The auto industry has never been a strong point of our industry. In fact, almost the entire history of the domestic auto industry is a history of copying and borrowing Western analogues. Portal site tracked in the history of western automotive industry machines that we used to consider "ours".
GAS A/Ford A
The first mass-produced passenger car of the new Soviet state, produced from 1932 to 1936. The car was originally presented in the body of a phaeton, which eventually was supplemented by a sedan and a pickup truck. 3.3 liter engine with 40 hp. accelerated GAZ A to 90 km / h. Retail sales of the car were sporadic (in total, about 1000 cars sold to private hands), and government services, the army and taxi companies became the main consumers. General release amounted to 41,917 cars.
At its core, GAZ A was a licensed copy American Ford Model A (photo on the right), which had already been taken out of production in the States by the start of production in the USSR. In the process of adaptation, Soviet engineers and designers based on GAZ A created several more modifications, including fire, armored and half-tracked.
KIM-10/Ford Perfect
As planned by the Soviet authorities, the KIM-10 was supposed to be the first mass-produced car intended for sale to the public. The basis for the first "people's" car of the USSR was a technically simple and inexpensive Ford Perfect model of 1938, produced by the English division of the American brand. According to the projects of Soviet designers in the United States, stamps of three bodies were created: a coupe, a sedan and a convertible.
The first production models of the KIM-10 saw the light in April 1941. And less than three months later, production was stopped - the Great Patriotic War began.
In total, the plant managed to make less than 1000 cars.
Moskvitch 400/ Opel Kadett K38
Ideological follower of KIM-10. It was decided to create a new "people's" car on the basis of one of the German "trophy" cars, which by the end of the war on the territory of the USSR had accumulated a lot. The choice fell on a fairly modern theme Opel times Kadett K38 model 1937. True, the car had to be recreated almost anew, since most of the documentation and equipment Opel factory were destroyed or taken out by the Americans ( Brand Opel owned by General Motors since 1929).
As a result, in December 1946, the first Moskvich 400 was produced. At the beginning of its production, the car was equipped with a 1.1-liter engine with 23 hp, a three-speed manual transmission and an independent front suspension. The Moskvich was produced in several body types, including sedan, convertible, van, pickup truck and chassis cab.
A total of 247,861 vehicles were produced between 1946 and 1956.
GAZ-M20 Pobeda/Opel Kapitan
The first serial Soviet car with a load-bearing body. The GAZ-20 was equipped with a 2.1-liter four-cylinder engine, weak for its mass, with a power of 52 hp. with a three-speed gearbox without synchronizers (later synchronizers appeared on the 2nd and 3rd gears). A limited version of the GAZ-M20G with a more powerful 90-horsepower six-cylinder engine was created specifically for special services.
GAZ-M20 was not created by direct copying, but was the quintessence of the technical ideas of all captured and delivered under Lend-Lease equipment that ended up on the territory of the Soviet Union after the war. However, a significant role in the creation of "Victory" was played by German Opel Kapitan (at that time - the flagship model range Opel) - just him design features were largely adapted to create a new domestic model.
By the way, the modification of the Pobeda (GAZ-M72) on the all-wheel drive GAZ-69 chassis of the 1955 model is, in fact, the world's first crossover - that is, an all-wheel drive off-road passenger car with a load-bearing body.
In total, 235,999 cars were produced from 1946 to 1958.
GAZ-21 Volga/Ford Mainline/ Plymouth Savoy/Chevrolet 210 DeLuxe
Like the Pobeda, the GAZ-21 is not a direct Soviet counterpart to any of the Western models. Moreover, at the initial stage of development, domestic designers acted completely independently, trying to modernize the existing GAZ-M20. Already during the sea trials of the next generation prototype, the GAZ plant took foreign samples for study and comparison, among which were Ford, Plymouth, Chevrolet, Kaiser, Willys, Opel models.
As a result, the new GAZ-21 Volga stylistically began to strongly resemble all the available Western counterparts of that time, but it was not a copy of any of them. In addition, some technical solutions were borrowed from Western models, which our designers recognized as successful or in the creation of which our specialists had no experience. Thus, the GAZ-21 Volga became the first mass-produced Soviet car to be equipped with an automatic transmission based on the Ford-O-Matic transmission.
During the production GAZ-21 had a large number of modifications with different bodies and engines, including a station wagon, a “front” convertible, special services vehicles with a V8 engine, as well as export diesel versions.
In total, 639,483 cars were produced from 1956 to 1970.
ZAZ 965/Fiat 600
After the release of the Moskvich 402 model, which turned out to be almost twice as expensive as its “budget” predecessor, the question arose again of creating a cheap car capable of transporting four people. Having studied Western analogues, Soviet designers chose a model for adaptation - it turned out to be a 1955 Fiat 600. Compact two-door hatchback rear-engine and rear-wheel drive layout. ( Front wheel drive vehicles were not considered by our designers, since the domestic industry was not able to master the production of constant velocity joints (CV joints).
