So the future "humpbacked" Zaporozhets ZAZ-965 was born. It was decided to start mass production of this car in Zaporozhye, on the premises of the former Kommunar combine plant. Before the appearance of the VAZ Oka in the early 1990s, the Zaporozhets was the most affordable car, mainly because of its low price - about 3 thousand rubles. For comparison: the price of a VAZ-2101 was about 6 thousand rubles. Moskvich 2140/412 - about 7 thousand rubles Volga GAZ-24 - about 12 thousand rubles.
In 1958, the first Ukrainian car, ZAZ-965, rolled off the assembly line in Zaporozhye. At first, it was planned to equip the first-born with a motorcycle 2-cylinder air-cooled engine of the Irbit Motorcycle Plant, but this engine had a lot of drawbacks: it was very noisy, low-power and had a resource of only 25 thousand km As a result, the MeMZ-965 was chosen - a 4-cylinder, air-cooled, developed by NAMI specialists at
based on the German BMW engine of the early 50s. 
In 1967, the serial production of its own design began - the ZAZ-966 model. The design of this model began back in 1961, but due to a number of circumstances, the 966th got on the assembly line only six years later. The MeMZ-966 engine with a power of 30 hp was installed on this car. Later, a more powerful one was added to it - MeMZ-968 (40 hp) 
In 1971, the ZAZ-968 model appeared, which differed little from the previous model. As he was "eared" and remained (it was also called "soap box"). This model was mainly equipped with a MeMZ-968 engine, 40 hp and a new improved gearbox. As for the design, in modern terms, it was a facelift model ZAZ-966. The changes affected mainly the front part of the body. New bumpers appeared, and reversing lights appeared at the back. There was another change that made it easier to store the car in urban conditions - the gas tank neck was now hidden under the hood of the engine compartment. (On model 966, it was located openly on the slope of the rear left wing). 
In 1980, the ZAZ-968M appeared, which got rid of the nickname "eared"
due to the lack of side air intakes. Instead, bars appeared. This Zaporozhets had two nicknames at once: “pop-eyed” and “soap box”. Unlike the previous model, "emka" had a more modern body design, new bumpers. The electrical system was improved, an alarm system appeared. Spare wheel migrated from the trunk to the engine compartment.
The engine and gearbox remained the same - MeMZ-968 (40 hp). The ZAZ-968M-005 model with the ZAZ-966G engine (30 hp) was produced in a small amount. The last ZAZ-968M left the assembly line in 1994. This ended the era of the most affordable Soviet car.
In 1988, the Tavria (ZAZ-1102) appeared. When developing this model, the Ford Fiesta was taken as a basis. However, in the process of adapting Tavria to Soviet conditions, the car changed significantly and these changes were not for the better. Compared to the Fiesta, the Tavria decreased in size in width, which negatively affected the space and comfort of the cabin, the design of the entire car was changed, so much so that, compared to the Fiesta, the trunk opening turned out to be high, which made loading / unloading luggage much more difficult. (VAZ-2108/09, M2141 and IZH Orbita (ODA) also suffered from this shortcoming. The chassis underwent major changes. The front suspension was almost completely redone, as a result, practically nothing was left of the progressive design of the Fiesta front suspension, which negatively affected on the stability of the Tavria at high speeds.This is only a small part of the differences between the Tavria and the Fiesta.It seems that the designers tried to hide the origin of the car as much as possible.Of course, compared to the previous model (ZAZ-968M), this was a serious step forward, but the ongoing restructuring made its own adjustments . 
A flood of cheap used foreign cars poured into the country, often exceeding
many parameters even new domestic cars. But despite this, the demand for domestic cars remained stable and Tavria also found its customers. The latest modification of this model - Slavuta, with a five-door hatchback body, was released in 2008.
In 1998, cooperation with the Korean company Daewoo Motors began. The AvtoZAZ-Daewoo joint venture was created, which, in addition to the Zaporozhye Automobile Plant, also included the Melitopol Motor Plant (MeMZ) and several other Ukrainian enterprises. In the same year, SKD assembly of Daewoo Lanos, Nubira and Leganza cars began. 
In 2001, the production of the budget model ZAZ Sens began. The body for this car was borrowed from the Daewoo Lanos of 1997, the engine and gearbox migrated from Tavria. In Russia, Sens began to sell only in 2007. In the same 2007, the Daewoo Lanos model survived a light restyling and changed its name to Chevrolet Lanos (the result of the purchase by General Motors of a controlling stake in Daewoo Motors).
In 2009, cooperation with General Motors, which includes Daewoo, ended. The American partners no longer wanted to renew the contract, as a result, the production of the Chevrolet Lanos model was stopped. However, the leadership of the Zaporozhye plant decided to continue producing this car, but already under its own brand - ZAZ Chance. The car has not undergone any changes, only the nameplate on the grille has changed. . At the same time, the ZAZ Sens model, which was a mixture of Tavria and Daewoo Lanos, was discontinued. In 2012, the ZAZ-Vida model appeared, based on the 2011 Chevrolet Aveo. .
ZAZ cars have never been a luxury item. They were intended for low-income buyers. In the first years of the thaw, the Council of Ministers decided to master the production of a minicar in the USSR cheaper than the Moskvich-401. Of several projects, they chose the most competent and mature one, developed at MZMA (the current JSC Moskvich).
