end of the war, further development was carried out at Auto Union and Horch. In the Eastern bloc, the G5 series competed against the Soviet ZIS 151 lorry.

The G5 is a three-axle lorry with rear wheel drive (6×4) and switchable front wheel drive (6×6). Due to a lacking differential for the front wheel drive, the same torque is sent to front and rear axles with front wheel drive turned on. The cab was manufactured in several different versions, such as a closed cab, crew cab, cab with soft top, and a cab with fold-down windscreen. The G5 series and H6 series, which were built in Werdau simultaneously, share several components.

Available G5 models were, amongst others: dump truck, crane truck, box body lorry, tarpaulin lorry, tanker, water cannon, fire engine

The main customers for these trucks were the Alert police, National People's Army (NVA), and the People's Police. Vehicles of Combat Groups of the Working Class were used as water cannons on 13 August 1961, during the construction of the Berlin Wall. Despite low demand, the number of G5 built was not sufficient to fulfill it. Decommissioned NVA G5s were later used in agricultural production cooperatives (LPG), as Minol fuel tankers, and as fire engines (TLF 15) with crew cabin.

There were two G5 generations, the G5/1, and the G5/2.

A successor to the G5 series was developed in the late 1950's. This so-called G5/3 had a 150 PS (110.3 kW) V8 diesel engine displacing 12.5 litres, single tyres rather than twin tyres, and a tyre pressure control system. In total, 4 prototypes and 2 pre-series production models were built in 1958/59 and 1961. Further development was cancelled in favour of the new IFA W50. It is said that reasons for abandoning the G5 series were the economical situation in East Germany, but also its high complexity (engine and tyres), low demand, and the necessity to upgrade IFA's Werdau plant for the G5/3's series production.

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