Trucks - Czech Republic: Illustrated History Books & Guides

Tschechische Lastwagen 1950-1990: Skoda-LIAZ, Tatra & Co.

NEW

Before the creation of the Czechoslovak Republic in 1918, the region was already among Europe's early automotive centres. Brands such as Praga, Tatra and later Skoda gained a reputation well beyond national borders.
After 1945, the vehicle industry was nationalised. Despite central planning and directives issued within the Soviet-led Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, Czechoslovakia managed to maintain and expand a comprehensive truck production programme until 1990. In the Eastern Bloc, only the Soviet Union itself achieved a comparable level of continuity.

Frank Rönicke, an established expert on Eastern European vehicle manufacturing, reviews the trucks built in Czechoslovakia between 1950 and 1990 and outlines their technical and historical development.

Product details

Author:	Frank Rönicke
Details:	80 pages, 9 x 6.7 x 0.35 in (24 x 17 x 0.9 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	150 b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Verlag Podszun (D, 2025)
ISBN:	9783751611886

Skoda Lastwagen und Busse

The Skoda RT series of forward control trucks, introduced in the mid-1950s, were a common sight on East German roads for decades. They came in many versions and variants, from flatbed trucks and garbage trucks to semi-trailers and buses. They were not replaced until 1985.

This book covers the heavy forward control trucks and buses of the Czech manufacturer from 1945 to the present. It includes long-distance trucks, construction vehicles, tractor units, airport tugs, tankers, and more.

Product details

Author:	Michael Dünnebier
Details:	232 pages, 10.6 x 9 x 0.79 in (27 x 24 x 2 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	300 b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2023)
ISBN:	9783613045620

Lastwagen & Busse Osteuropas

This book is dedicated to the trucks and buses of Eastern Europe, with the focus on the economic area of the former Eastern Bloc with the CMEA states (Bulgaria, CSSR, GDR, Poland, Romania, Soviet Union and Hungary) as well as Yugoslavia.
Michael Dünnebier gained first-hand information through personal impressions during numerous visits to Eastern European manufacturing plants, at trade fairs and exhibitions, and through discussions with company employees.

Pages of the book "Lastwagen & Busse Osteuropas"

The focus of the study is on the history of the company and its type, especially during the planned economy period. However, the further history of the companies and the transition to the market economy up to the present day are also presented.

Product details

Author:	Michael Dünnebier
Details:	320 pages, 10.4 x 9.1 in (26.5 x 23 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	650 b&w and color photos
Language:	German
Publisher:	Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2019)
ISBN:	9783613042032

Czechosłowackie samochody osobowe i ciężarowe w latach 1945-1992

NEW

This richly illustrated factual monograph presents the development of Czechoslovak passenger cars and trucks from 1945 to 1992.
Based on archival sources and literature, it describes the vehicle fleet and the achievements of key manufacturers, covering series models and selected prototypes. It includes Škoda and Tatra passenger cars, as well as trucks from Škoda, Tatra, Avia, Praga, and LIAZ.

The book outlines design history, technical solutions, and basic specifications, and discusses strengths and weaknesses based on operational studies. It also provides production and sales data.
The publication is intended for enthusiasts of post-war motoring, transport historians, and readers interested in Czechoslovak road transport between 1945 and 1992.

Product details

Author:	Bartosz Zakrzewski
Details:	272 pages, 9 x 6.3 x 0.47 in (24 x 16 x 1.2 cm), paperback
Illustrations:	160 photos
Language:	Polish
Publisher:	Wydawnictwa Komunikacji i Łączności WKŁ (PL, 2025)
ISBN:	9788320620818

Samochody użytkowe RWPG

This is the first Polish publication covering commercial vehicles produced in Comecon countries, the Eastern Bloc, from after World War II until 1990.

The author explains the structure of Comecon and defines commercial vehicles. He presents the manufacturers, their production focus, and selected models of vans, trucks, and buses, including their design, operation, and technical specifications.

Vehicles are grouped by country: Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, the German Democratic Republic, Poland, Romania, Hungary, and the Soviet Union. Each manufacturer and its vehicles are introduced with background chapters on the development of the automotive industry in that country.

Product details

Author:	Zdzisław Podbielski
Details:	184 pages, 11.4 x 8.1 in (29 x 20.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:	extensively illustrated
Language:	Polish
Publisher:	Dom Wydawniczy Księży Młyn (PL, 2023)
ISBN:	9788377297155