The designers of the plant did not reinvent the wheel, but skillfully used solutions proven by FIAT, Volkswagen and BMW. The first "Zaporozhets" was based on the design features and shape of the Italian FIAT-600 (FIAT). 3A3-965 had a two-door 4-seater body, a rear V-shaped air-cooled engine, independent suspension on all wheels, cast magnesium alloy crankcases for the engine and gearbox.
However, MZMA itself did not have free space for the production of a new machine. Therefore, it was decided to master its production in Zaporozhye at the Kommunar agricultural machinery plant. On June 18, 1959, a prototype of the ZAZ-965 Zaporozhets car was released, and in October 1960 its serial production began.
In the face of Zaporozhets, the consumer received a small, but full-fledged car with a four-cylinder engine, a four-seat interior, 13-inch wheels and an almost traditional body shape. The rear arrangement and air cooling of the engine, independent suspension of all wheels, typical for European small cars, seemed unusual to Soviet motorists. For eight and a half years, ZAZ-965 has been modernized more than once. The engine became more powerful, the ventilation of the engine compartment and electrical equipment, the rear hood and the front panel were changed.
Without outside help, ZAZ developed a more capacious second-generation Zaporozhets ZAZ-966. The car ZAZ-966 "Zaporozhets" was produced from November 1966. From ZAZ-965A, he inherited most of the components and assemblies: MeMZ-966A engine with a power of 30 hp, gearbox, suspension. From subsequent models, it can be distinguished by a shiny decorative grille on the front end and a metal instrument panel.
The ZAZ-966V modification was distinguished by a 40 hp engine. (1197 cc, compression ratio 7.2, gasoline A-76) and characteristics (curb weight 780 kg, gross weight 1080 kg, maximum speed 120 km/h).
ZAZ-966V with a 40-horsepower engine after modernization in 1972 received the ZAZ-968 index, in the same year its mass production began. External differences from the ZAZ-966 are reversing lights, the absence of jumpers in the air intakes and the inscription "Zaporozhets" on the right front fender.
Production of the ZAZ-968A began at the end of 1974. It was distinguished by: a decorative element on the front end that replaced the grille, a dual-circuit brake system, more comfortable seats (from the VAZ-2101), and a plastic instrument panel.
From 1980 to 1994, the plant produced an improved version of this ZAZ-968M car. The ZAZ-968M car entered the assembly line in 1979. The design of the body has undergone significant changes - the front panel of the body has become convex, the "ears" of the air intakes have been replaced with grilles, the rear lights have acquired a more modern rectangular shape. There is less chrome and more black plastic.
From November 1966 to May 1969, ZAZ-965 and ZAZ-966 were produced in parallel. These machines could coexist further: the demand for the ZAZ-965 remained, but the planning authorities forced the plant to withdraw from production the "humpbacked" Zaporozhets.
ZAZ-965" Zaporozhets"
ZAZ-968M was produced with three engine modifications: MeMZ-968E with a power of 40 hp. for A-76 gasoline with a K-133 carburetor - the base model. MeMZ-968GE with a power of 45 hp, distinguished by a two-chamber DAAZ-2101-20 carburetor and an intake manifold for it. MeMZ-968BE with a power of 50 hp for A-93 gasoline, which differed from MeMZ-968GE by an increased compression ratio of up to 8.4 due to a change in the design of the cylinder heads. Production of this last "classic" Zaporozhets ceased on July 1, 1994.
ZAZ-968M" Zaporozhets"
There was also a modification ZAZ-968E (export), which was distinguished by headlights that meet international safety standards, a triplex windshield, decorative edging on glass seals, and an ignition lock with an anti-theft device.
Manual modifications were also produced: ZAZ-968B for people deprived of both legs, ZAZ-968B2 for drivers with one leg and 3A3-968P for those with only one leg and one arm. The production of ZAZ-966 was discontinued in December 1972, and its manual modifications - from January 1973.
ZAZ designers spent about 20 years on the creation of a front-wheel drive small car. The Tavria, which appeared in 1988, despite numerous shortcomings, suited many poor motorists.
The car "Zaporozhets" is a passenger car, which was produced by the Zaporozhye plant "Kommunar", better known as ZAZ. The world-famous name combined the release of two generations of vehicles that were similar to each other in some technical characteristics. At the same time, they gathered at the same time for a certain period of time. A little later, the production of initial models was stopped.
The history of the car "Zaporozhets" begins in 1960. The first generation is dated 1960-1969. During this period, the ZAZ-365 and ZAZ-365A models were produced. The second generation is represented by the ZAZ-368 and 368M lines. It was produced from 1966 to 1994.
The main difference between Zaporozhets cars is the presence of a special design. They were all two-door sedans, the engine was a carbureted type, and the suspension, mounted on wheel axles, was independent in all cases.
ZAZ-965/965A
The main modification called ZAZ-965 was produced for nine years since 1960. This Zaporozhets car has a prototype from which the main body design was taken, as well as some technical aspects (we are talking about the steering wheel, suspension, gearbox). However, unlike the original model, which is the progenitor, the main design has been redone, and the engine has been built from scratch.
The car has 4 seats, including the driver's seat. The front and rear windows are interchangeable. The doors have an excellent mechanism that allows you to open the wings back. The power unit that this Zaporozhets car received was new to the global automotive industry, as it was used quite rarely. It is a 4-cylinder engine with special air cooling. It should be noted that it is located behind, not in front. The rear wheels became the driving wheels. The described ZAZ-365 model was produced for export and for the disabled.