As a result, the Fiat 600 was significantly redesigned at the MZMA plant and was originally called Moskvich-444. However, serial production was mastered at two plants in Zaporozhye and Melitopol, after which the car was given the name "ZAZ-965". The car with a length of 3.33 meters received a three-volume body (unlike the two-volume Fiat), a four-cylinder engine air cooling with a volume of 870 "cubes" (26 hp) and a front suspension on two transverse torsion bars.
In total, from 1960 to 1969, 322,166 cars of all modifications were produced.
ZAZ 966 (968)/NSU Prinz 4
The next generation of "Zaporozhets", which received the index 966 (after minor modernization - 968), was also copied from the Western counterpart. This time, the appearance of the Soviet car almost literally repeated the exterior of the West German NSU Prinz 4 of the 1961 model, which in turn was stylistically close, first of all, to the 1959 Chevrolet Corvair.
The German car did not have advanced technical stuffing, but was successful due to its cheapness and simplicity of design - initially an air-cooled two-cylinder engine (later the 1200 V4 engine), a synchronized gearbox and differential were in a single housing at the rear of the car.
All these technical features were completely recreated on ZAZ 966 (968). The only "brand" difference was the "ears" - air intakes on the sides of the ZAZ, which disappeared with the release of the restyled version of the ZAZ 968M. "Eared" did not possess a high degree reliability, but was very "tenacious" - the ability to move with strong technical problems formed the basis of many jokes.
In total, modifications of the ZAZ 966 (968) lasted on the assembly line from 1967 until 1994.
GAZ 24/Ford Falcon/Plymouth Valiant
The most massive passenger car of the Gorky Automobile Plant. Like previous model, "Twenty-fourth" was not designed "under the carbon copy", but on the basis of the general trends of the models of the American automobile industry of those years. Stylistically, the exterior and interior features of such cars as the Ford Falcon and Plymouth Valiant of the early 1960s are clearly discernible.
The main aggregate component was a 2.5-liter gasoline engine (85 or 95 hp) and a four-speed manual gearbox. A 5.5-liter V8 engine paired with an “automatic” was installed on a limited batch of cars. In addition, Soviet designers tried to master the installation of foreign six-cylinder gasoline engines under the hood of the GAZ-24, as well as a French diesel engine for export options. Structurally, the GAZ-24 was at the level of its American counterparts, but was noticeably inferior European cars the same class.
Just like the GAZ-21, the new Volga had many body modifications and became the most prestigious mass machine of his time in the USSR.
In total, from 1970 to 1992, 1,481,561 GAZ-24 vehicles were produced. Upgraded versions of the GAZ-24 were produced until 2009.
VAZ 2101/Fiat 124
Today, hardly anyone knows that the legendary Soviet "Kopeyka" is a licensed copy of the Italian Fiat 124 model of 1966, which in the same year received the title "Car of the Year in Europe". In general, the Soviet auto industry has become truly massive, starting with the VAZ-2101. With the advent of this model in the Soviet Union, not only a new plant is being built, but also subsidiaries to provide it, and an automobile infrastructure for the population is also being developed.
Despite the high-profile title, the Fiat 124 was not an advanced car for its time, but it was distinguished by good consumer and driving qualities with a simple design and low price. Technically, the VAZ-2101 is not an exact copy of Fiat, since the latter was originally created with good European roads and a warm climate in mind. During driving tests, our engineers “shaken up” the design of almost all components and assemblies, making the car more reliable in the conditions of domestic realities.
For Soviet car owners of that time, the VAZ-2101 became a real technological breakthrough in many respects, the main of which was comfort, both driving and operational.
Despite the fact that the production of the Fiat 124 was completed in 1976, the VAZ-2101 and all its subsequent modifications existed on the assembly line for almost 42 years (!) From 1970 right up to September 2012.
Moskvich 2141/Simca-Chrysler 1307
In the second half of the seventies of the last century, following the example of AvtoVAZ, the new management of the AZLK plant began to search for a foreign partner with a finished model, the production of which could be established in the Soviet Union. In terms of concept and price, the “new Moskvich” was supposed to be front-wheel drive and take its place between the massive Zhiguli and the prestigious Volga.
The choice fell on french car Simca-1307 model 1975, produced by a subsidiary of Chrysler Europe. Just like the Fiat 124 of its day, the Simca-1307 won the European Car of the Year title in 1976. AZLK designers completely redesigned the front of the car for the installation of a domestic engine, replaced the rear torsion bar suspension Simca semi-independent beam with coil springs and modified body panels. However, the body frame and the general appearance of the model, called "Moskvich 2141", repeated the French car.
The main advantages of the car were a spacious and ergonomic interior for its time, as well as a good directional stability and ease of management. Disadvantages - weak outdated engines from the VAZ-2106 or the Ufa Motor Plant. Frankly poor build quality, components and corrosion resistance, in the end, and ruined the car, and then the entire AZLK plant.
