Jelcz 300

Jelcz is not only a favorite spot for Lower Silesians to spend summer afternoons by the lake. Jelcz is also famous for its trucks, including the iconic 300 series produced between 1968 and 1992. However, before our Jelcz went into production, Jelczańskie Zakłady Samochodowe (Jelcz Automotive Works) was involved in manufacturing its predecessor, the Żubr A80. Although it was a flawed model, it had a payload capacity of up to 8 tons, making it the only Polish-made truck of its kind at the time. Jelcz Automotive Works began developing a new, better-designed truck model in 1966, aiming to produce a vehicle that could carry loads weighing between 10 and 12 tons.

Thus, in 1967, prototypes of the Jelcz "300s" were created. In the early 1970s, the payload capacity even exceeded the desired 12 tons, allowing for the transport of 18-ton loads. Despite increasingly better results, the vehicles from Jelcz did not satisfy the manufacturers. Therefore, in 1972, the Automotive Works approached the Austrian company Steyr-Daimler-Puch with a proposal for cooperation. From then on, Austrian components were used in Polish trucks. Shortly thereafter, due to technical difficulties, the cooperation was terminated, and Jelcz Automotive Works returned to improving older designs, thus maintaining production until the 1990s. Now, the famous "300s" are no longer seen on the streets, but they might be seen on T-shirts – thanks to you, Jelcz will remain iconic.

The drawing was made by Wrocław artist Paweł Grabowski.