The next model ZAZ-965A was distinguished by its engine: its volume was 887 m³, and its power was 27 liters. With. Instead of two mufflers, the car received only one, and the moldings on the sidewalls were removed.
ZAZ-966/968/968A
After the release of the first generation was fully debugged, the development of the next modification began. It happened in 1961. The prototype from which the new model was created appeared in the autumn of the same period. However, the plant's fabulous plans were hindered by the economic situation of the enterprise (there was not enough finance), and the fact that the working team had little experience had a strong influence. At the same time, all the elements that were added to the model became borrowed from other copies, in particular from foreign ones.
Serial production of ZAZ-966 lasted from 1966 to 1972. At the same time, at first, only the so-called transitional model, which was called 966B, left the assembly line. Its disadvantage was that the engine was designed for 1.2 liters, and its power was 30 liters. With.
The car "Zaporozhets" 968 practically did not differ from the 966 model. Its main feature among all available is an improved version of the engine and a slightly modified control panel. The manufacturer constantly produced a modernized version of the machine. The changes were minimal, but in a few years (already by 1978) the car acquired a completely new look. The ZAZ-968A car was a representative of these instances. It has been improved security system, brakes, instrument panel. The latter was also used in such a vehicle as the ZAZ-968M car.
"Zaporozhets" 968M
The model with the index "M" was released in 1979. It was she who closed the leading era of the "Cossacks". Engines with a capacity of 28, 41, 45 and 50 horsepower were installed on this car. The second option was the most common.
It differed from the main model "M" in its exterior and interior. The design was completely different. The number of chrome parts has decreased, plastic, on the contrary, has become more. Due to the fact that the cooling system of the power unit was changed, the “ears” were no longer installed on the body. This model has become the one that the domestic manufacturer has been waiting for so long - it did not overheat. However, with the elimination of such a minus, another was added. The air duct box began to become clogged, and its tightness was broken too quickly.
It was this Zaporozhets car that became the most popular. It was he who could be found at one time most often on the roads. This model was also produced in the version for the disabled.
"Zaporozhets" for export
Together with models for the domestic market, the Zaporozhye plant produced copies for export. Depending on which market this or that car was sent to, the name changed. There was "Yalta" (Jalta, Yalta) and "Eliette" (Eliette). Such names were invented because for European people the word "Zaporozhets" is difficult both for perception and for pronunciation. Export versions differed from authentic copies in an improved level of sound insulation. Rear-view mirrors, radio, pads were also installed.
Sales were carried out through Finnish and Belgian companies. No more than 5,000 copies were sold per year.
Jokes about "Zaporozhets"
The engine of the car "Zaporozhets" often fell into disrepair. However, this was not due to a factory defect, which was so vehemently argued by the owners of the car. All problems arose due to improper care of the vehicle. Also, jokes appeared because of the engine under the rear hood and small size.
However, it should be noted that at that time the Zaporozhets was a car that was no different from the imported models of its category in technical specifications. And so the constant mockery of him, in fact, was inappropriate. At the same time, it should be noted that the same cars of the Fiat, Renault, Volkswagen brands have become the property and symbol of the corresponding era for their people.
The most common joke was that the car "Zaporozhets" - "humped". We are talking about the ZAZ-965 model, which had a specific body. She was also nicknamed the "armored car". Other models with indices 966 and 968 were popularly nicknamed "eared" and "cheburashka", respectively. Their names appeared because of the cooling system. "Soap dish" is a model 968M. People noted its resemblance to this object due to the lack of air intakes. After the collapse, a lot of jokes appeared that told about accidents involving Zaporozhets and Mercedes.
Engine
In various modifications, the engine had a power of 41 to 50 liters. With. At the same time, he made a fairly loud roar during operation. The unit is capable of operating for about 40-50 km, but consumers are more to blame here, who do not monitor what kind of fuel their car “absorbs”. However, this is the main advantage of the engine. If imported versions are able to die in such conditions after a short period of time, then the Zaporozhets will serve faithfully for a very long time. Installed "air vents" were designed for a volume of 1.2 liters.
Transmission
At first, the new transmission works well, but over time, the traction becomes loose and the 4-speed gearbox begins to falter. A frequent problem is difficult switching between speeds, which already leads to an emergency on the road. When buying, each buyer had to discuss this nuance with the seller.
Zaporozhets (export designations for Western European countries - Yalta, Eliette and ZAZ) is a brand of Soviet and Ukrainian rear-engine passenger cars of an especially small class, produced by the Kommunar plant in the city of Zaporozhye.
(later - Zaporozhye Automobile Plant, which was part of the AvtoZAZ production association in 1960-1994).
Under the brand name "Zaporozhets" actually produced two different generations of car models, connected by technical continuity and for some time descended from the assembly line in parallel:
- in 1960-1969 - the first generation, ZAZ-965 and since 1962 - ZAZ-
965A;
- in 1966-1994 - the second generation, ZAZ-966, ZAZ-966V, ZAZ-968,
ZAZ-968A and ZAZ-968M.
All Zaporozhets cars had a number of characteristic design features: a rear-engine layout with a longitudinal arrangement of a cantilevered engine behind the rear axle and a gearbox within the wheelbase; body type "two-door sedan"; V-shaped four-cylinder air-cooled carburetor engine; independent suspension of all wheels; Autonomous gasoline interior heater.