Over the history of Moskvich 2141, several modernization attempts have been made, including the installation of a diesel engine. Ford engine and gasoline engine Renault. Several modifications were also released in the body of a sedan, coupe, pickup truck and station wagon project. All of them have remained piece or exhibition.
"Moskvich 2141" was produced from 1986 to 2003.
Volga Siber/Chrysler Sebring/Dodge Stratus
By the end of the “zero” years, at the GAZ enterprise, the question arose once again of replacing the Volga model, which was archaic in all respects, the design of which was no less than 38 years old. According to the established Soviet tradition, it was decided to make a licensed copy of the already discontinued in the States with the new model. chrysler car Sebring (Dodge Stratus) of the 2000 model, especially since the domestic plant already had an agreement with Chrysler for the supply of engines.
As a result, in 2008 with minimal external and technical changes the car went into production. A “native” 2.4-liter engine was installed on the car, first with a four-speed automatic, and then with a five-speed manual transmission. There were plans to install 2.0 and V6 2.7 liter gasoline engines, but they were not destined to come true.
After only two years, in October 2010, due to extremely low demand, the production of Volga Siber was curtailed. Let's explain the failure: domestic consumers were waiting for the new Volga - that is, large, structurally simple and cheap car, but received a relatively modern "foreign car" of the corresponding cost.
With the end of the production of Volga Siber, the history of the production of GAZ passenger cars was over. To date, contract assembly has been established at the vacant capacities Skoda cars, Volkswagen and Chevrolet.
A total of 8,933 Volga Siber vehicles were produced from 2008 to 2010.
Lada Largus/ Dacia Logan MCV
In 2009, the Russian authorities turned to the leadership Renault-Nissan Alliance with a request to modernize the AvtoVAZ plant (the Franco-Japanese concern at that time already owned 25% of the shares of the Russian enterprise).
It was decided to joint production new model - which is a licensed copy of the Franco-Romanian car Dacia Logan MCV. Especially for the new model, new production facilities were created or converted. In addition, the level of localization of the new machine has exceeded 60%, and by 2014 should be 72%.
Aggregately Lada Largus is no different from its European "analogue", which in soon will be introduced in the second generation. Under the hood is a 1.6 petrol engine with a capacity of 84 or 105 horsepower, docked with a five-speed mechanics. The changes of domestic engineers were reduced to "point" modifications of the suspension, the installation of plastic and rubber anthers, mud flaps and protective pads.
Lada Largus is available only as a station wagon, both in five and seven-seat versions. There is also a cargo commercial modification. The installation of an automatic transmission is being considered. In any case, Lada Largus is by far the most modern model produced under the Russian brand.
According to the plan, the production of the car should last until 2023.
At the moment, of all the enterprises producing domestic passenger cars, only the giant AvtoVAZ with its subsidiary IzhAvto has survived, and even then, thanks to unprecedented financial investments from the state. As well as the Sollers group of companies, which managed to maintain the production of UAZ SUVs.
However, AvtoVAZ in the near future should completely come under the control of the Renault-Nissan alliance, which will definitely focus on the production of its own models in Russia (albeit under the Lada brand). And Sollers is already focused on licensed assembly of Ford, SsangYong, Isuzu,.
Most likely, in the coming decades, the history of the passenger domestic auto industry will come to its logical end. Leaving endless attempts to adapt and modernize obsolete domestic and Western counterparts, Russian enterprises will simply become production sites for global automotive brands.
The material uses photographs from the sites nnm.ru, motor.net.pl, zp-avto.ru, dic.academic.ru, ned.ronet.ru, autowp.ru, telegraaf.nl, wwww.zaz.su, tempauto. su, lada-largus.com, cep.sabah.com.tr.
At the end of 1960, the Zaporozhye plant "Kommunar" produced the first series of cars "Zaporozhets". The dream of a "people's car" has become a reality. The Soviet automobile industry fulfilled the dreams of both a peasant car and a car for the party elite.
Zaporozhets
Since the mid-1950s, people's requests for a compact, inexpensive "people's" car have become more and more widespread. The task of creating one was set by the state economic planning authorities for development in the period 1959-1965. It was decided to take the Fiat 600 as the basis for the future car. It must be said that the “humpback” was not a blind copy of the Italian small car. Many structural units have undergone significant changes. ZAZ 965 became a real "people's car", "starred" in such films as "Three plus two", "Queen of the gas station" and many others. A "humpback" appeared even in the cartoons "Just you wait" and "Vacations in Prostokvashino."
