Watch history fire back to life as a 1944 Soviet T-34-85 medium tank, freshly unearthed from long-term barn storage, gets its first cold start in decades. Covered in mud, rust, and Soviet steel grit, this isn’t a museum piece — it’s the real deal, still packing its original Kharkiv V2-34 engine.
Underneath the rear engine deck lies a 38.8-liter V12 diesel, direct-injection, four-stroke powerhouse, designed in the 1930s and battle-tested throughout WWII. This same engine powered not just T-34s, but also SU-85 tank destroyers and early armored recovery vehicles. It was cold-blooded, loud, and legendary.
Fun Facts:
- Unlike Allied tanks running on gasoline, the T-34’s diesel engine was far less likely to catch fire when hit.
- Even after WW2, variants of the V2 engine stayed in service for decades.
- The T-34 was so successful it remained in frontline use by some nations well into the 1990s.
- Over 84,000 T-34 tanks were produced during and after WWII, making it one of the most mass-produced tanks in history.
Technical Specifications:
Tank Model: T-34-85 (1944 production)
Engine: Kharkiv V2-34 V12 diesel
Displacement: 38.8 liters
Power Output: ~500 hp at 1,800 rpm
Fuel Type: Diesel
Cooling System: Water-cooled
Configuration: V12, four-stroke, direct injection
Tank Weight: Approx. 32 tons
Top Speed: ~55 km/h (on road)
Range: ~300 km (on road)
Transmission: Manual, 5-speed
Suspension: Christie suspension
Armor Thickness: 45–75 mm (frontal)
Armament: 85mm ZiS-S-53 gun, 2 x 7.62mm DT machine guns
💬 What do you think about this engine—does it deserve its legendary status? Let us know in the comments…