All variants of the "Zaporozhets" were distinguished by the maximum degree of unification in terms of units and assemblies with the TPK army all-terrain vehicle (sanitary wheeled transporter of the front edge, LuAZ-967). The same family also included "civilian" all-terrain vehicles of the LuAZ brand - various modifications of the LuAZ-969.
ZAZ-965/965A.
The ZAZ-965 model was produced from 1960 to 1969. The main prototype of the ZAZ-965 in terms of the overall design of the body, partially independent spring rear suspension, steering gear, transmission was the Fiat 600; however, already at the level of the first prototype - Moskvich-444 - the design of the car was significantly redesigned relative to Fiat, and the power unit was developed completely from scratch. Body - four-seater, with interchangeable front and rear windows, welded front fenders. The doors (there are two of them) open backwards, not forwards. The engine is a rare type in the global automotive industry, a four-cylinder V-shaped, air-cooled, located at the rear. Magnesium alloy crankcase and transmission. Driving wheels - rear. The car was also made in export and wheelchair versions.The ZAZ-965A model is distinguished by an engine with an increased working volume (887 cm3) and power (27 hp), one silencer (instead of two) and the absence of decorative molding on the sidewalls.
ZAZ-966/968/968A/968M.
The development of the next generation of "Zaporozhets" began almost immediately after the development of the first in production - in 1961, and prototypes appeared by the autumn of that year. However, due to the lack of experience of the plant team (“965th” model was developed at MZMA in cooperation with NAMI) and also lack of funding, putting into production dragged on for many years, and the design of the final version was a collection of elements borrowed from various models of those years.The ZAZ-966 model was in mass production from 1966 to 1972, and for the first year only a transitional modification 966B with an outdated 30-horsepower engine was produced - the production of a 1.2-liter 40-horsepower MeMZ-968 engine was ready only next year.
ZAZ-968 has been produced since 1972. Initially, it had no external differences from the "966th", and its main feature was a slightly modernized MeMZ-968 engine (another carburetor) and a modified front panel (instead of being stamped as one whole - the new instrument panel was assembled from separate elements). The model was constantly modernized, and by the end of production, in 1978, it was practically indistinguishable from the ZAZ-968A, which was produced in parallel and went into series in 1973 (according to other sources, in fact, production began only at the end of 1974), which had an updated appearance and a number of design changes that improved safety: dual-circuit brakes, seat belts and a soft instrument panel, which was subsequently installed on the ZAZ-968M.
The next modification was the ZAZ-968M, which was produced from 1979 to 1994 - this car completed the Zaporozhets model line. Various power units with a working volume of 890 cm³ with a power of 28 liters were also installed on it. With. and 1.2 l. with a capacity of 41 (the bulk of the machines), 45 or 50 liters. with ... From the ZAZ-968 model, it primarily differed in appearance and interior, there were fewer chrome parts and, in turn, more plastic appeared. The “ears” on the sidewalls of the body disappeared, as the cooling system was radically changed - this almost completely saved the car from problems with overheating during normal operation, but added new ones - with air duct tightness and clogging of its box. This version of "Zaporozhets" is the most massive. Before the ZAZ-968M, air was sucked out from the heads and cylinders by a fan, and then the hot air “cooled” the car generator.
Export options: Yalta / Jalta, Eliette.
Along with the basic modifications of the Zaporozhtsev cars, their export versions were also produced (including with the steering wheel on the right) - ZAZ-965E, ZAZ-965AE, ZAZ-966E, ZAZ-968E and ZAZ-968AE. Depending on the target market, they had the trade designation Yalta / Jalta ("Yalta") or Eliette ("Eliette"), since the phonetics and transliteration of the word "Zaporozhets" is very difficult for European languages. Compared to the basic models, they had improved consumer qualities. For example, models "965E" and "965AE" differed from "965" and "965A" in improved sound insulation, the presence of an outside rear-view mirror on the left, an ashtray, a radio, lining on the sides of the car and the lower edge of the trunk.ZAZ-968E and ZAZ-968AE in quantities up to 5000 pieces per year were sold in
Europe through the Finnish company Konela and the Belgian Scaldia-Volga.
Jokes about "Zaporozhets".
Due to the poor technical condition of most Zaporozhets,caused mainly by non-compliance with maintenance rules by the owners, unusual rear-engine layout and small dimensions - ZAZ cars were often the object of jokes and anecdotes. It is also worth recognizing that, in fact, the Zaporozhets were not inferior to the foreign counterparts of their time in most operational qualities, and in this case the rumor was unfair to them. Moreover, in Europe cars similar in class to the Volkswagen Beetle, Renault 4CV, Fiat 500, etc. are considered a national treasure and symbols of their era, and numerous replicas are produced.
So, ZAZ-965 was nicknamed "humpback" for the characteristic shape of the body, as well as "Jewish armored car", ZAZ-966 and ZAZ-968 - "eared" or "cheburashka" for the shape of the side air intakes of the cooling system, and ZAZ-968M "soap box "for the similarity of the shape of the body that lost the side air intakes ("ears") with this object and the presence of cooling slots on the hood.