The Ukrainian auto industry, having experimented on the “humpbacked” Zaporozhets, which was a replica of the six hundredth Fiat, during the years of Brezhnev’s rule released a new model, an almost full-fledged, but very compact sedan, similar in exterior to the Chevrolet Corvairс. Distinctive feature the car became large air intakes, which the people immediately dubbed ears, from which ZAZ 966 got its nickname. In later models, the "ears" were cropped, but the nickname remained. "Eared" was the first car of Vladimir Putin, a 19-year-old law student won his first car in the DOSAAF lottery.
ZIL-111
"Catching up and overtaking America" was the main goal in the development of Soviet industry in the 1950-60s. This trend also affected the domestic auto industry, especially its representative segment. The first secretary of the CPSU, Nikita Khrushchev, wanted the same car as the American president, only better. By the end of the 50s, the “Stalinist” ZIS-110, which had served faithfully for 13 years, became obsolete and ceased to suit immediately for several reasons. Firstly, it did not outwardly correspond to the trends in the development of auto design, and secondly, the ZIS-110 was not a piece, it was produced on an assembly line and filled taxi fleets. It is clear that the head of the Soviet Union could not drive the same car with mere mortals. An order was given for the production of a new executive car; the result of this order was the ZIL-111. Suspiciously similar to the American Cadillac, the Zil-111 combines all the best that the automotive industry could give: an automatic transmission with push-button controls, power windows, a V-shaped eight-cylinder engine, power steering, a four-headlight lighting system and a representative seven-seater saloon. During the production of the model, only 112 cars were produced. An interesting fact: when the production of executive cars "Huntsy" began in China, the design of the ZIL-111 was taken as the basis.
"Gull"
The most beautiful car Soviet Union, "Seagull" was the most massive Soviet executive class car. In terms of its external appearance, the car was a compilation of design solutions from the American automobile industry, the so-called fin style, or “Detroit Baroque”. "The Seagull" can be attributed to centenarians Soviet car industry: cars were produced from 1959 to 1981. The heads of ministries and departments, the first secretaries of the republican communist parties, the ambassadors of the USSR abroad traveled on the "Seagulls". In addition, several special modifications of the car were produced: filming, semi-phaetons, the case of the production of a railway railcar based on the GAZ-13 is also known.
Immediately after the start of production of "Seagulls", a "hunt" began for them - an elegant, comfortable car seduced party functionaries, but the obsolete ZiM remained the main member carrier. A way out of the situation was found: at one of the defense plants, the front and rear end from Zim. In practice, a camouflaged car of a high level of comfort was obtained, popularly nicknamed "Oslobyk". "Gull" for a long time was inaccessible to the mass buyer, after two overhauls it was supposed to be disposed of. Only in the 70s, Brezhnev allowed to make money on the "Seagulls": the cars began to be widely used by registry offices, served by Intourist, diplomatic missions of foreign countries, ministers, military parades, Soviet ambassadors abroad and stars visiting the USSR.
"Volga"
Volga should be black. The black 24th Volga was a symbol of an entire era, which is not surprising - the car was produced from 1970 to 1992. This car was an indicator of well-being and the cherished dream of every Soviet citizen. The mass sale of the Volga to private hands, however, was never envisaged: most of the cars went for distribution to government agencies, in taxi companies and for export. Only very wealthy people could afford the Volga, in comparison with the “popular” Moskvich and Zhiguli, nomenclature cars were very expensive. "Volga" was produced in several modifications, the most common was, of course, a sedan. There were fewer station wagons, and almost all of them went to the needs of the national economy, so for a long time they could be bought either in Beryozka chain stores for checks, or received on an individual order.
VAZ 2101 ("Penny")
VAZ 2101, "Kopeyka" - a legendary car, the most popular car in the USSR. The Italian Fiat 124 was taken as the prototype of the first Zhiguli model. True, the Italian was significantly improved, more than 800 changes were made to the Fiat design.
"One", as the people at first lovingly called the VAZ 2101, was a revolutionary car for Soviet motorists. The level of execution and assembly of cars was at a very high level. Suffice it to say that many of the changes made by Soviet designers were used later in the production of cars in Italy. "Kopeyka" was a favorite car not only in the Soviet Union, but also in the countries of the socialist bloc. In Cuba, to this day, "penny limousines" are used as fixed-route taxis. In 2000, according to the results of a survey of almost 80 thousand motorists from Russia and the CIS countries, conducted by the magazine Za Rulem, the VAZ 2101 was recognized as "the best Russian car of the century."
VAZ-2108 ("Chisel")
"Eight" was the first front-wheel drive Soviet car. For the domestic automotive industry, it was a revolutionary model. Before that, all Zhiguli models were exclusively rear-wheel drive. Some components and assemblies of the VAZ-2108 were developed jointly with Western companies Porsche and UTS. The amount of the contract between the Minavtoprom and Porsche is unknown. However, it is rumored that sharpening the "chisel" allowed the company to build a full-size wind tunnel to replace the wretched climate chamber. For its unusual shape, the “eight” was immediately dubbed the “chisel” by the people, however, despite the nickname, the car “took root”.
