A much better solution – developed with help of US technical advisors – proved the Light Assault Vehicle (LAV): this was based on the Dodge M37B truck, which was cheap, easy to maintain, available in sufficient numbers and had the same engine like the standard M35 REO trucks of the FAES. The first prototype emerged in 1985 in the USA and was then shipped to El Salvador for assembly. On the negative side, LAVs lacked air conditioning and were still open-topped. A total of 66 were completed and they became known as Cashuat (Horse in the indigenous Nahuat language). Ultimately, they proved to offer insufficient protection against RPGs even after having a screen fitted, inadequate off-road performance, and too little firepower. (Artwork by David Bocquelet)