In post-Soviet times, many anecdotes appeared about various accidents involving the driver of the Zaporozhets and the "new Russian" on the "600th Mercedes", as well as this car was sung by the famous Russian performer - Bogdan Titomir, with the song "A Zaporozhets" is a car Class"))
ZAZ-965 Zaporozhets, 1962–69
ZAZ-965A Zaporozhets, 1962–65
Torpedo ZAZ-965A Zaporozhets, 1965–69
ZAZ-965AE Jalta, 1965–69
ZAZ-966 Zaporozhets, 1967–71
ZAZ-966 Zaporozhets, 1971–72
ZAZ-966V Zaporozhets, 1966–72
ZAZ-966E Eliette, 1967–71
ZAZ-968 Zaporozhets, 1971–79
Salon ZAZ-968A Zaporozhets, 1974–79
ZAZ-968AE Zaporozhets, 1974–79
ZAZ-968M Zaporozhets, 1979–94
Well, and by right in this post - you need to show this good car, its modifications: Behind the rear axle and gearboxes within the wheelbase; body type "two-door sedan"; V-shaped four-cylinder air-cooled carburetor engine; independent suspension of all wheels; Autonomous gasoline interior heater.
All variants of the "Zaporozhets" were distinguished by the maximum degree of unification in terms of units and assemblies with the TPK army all-terrain vehicle (sanitary wheeled transporter of the front edge, LuAZ-967). The same family also included "civilian" all-terrain vehicles of the LuAZ brand - various modifications of the LuAZ-969.
ZAZ-965/ 965A
The ZAZ-965 model was produced from one year to the next.
The main prototype of the ZAZ-965 in terms of the overall body design, partially independent spring rear suspension, steering gear, transmission was Fiat 600, however, already at the level of the first prototype - Moskvich-444 - the design of the car was significantly redesigned relative to Fiat , and the powertrain was designed completely from scratch.
Body - four-seater, with interchangeable front and rear windows, welded front fenders. The doors (there are two of them) open backwards, not forwards. The engine is a rare type in the global automotive industry, a four-cylinder V-shaped, air-cooled, located at the rear. Magnesium alloy crankcase and transmission. Driving wheels - rear. Tire size - 5.20-13. ZAZ-965 was manufactured in export and disabled versions.
The ZAZ-965A model is distinguished by an engine with an increased working volume (887 cm 3) and power (27 hp), one silencer (instead of two), and the absence of decorative molding on the sidewalls.
ZAZ-966/ 968/ 968A/ 968M
The development of the next generation of Zaporozhets began almost immediately after the development of the first, in 1961. Prototypes appeared by the fall of that year.
However, due to the lack of experience of the plant team (the “965th” model was developed at MZMA in cooperation with US), as well as lack of funding, production was dragged out for many years, and the design of the final version was a compilation of elements borrowed from various models of those years , mainly - West German NSU Prinz IV. Model ZAZ-966 was in serial production from to 1972, and the first year only a “transitional” modification 966B with an outdated 30-horsepower engine was produced - the production of a 1.2-liter 40-horsepower MeMZ-968 engine was ready only the next year.
Cars for people with disabilities continued to be produced. The "968th" model was replaced with a completely new car - ZAZ-1102 "Tavria", which structurally had nothing to do with the "Zaporozhets". ZAZ-1102 is a front-wheel drive three-door hatchback with a new liquid-cooled MeMZ engine.
Export options: Yalta / Jalta, Eliette
Along with the basic modifications of cars ZAZ-965, ZAZ-965A, ZAZ-966, ZAZ-968 and ZAZ-968A, their export versions were also produced (including those with a right-hand drive, for countries with left-hand traffic) - ZAZ-965E, ZAZ-965AE, ZAZ-966E, ZAZ-968E and ZAZ-968AE. Depending on the target market, they had a trade name Yalta/Jalta("Yalta") or Eliette("Eliette"), since the phonetics and transliteration of the word "Zaporozhets" is very difficult for European languages. Compared to the basic models, they had improved consumer qualities. For example, models "965E" and "965AE" differed from "965" and "965A" in improved sound insulation, the presence of an outside rear-view mirror on the left, an ashtray, a radio, lining on the sides of the car and the lower edge of the trunk.
ZAZ-968E and ZAZ-968AE in quantities up to 5,000 per year were sold in Europe through the Finnish company Konela and the Belgian Scaldia-Volga.
Consumer qualities and popularity
In the USSR, the Zaporozhets car was popular largely due to its relative cheapness (in the mid-1970s - about 3-3.5 thousand Soviet rubles; at the same time, Muscovites and various Zhiguli models cost from 5 to 7 5 thousand rubles), free (as a rule) sale without queues and the presence of a number of modifications with modified control mechanisms for disabled people with missing limbs. Such versions were colloquially referred to as "disabled girls" and were distributed (sometimes with partial or full payment) through social security agencies among disabled people of various categories. In addition, the "Zaporozhets" were distinguished by good cross-country ability due to high ground clearance, a smooth, even bottom, increased load on the drive axle, low weight, as well as ease of maintenance and repair, which made them largely suitable for operation in rural areas and remote areas of the country. The design of the car, unusual by Soviet standards, often caused a disapproving attitude of motorists and served as a pretext for the appearance of numerous jokes and anecdotes. However, in fairness, it should be noted that at the end of the fifties and the first half of the sixties - the period in which the development of both generations of the Zaporozhets fell - the rear-engine layout was at the peak of its popularity around the world, they tried to produce cars with a rear-engine even in the USA (Chevrolet Corvair), not to mention Europe, which at that time was dominated by such mass models as the Volkswagen Beetle, Fiat 500 and Fiat 600, Renault Dauphine and Renault 8, Škoda 1000 MB and the like. The prevalence of two-door bodies in those years was also much greater than today - in fact, the situation typical for the USSR, when, with the exception of the Zaporozhets, in fact, all cars had 4-5 doors, was almost unique for that time. In North America, until the end of the seventies, in general, more than half of the cars produced had two-door bodies; in Europe, their popularity was less, but still in the classes of Zaporozhets, and even Moskvich, the bulk of sales fell on two-doors, until the most massive distribution in the early to mid-seventies of three-door hatchbacks like Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Polo, Fiat 127 and similar, which subsequently successfully took the place of two-door sedans similar to Zaporozhets in the production range of Western European automotive companies.