Copying foreign cars began with the very first Soviet passenger cars produced under license from Ford. Over time, copying took place most often without the permission of Western car factories. The Research Automobile Institute of the USSR purchased several advanced models "for study" from the capitalist oppressors of the working people at once, and a few years later the Soviet analogue rolled off the assembly lines. True, often by that time the prototype was already outdated and out of production, and the Soviet copy was produced for more than a decade.
GAS A
The first mass passenger car of the USSR was borrowed from the American automobile industry. GAZ A is a licensed copy of the American Ford-A. The USSR bought equipment and documents for production from an American company in 1929, and two years later the Ford-A was discontinued. A year later, in 1932, the first GAZ-A cars were produced.
Despite the fact that the first cars of the plant were manufactured according to the drawings of the American Ford, they were already somewhat different from the American prototypes. After 1936, the operation of the obsolete GAZ-A was prohibited in Moscow and Leningrad. Small car owners were ordered to hand over the GAZ-A to the state and purchase a new GAZ-M1 with an additional payment.
Leningrad-1
The Soviet experimental passenger car was an almost exact copy of the Buick-32-90, which by American standards belonged to the upper-middle class.
The Krasny Putilovets plant, which previously produced Fordson tractors, produced 6 copies of the L1 in 1933. A significant part of the cars could not reach Moscow on their own without serious damage. As a result, "Red Putilovets" was reoriented to the production of tractors and tanks, and the completion of the L1 was transferred to the Moscow ZiS.
Since the Buick body no longer corresponded to the fashion of the mid-thirties, it was redesigned at ZiS. Based on Soviet sketches, the American body shop Budd Company designed an elegant and outwardly modern body for those years. It cost the state half a million dollars and took 16 months.
GAZ-M-1
GAZ-M1, in turn, was designed according to the samples of the Ford Model B (Model 40A) of 1934, the documentation for which was transferred to GAZ by the American side under the terms of the contract.
During the adaptation of the model to domestic conditions operation, the car was largely redesigned by Soviet specialists. Emka surpassed later Ford products in some positions.
KIM-10
The first Soviet serial subcompact car, based on the development of the British Ford Prefect.
In the USA, stamps were made and body drawings were developed according to the models of a Soviet designer. In 1940, the plant began production of this model. KIM-10 was supposed to be the first truly "people's" Soviet car, but the Great Patriotic War prevented the implementation of the ambitious plan of the country's leadership to provide the majority of citizens with personal cars.
ZIS-110
The body design of the first Soviet post-war luxury car almost completely imitated the American Packards of the older pre-war production series. Down to the smallest detail, the ZIS-110 was similar to the Packard 180 with the Touring Sedan body of the last pre-war model of 1942.
An independent Soviet development was specially betrayed by the appearance of the American Packard in accordance with the taste preferences of the country's top leadership and, mainly, Stalin personally.
It is unlikely that the American company liked such a creative development of its ideas in the design of the Soviet car, but there were no complaints from its side in those years, especially since the production of large Packards was not resumed after the war.
Moskvich 400
The Soviet small car was a complete analogue of the car Opel Kadett K38, produced in 1937-1940 in Germany at the German Opel branch of the American concern General Motors, recreated after the war on the basis of surviving copies, documentation and equipment.
Part of the equipment for the production of the car was removed from the Opel plant in Rüsselheim (located in the American occupation zone) and assembled in the USSR. A significant part of the lost documentation and equipment for production was recreated, and the work was carried out in Germany by order of the Soviet military administration by mixed labor teams, consisting of seconded Soviet and civilian German specialists who worked in the design bureaus created after the war.
The next three generations of "Muscovites" will be lagging behind the production of Opel.
GAZ-M-12
Six-seven-seater passenger car big class with a body "six-window long wheelbase sedan" was developed on the basis of the Buick Super. Serially produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant (Molotov Plant) from 1950 to 1959 (some modifications - until 1960.)
The plant was strongly recommended to completely copy the Buick of the 1948 model, but the engineers, based on the proposed model, designed a car that relies as much as possible on the units and technologies already mastered in production. ZiM was not a copy of any particular foreign car, neither in terms of design, nor, in particular, in technical aspect- in the latter, the plant's designers even managed to some extent "say a new word" within the framework of the global automotive industry. In October 1950, the first industrial batch of GAZ-M-12 was assembled.
GAZ-21 "Volga"
The passenger car of the middle class was technically created by domestic engineers and designers from scratch, but outwardly copied mainly American models of the early 1950s. During the development, the designs of foreign cars were studied: Ford Mainline, Chevrolet 210, Plymouth Savoy, Standard Vanguard and Opel Kapitän.
GAZ-21 was mass-produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1956 to 1970. The factory index of the model was originally GAZ-M-21, later (since 1965) - GAZ-21.
By the time you start serial production By world standards, the design of the Volga has already become at least ordinary, and it no longer stood out against the background of serial foreign cars of those years. Already by 1960, the Volga was a car with a hopelessly outdated design.
Moskvich-402
The appearance of a small class car repeated Opel model Olympia Rekord - the successor to the Opel Kadett K38. The participation of specialists from GAZ, where the development of the Volga GAZ-21 was in full swing, had a strong influence on the designed car. "Moskvich" took over from her many elements of its design.
Serial production of "Moskvich-402" was curtailed in May 1958.
GAZ-13 "Seagull"
Executive passenger car of a large class, created under the clear influence of the latest models of the American company Packard, which in those years were just being studied at US (Packard Caribbean convertible and Packard Patrician sedan, both 1956 model years).
"The Seagull" was created with a clear focus on American style, like all GAZ products of those years, but was not a 100% "stylistic copy" or Packard's modernization. The car was produced in a small series at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1959 to 1981. A total of 3,189 cars of this model were manufactured.
"Seagulls" were used as a personal transport of the highest nomenclature (mainly ministers, first secretaries of regional committees), which was issued as part of the required "package" of privileges.
Both "Chaika" sedans and convertibles were used in parades, served at meetings of foreign leaders, prominent figures and heroes, and were used as escort vehicles. Also, "Seagulls" came to "Intourist", where, in turn, everyone could order them for use as wedding limousines.
ZIL-111
Copying the American design at various Soviet factories led to the fact that the appearance of the ZIL-111 car was created according to the same patterns as the Chaika. As a result, the country simultaneously produced externally similar cars. ZIL-111 is often mistaken for the more common "Seagull".
A car upper class stylistically, it was a compilation of various elements of American middle and upper class cars of the first half of the 1950s - mainly reminiscent of Cadillac, Packard and Buick. The external design of the ZIL-111, like the "Seagull", was based on the design of the models of the American company Packard in 1955-56. But compared to the Packard models, the ZiL was larger in all dimensions, looked much stricter and "square", with straightened lines, had a more complex and detailed decor.
From 1959 to 1967, only 112 copies of this car were assembled.
ZAZ-965
The main prototype of the minicar was the Fiat 600.
The car was designed by MZMA ("Moskvich") together with automotive institute US. The first samples received the designation "Moskvich-444", and already differed significantly from the Italian prototype. Later, the designation was changed to "Moskvich-560". Meanwhile, the conveyor of the MZMA itself was fully loaded by that time, and the plant had no reserves for mastering the production of a minicar. Therefore, in order to produce a car, it was decided to reconstruct the Kommunar plant in the city of Zaporozhye (Ukrainian SSR), which was previously engaged in the production of combines and other agricultural machinery.
ZAZ-966
A passenger car of an especially small class demonstrates a considerable similarity in design with the German subcompact NSU Prinz IV (Germany, 1961).
GAZ-24 "Volga"
The middle-class passenger car became a hybrid of the North American Ford Falcon and Plymouth Valiant.
Serially produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1969 to 1992. The appearance and design of the car were fairly standard for this direction, specifications were also about average. Most of the Volga was not intended for sale for personal use and was operated by taxi companies and other government organizations.
VAZ-2101
VAZ-2101 "Zhiguli" - a rear-wheel drive passenger car with a sedan body is an analogue of the Fiat 124 model, which received the title "Car of the Year" in 1967.
By agreement between the Soviet Foreign Trade and Fiat, the Italians created the Volga Automobile Plant in Togliatti with a full production cycle. The concern was entrusted with the technological equipment of the plant, training of specialists.
VAZ-2101 has been subjected to major changes. In total, over 800 changes were made to the design of the Fiat 124, after which it received the name Fiat 124R. "Russification" of the Fiat 124 turned out to be extremely useful for the FIAT company itself, which has accumulated unique information about the reliability of its cars in extreme conditions operation.
VAZ-2103
Rear-wheel drive passenger car with a body type sedan. It was developed jointly with the Italian company Fiat on the basis of the Fiat 124 and Fiat 125 models.
Later, on the basis of the VAZ-2103, the "project 21031" was developed, later renamed the VAZ-2106.
VAZ-2105
The VAZ-2105 model was developed through a major modernization of previously produced models as part of the "second" generation rear wheel drive vehicles VAZ as a replacement for the first-born VAZ-2101. The design was based on the Fiat 128 Berlina.
In the intro for episode 15 of season 17 of The Simpsons, in which the Simpsons are played by real actors in real scenery, Homer is driving home in a Lada Nova (the export name for the five).
Moskvich-2141
A replacement for Moskvich-412 was designed only in the 1980s, and it was already a completely different car - Moskvich-2141, a front-wheel drive hatchback based on the body of the French Simka and the UZAM engine, which was already outdated by that time. Export name - Aleko, from the Automobile Plant of Lenin Komsomol.