The conveyor fate of Zaporozhets does not differ from the fate of most of the Eastern European car models of the sixties: if the first generation (ZAZ-965 model) was quite modern at the time of development in production, and even removed from the assembly line earlier than its Italian prototype, then the second (ZAZ- 966 / 968) was already secondary to the first in technical terms, and, in the context of growing crises and the subsequent gradual stagnation of the USSR economy throughout the 1970s and 1980s, it was produced for decades without significant upgrades, so that already by the beginning of the seventies, in terms of key indicators, it was clearly below the average level of European “classmates” of the new development, which was aggravated by the massive transition of foreign manufacturers in this class to front-wheel drive, which gave an abrupt increase in the entire range of consumer qualities in comparison with the old rear-engine and built according to the “classic” scheme models.
In the seventies and eighties, against the backdrop of the widespread rejection of the rear-engined scheme that dominated European small cars all the fifties and most of the sixties, as well as the general rapid development of design and technology in the industry, Zaporozhets, as well as remaining in production in parallel with it, similar Western European models - Zhuk, Seat / Fiat 133, Hillman Imp, Simca 1000, and so on - were completely outdated and were no longer in great demand even in the domestic market, despite the relatively low retail price, gradually turning into a narrow a niche of specialized vehicles for disabled people with limited mobility.
After the collapse of the USSR, in the conditions of a general economic crisis, ZAZ stopped producing Zaporozhets in 1994, however, surviving copies can be seen on the streets of post-Soviet states to this day.
Jokes about "Zaporozhets"
Due to the poor technical condition of most of the Zaporozhets, caused mainly by the owners' non-compliance with maintenance rules, the unusual rear-engine layout and small dimensions, ZAZ cars were often the object of jokes and anecdotes. It is also worth recognizing that, in fact, the Zaporozhets were not inferior to the foreign counterparts of their time in most operational qualities, and in this case the rumor was unfair to them. Moreover, in Europe cars similar in class to the Volkswagen Beetle, Renault 4CV, Fiat 500, etc. are considered a national treasure and symbols of their era, and numerous replicas are produced.
In culture
- "Zaporozhets" ("And "Zaporozhets" is a class car") - song by Bogdan Titomir ()
Anniversary
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Sources and notes
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Literature
Fuchadzhi, K. S., Stryuk, N. N. Car ZAZ-968M "Zaporozhets". - 2nd ed., revised and additional. - M .: Transport, 1988. - 352 p. - ISBN 5-277-00139-5.
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An excerpt characterizing the Zaporozhets (car)
The voices and steps of the huge household and the peasants who arrived with carts sounded, calling to each other, in the yard and in the house. The Count went somewhere in the morning. The Countess, who had a headache from the bustle and noise, was lying in the new sofa with vinegar bandages on her head. Petya was not at home (he went to a comrade with whom he intended to move from the militia to the active army). Sonya was present in the hall when laying crystal and porcelain. Natasha was sitting on the floor in her ruined room, between scattered dresses, ribbons, scarves, and, looking motionlessly at the floor, she held in her hands an old ball gown, the same dress (already old in fashion) in which she had first been to St. Petersburg ball.Natasha was ashamed to do nothing in the house, while everyone was so busy, and several times in the morning she still tried to get down to business; but her soul was not in this business; but she could not and did not know how to do anything, not with all her heart, not with all her strength. She stood over Sonya while laying the porcelain, wanted to help, but immediately gave up and went to her place to put her things. At first she was amused by the fact that she handed out her dresses and ribbons to the maids, but then, when the rest still had to be put to bed, she found it boring.
- Dunyasha, will you put it down, my dear? Yes? Yes?
And when Dunyasha willingly promised to do everything for her, Natasha sat down on the floor, picked up an old ball gown and thought not at all about what should occupy her now. From the thoughtfulness in which Natasha was, she was brought out by the voice of the girls in the neighboring girl's room and the sound of their hasty steps from the girl's room to the back porch. Natasha stood up and looked out the window. A huge train of wounded men stopped in the street.
Girls, footmen, housekeeper, nanny, cook, coachmen, postilions, cooks stood at the gate, looking at the wounded.
Natasha, throwing a white handkerchief over her hair and holding it with both hands by the ends, went out into the street.
The former housekeeper, old Mavra Kuzminishna, separated from the crowd standing at the gate, and, going up to a cart on which there was a bast wagon, she was talking to a young pale officer lying in this cart. Natasha moved a few steps and timidly stopped, continuing to hold on to her handkerchief and listening to what the housekeeper was saying.
- Well, then you don’t have anyone in Moscow? - said Mavra Kuzminishna. - You should be calmer somewhere in the apartment ... If only you could come to us. The gentlemen are leaving.
"I don't know if they'll let me," the officer said in a weak voice. “Here is the chief… ask,” and he pointed to the fat major, who was returning back along the street along a row of carts.
Natasha, with frightened eyes, looked into the face of the wounded officer and immediately went to meet the major.
- Can the wounded stay in our house? she asked.
The major put his hand to his visor with a smile.
“Who do you want, Mamzel?” he said, narrowing his eyes and smiling.
Natasha calmly repeated her question, and her face and her whole manner, despite the fact that she continued to hold her handkerchief by the ends, were so serious that the major stopped smiling and, at first thinking, as if asking himself to what extent this was possible, answered her in the affirmative.
“Oh, yes, why, you can,” he said.
Natasha slightly bowed her head and with quick steps returned to Mavra Kuzminishna, who was standing over the officer and talking to him with plaintive participation.
- You can, he said, you can! Natasha said in a whisper.
An officer in a wagon turned into the Rostovs' courtyard, and at the invitation of the city residents, dozens of carts with the wounded began to turn into courtyards and drive up to the entrances of the houses of Povarskaya Street. Natasha, apparently, recovered these, outside the usual conditions of life, relationships with new people. She, together with Mavra Kuzminishna, tried to bring as many wounded as possible into her yard.
“We still need to report to dad,” said Mavra Kuzminishna.
“Nothing, nothing, doesn’t matter! For one day we will move to the living room. We can give all of our half to them.
- Well, you, young lady, come up with! Yes, even in the outbuilding, in bachelorhood, to the nanny, and then you need to ask.
- Well, I'll ask.
Natasha ran into the house and tiptoed in through the half-open door of the sofa room, from which there was a smell of vinegar and Hoffmann's drops.
Are you sleeping, mom?
- Oh, what a dream! said the countess, who had just dozed off, waking up.
“Mom, my dear,” said Natasha, kneeling in front of her mother and putting her face close to hers. - I'm sorry, I'll never be, I woke you up. Mavra Kuzminishna sent me, they brought the wounded here, officers, will you? And they have nowhere to go; I know that you will allow ... - she said quickly, without taking a breath.
What officers? Who was brought? I don’t understand anything,” said the countess.
Natasha laughed, the countess also smiled weakly.
- I knew that you would allow ... so I will say so. - And Natasha, kissing her mother, got up and went to the door.
In the hall she met her father, who returned home with bad news.
- We sat down! said the Count with involuntary annoyance. “And the club is closed, and the police are coming out.
- Dad, is it okay that I invited the wounded to the house? Natasha told him.
“Nothing, of course,” the Count said absently. “That’s not the point, but now I ask you not to deal with trifles, but to help pack and go, go, go tomorrow ...” And the count gave the butler and people the same order. At dinner, Petya returned and told his news.
He said that today the people were dismantling weapons in the Kremlin, that although Rostopchin’s poster said that he would call the cry in two days, but that an order had probably been made that tomorrow all the people would go to the Three Mountains with weapons, and that there there will be a big fight.
The Countess looked with timid horror at the cheerful, heated face of her son while he was saying this. She knew that if she said a word that she asked Petya not to go to this battle (she knew that he rejoiced at this upcoming battle), then he would say something about men, about honor, about the fatherland - something like that. meaningless, masculine, stubborn, against which one cannot object, and the matter will be spoiled, and therefore, hoping to arrange so that she could leave before that and take Petya with her as a protector and patron, she did not say anything to Petya, and after dinner called the count and with tears she begged him to take her away as soon as possible, on the same night, if possible. With a feminine, involuntary cunning of love, she, who had shown perfect fearlessness until now, said that she would die of fear if they did not leave that night. She, without pretending, was now afraid of everything.
Mme Schoss, who visited her daughter, increased the Countess's fear even more with stories about what she had seen on Myasnitskaya Street in a pub. Returning down the street, she could not get home from the drunken crowd of people raging at the office. She took a cab and drove around the lane home; and the driver told her that the people were breaking barrels in the drinking office, which was so ordered.
After dinner, all the Rostov households with enthusiastic haste set to work packing their things and preparing for departure. The old count, suddenly set to work, continued to walk from the yard to the house and back after dinner, stupidly shouting at the people in a hurry and hurrying them even more. Petya was in charge in the yard. Sonya did not know what to do under the influence of the count's conflicting orders, and was completely at a loss. People, shouting, arguing and making noise, ran around the rooms and the yard. Natasha, with her characteristic passion in everything, suddenly also set to work. At first, her intervention in the matter of packing was met with disbelief. Everyone expected a joke from her and did not want to listen to her; but with stubbornness and passion she demanded obedience to herself, became angry, almost wept that they did not listen to her, and finally achieved that they believed in her. Her first feat, which cost her great effort and gave her power, was laying carpets. The count had expensive gobelins and Persian rugs in his house. When Natasha got down to business, there were two open boxes in the hall: one almost to the top with porcelain, the other with carpets. There was still a lot of porcelain set on the tables, and everything was still being carried from the pantry. It was necessary to start a new, third box, and people followed him.
“Sonya, wait, let’s put everything in this way,” said Natasha.
“It’s impossible, young lady, they already tried it,” said the barmaid.
– No, stop, please. - And Natasha began to get dishes and plates wrapped in paper from the drawer.
“The dishes should be here, in the carpets,” she said.
“Yes, and God forbid, put the carpets into three boxes,” said the barman.
- Wait, please. - And Natasha quickly, deftly began to disassemble. “It’s not necessary,” she said about Kyiv plates, “yes, it’s in carpets,” she said about Saxon dishes.
- Yes, leave it, Natasha; Well, that’s enough, we’ll put it down, ”Sonya said reproachfully.