As the best prototype for speeding up the design of a new car, the Minavtoprom saw the recently appeared Franco-American model Simca 1308 produced by the European branch of Chrysler Corporation. The designers were ordered to copy the car down to the hardware." However, during the development process, the body of the Moskvich was redesigned, as a result of which the exterior of the car differed significantly from the French model and, albeit with some stretch, corresponded to the level of the mid-eighties.
In recent years, the territory of the former Union was flooded with cars made not in its expanses. Reliable and strict Germans, creative and sophisticated Japanese, stylish and powerful Americans, cheap French and nauseating Chinese... since foreign cars came, Soviet manufacturers have been in the deepest ass! There are an order of magnitude more Cayennes and Escalades on the streets of Kyiv, Moscow, Minsk and those than Muscovites, Volga or Niv.
But what were they, the cars of the USSR? And how would we see them today, without the Internet and digital photography?..
In 1916, the Ryabushinskys concluded an agreement with the tsarist government for the construction of an automobile plant in Moscow and the production of trucks for the needs of the Imperial Army. The Fiat 15 Ter developed in 1912 was chosen as the base model of the car, which proved itself well in off-road conditions in the colonial wars of Italy. The plant was founded and received the name of the Moscow Automobile Society (AMO). Before the revolution, it was possible to assemble about a thousand cars from ready-made kits, but it was not possible to create their own production facilities.
In the early 1920s, the Labor and Defense Council allocated funds for the creation of a truck. The same Fiat was chosen for the sample. There were two reference copies and partially documentation.
The automobile industry of the Soviet Union started on November 7, 1924. On that day, Moscow saw the first cars of the country's first automobile plant. They passed through Red Square during the October parade - ten red trucks AMO-F15, which were manufactured at the plant, whose brand is known to everyone today as ZIL. The F-15 was produced with a power of 35 hp. and a volume of 4.4 liters. A year later, the first domestic 3-ton trucks were assembled in Yaroslavl, and in 1928 the first four- and five-ton trucks ... but we will talk about Soviet cars
NAMI-1 (1927-1932), maximum speed 70 km/h, power 20 hp. With. The first mass-produced passenger car in Soviet Russia, approximately 370 copies were produced. The features of NAMI-1 included a spinal frame - a pipe with a diameter of 135 mm, an air-cooled engine, the absence of a differential, which, in combination with a ground clearance of 225 mm, provided good cross-country ability, but affected increased wear tires. There were no instruments in NAMI-1, and the body had one door for each row of seats.
The Spartak plant, the former carriage factory of P. Ilyin, where production was launched, did not have the equipment and experience for a full-fledged automobile production. In particular, therefore, the reliability of NAMI-1 caused a lot of criticism. In 1929, the car was modernized: the engine was boosted, a speedometer and an electric starter were installed. There were plans to transfer the production of NAMI-1 to the Izhora plant in Leningrad. However, this was never done, and in October 1930, the release of NAMI-1 was stopped.
Passenger car GAZ-A It was made according to the drawings of the American company "Ford" (1932-1936). Despite this, it was already somewhat different from the American prototypes: for the Russian version, the clutch housing and steering gear were reinforced. Maximum speed 90 km/h, power 40 hp
Passenger car L-1 (1933-1934), maximum speed 115 km/h, power 105 hp. The plant "Krasny Putilovets" (since 1934 the Kirov Plant) by 1932 stopped the production of obsolete wheeled tractors"Fordson-Putilovets" and a group of specialists from the plant put forward the idea to organize the production of representative cars. The prototype of the car, which received the name "Leningrad-1" (or "L-1") was the American "Buick-32-90" in 1932. It was a very perfect and complex (5450 parts) car.
Passenger car GAZ-M-1 (1936-1940), maximum speed 100 km/h, power 50 hp On the basis of the GAZ-M1, modifications of the "taxi" were produced, as well as the "pickup" GAZ-415 (1939-1941). In total, 62,888 GAZ-M1 vehicles left the assembly line, and several hundred have survived to this day. Chassis this model exhibited in automotive department Polytechnic Museum in Moscow.
KIM-10 is the first Soviet mass-produced small car.
1940-41, top speed 90 km/h, power 26 hp
Passenger car ZIS-101. 1936-1941, top speed 120 km/h, power 110 hp
This model was distinguished by many technical solutions that had not previously been encountered in the practice of the domestic automotive industry. Among them: a dual carburetor, a thermostat in the cooling system, a torsional vibration damper on the engine crankshaft, synchronizers in the gearbox, a body heater and a radio receiver.
The car had a dependent spring suspension of all wheels, a spar frame, a vacuum brake booster, rod-driven valves located in the cylinder head. After modernization (in 1940), she received the ZIS-101A index.
Passenger car GAZ-11-73. 1940-1948, top speed 120 km/h, power 76 hp
Passenger car GAZ-61 (1941-1948). Maximum speed 100 km / h, power 85 hp.