- Oh, young lady! the butler said. But Natasha did not give up, threw out all the things and quickly began to pack again, deciding that bad home carpets and extra dishes should not be taken at all. When everything was taken out, they began to lay again. And indeed, throwing out almost everything cheap, what was not worth taking with you, everything of value was put into two boxes. Only the lid of the carpet box did not close. It was possible to take out a few things, but Natasha wanted to insist on her own. She packed, shifted, pressed, forced the barman and Petya, whom she dragged along into the business of packing, to press the lid and herself made desperate efforts.
“Come on, Natasha,” Sonya told her. - I see you're right, take out the top one.
“I don’t want to,” Natasha shouted, holding her loose hair over her sweaty face with one hand, pressing the carpets with the other. - Yes, press it, Petka, press it! Vasilyich, press! she shouted. The carpets pressed down and the lid closed. Natasha, clapping her hands, squealed with joy, and tears gushed from her eyes. But it lasted for a second. She immediately set to work on another matter, and they completely believed her, and the count was not angry when they told him that Natalya Ilyinishna had canceled his order, and the servants came to Natasha to ask: should the cart be tied or not and was it enough imposed? The matter was argued thanks to Natasha's orders: unnecessary things were left and the most expensive things were packed in the most cramped way.
But no matter how busy all the people were, by late at night not everything could be packed. The countess fell asleep, and the count, postponing his departure until morning, went to bed.
Sonya and Natasha slept without undressing in the sofa room. That night, a new wounded man was being transported through Povarskaya, and Mavra Kuzminishna, who was standing at the gate, turned him around to the Rostovs. This wounded man, according to Mavra Kuzminishna, was a very significant person. He was carried in a carriage completely covered with an apron and with the top down. An old man, a respectable valet, was sitting on the goats with the driver. Behind the cart were a doctor and two soldiers.
- Come to us, please. The gentlemen are leaving, the whole house is empty,” said the old woman, turning to the old servant.
- Yes, - answered the valet, sighing, - and not to bring tea! We have our own house in Moscow, but far away, and no one lives.
“We are welcome, our masters have a lot of everything, please,” said Mavra Kuzminishna. - Are you very unhealthy? she added.
The valet waved his hand.
- Do not bring tea! You need to ask the doctor. And the valet got off the goat and went up to the wagon.
“Good,” said the doctor.
The valet again went up to the carriage, looked into it, shook his head, ordered the coachman to turn into the yard, and stopped beside Mavra Kuzminishna.
- Lord Jesus Christ! she said.
Mavra Kuzminishna offered to bring the wounded man into the house.
“The Lord won’t say anything…” she said. But it was necessary to avoid climbing the stairs, and therefore the wounded man was carried into the wing and laid in the former room of m me Schoss. This wounded man was Prince Andrei Bolkonsky.
The last day of Moscow has come. It was clear, cheerful autumn weather. It was Sunday. As on ordinary Sundays, the gospel was announced for mass in all churches. No one, it seemed, could yet understand what awaited Moscow.
Only two indicators of the state of society expressed the situation in which Moscow was: the mob, that is, the class of poor people, and the prices of objects. Factory workers, servants and peasants in a huge crowd, in which officials, seminarians, noblemen got involved, on this day, early in the morning, went to the Three Mountains. After standing there and not waiting for Rostopchin and making sure that Moscow would be surrendered, this crowd scattered around Moscow, to drinking houses and taverns. Prices that day also indicated the state of affairs. The prices of weapons, gold, carts and horses kept going up, while the prices of paper money and city things kept going down, so that in the middle of the day there were cases when cabbies took out expensive goods, like cloth, from the floor, and for a peasant horse paid five hundred rubles; furniture, mirrors, bronzes were given away for free.
In the sedate and old house of the Rostovs, the disintegration of the former living conditions expressed itself very weakly. With regard to people, it was only that three people from a huge household disappeared during the night; but nothing was stolen; and with regard to the prices of things, it turned out that the thirty carts that came from the villages were enormous wealth, which many envied and for which Rostov was offered huge money. Not only did they offer a lot of money for these carts, from the evening and early morning of September 1, orderlies and servants from wounded officers came to the Rostovs’ courtyard and dragged the wounded themselves, placed at the Rostovs and in neighboring houses, and begged the Rostovs’ people to take care of that they were given carts to leave Moscow. The butler, who was approached with such requests, although he felt sorry for the wounded, resolutely refused, saying that he would not even dare to report this to the count. No matter how pitiful the remaining wounded were, it was obvious that if you gave up one cart, there was no reason not to give up another, that's all - to give up your crews. Thirty carts could not save all the wounded, and in the general disaster it was impossible not to think about yourself and your family. So thought the butler for his master.
Waking up on the morning of the 1st, Count Ilya Andreich quietly left the bedroom, so as not to wake the countess who had just fallen asleep by morning, and in his purple silk dressing gown went out onto the porch. The carts, tied up, stood in the yard. The carriages were at the porch. The butler stood at the entrance, talking to an old batman and a young, pale officer with a bandaged arm. The butler, seeing the count, made a significant and stern sign to the officer and orderly to leave.
- Well, is everything ready, Vasilich? - said the count, rubbing his bald head and looking good-naturedly at the officer and orderly and nodding his head to them. (The count liked new faces.)
- At least harness now, Your Excellency.
- Well, that's nice, the countess will wake up, and with God! What are you, gentlemen? he turned to the officer. - In my house? The officer moved closer. His pale face suddenly flushed bright red.