Passenger car GAZ-M-20 VICTORY (1946-1958). Maximum speed 105 km / h, power 52 hp. Unique car Soviet automobile industry.
The GAZ-M20 prototype appeared in 1944. In terms of the design of the body-front suspension, the car was very close to the Opel-Kapitan, but on the whole it looked fresh and original, but it became especially obvious in the first post-war years, when mass production of “victories” began in Gorky, and leading European firms revived the production of pre-war models. On prototypes of the GAZ M20 Pobeda, there was a b-cylinder engine;
In 1948, due to design flaws (the car was put on the conveyor in a terrible hurry), the assembly was suspended and resumed in the fall of 1949. Since then, the car has been reputed to be strong, reliable, unpretentious. Until 1955, a version with a 50-horsepower engine was built, then the M20 V version was modernized, in particular, with a 2-horsepower boost. motor. In small quantities for special services, the GAZ-M20 G was produced with a 90-horsepower 6-cylinder engine. In 1949-1954. built 14,222 convertibles - now the most rare modification. In total, until May 1958, 235,999 "victories" were made.
"ZIS-110" (1946-1958), maximum speed 140 km/h, power 140 hp
ZIS-110, a "representative" comfortable limousine, was indeed a design that took into account all the latest achievements at that time automotive technology. This is the first novelty that our industry mastered in the first peaceful year. The design of the car began in 1943, back in the war years, on September 20, 1944, samples of the car were approved by the government, and a year later, in August 1945, the first batch was already being assembled. In 10 months - an unheard of short time - the plant completed the necessary drawings, developed the technology, prepared the necessary tooling and equipment. Suffice it to recall that when the plant mastered the production of ZIS-101 cars in 1936, the preparation for their production took almost a year and a half. At the same time, it should be taken into account that all the most complex equipment - dies for the manufacture of body parts, frame spars, conductors for welding body components - were obtained from the USA. For the ZIS-110, everything was made on their own.
"Moskvich-401" (1954-1956), maximum speed 90 km/h, power 26 hp
Moskvich-401 is actually not even a copy, but in its purest form Opel Kadett K38 of the 1938 model, with the exception of the doors. Some people think that the stamps on rear doors were lost in transit from Rüsselsheim and were rebuilt. But the K38 was also produced with a 2-door, so it is possible that the stamps of this particular version of the car were taken out. The commander of the American occupation zone did not take the money brought by the Soviet delegation, and ordered to give the Russians everything they needed from the Opel factory. On December 4, 1946, the first Moskvich was assembled.
Indexes 400 and 401 - factory designations of engines. The rest indicate the body model: 420 - sedan, 420A - convertible. In 1954 there appeared more powerful model engine - 401. And the latest Moskvich-401s were equipped with new Moskvich-402 engines.
Passenger car MOSKVICH-402 (1956-1958), maximum speed 105 km/h, power 35 hp.
"GAZ-M-12 ZIM" (1950-1959), maximum speed 120 km/h, power 90 hp Engine. At its core, this is a six-cylinder GAZ-11 engine, the design of which the Gorky residents began in 1937. Its release was launched in 1940, and it was used on GAZ-11-73 and GAZ-61 cars, as well as on light tanks and self-propelled guns of the Great Patriotic War and GAZ-51 trucks.
"GAZ-13 CHAYKA" (1959-1975), maximum speed 160 km/h, power 195 hp. With.
Soviet dream car, made in the image and likeness of the Detroit baroque.
"Seagull" was equipped with a V-shaped 5.5-liter engine, X-shaped frame, automatic transmission (!!! 1959 in the yard), the salon consisted of 7 seats. 195 l. With. Under the hood, good acceleration, moderate consumption - what else is needed for complete happiness? But to say all this about "The Seagull" is to say nothing.
"The Seagull" appeared in 1959, at the very height of the Khrushchev thaw. After the gloomy "ZIS" and the gloomy "ZIM", she was distinguished by a surprisingly human, if not feminine, face. True, this face was created in other parts: in terms of design, the GAZ-13 was an unscrupulous copy of the last Packard family - the Patrician and Caribbean models. And far from the first copy, first with Packard they made a ZIL-111 for members of the Politburo, and later they decided to make a simpler limousine to replace the ZIMs.
"GAZ 21R VOLGA" (1965-1970), maximum speed 130 km/h, power 75 hp
"GAZ-24 VOLGA" (1968-1975), maximum speed 145 km/h, power 95 hp
"Volga GAZ-24", which got on the conveyor on July 15, 1970, was created for 6 whole years. Inventing a new car is not an easy task, but the Soviet automakers of the sixties knew the way. And when they received an order to prepare a replacement for the beautiful, but too ancient Volga GAZ-21, they did not suffer from doubts and remorse. They brought three overseas cars - "Ford Falcon", "Plymouth Valiant", "Buick Special" 60-61 years - and, armed with adjustable wrenches, screwdrivers and other tools for analysis, they began to learn from experience.
As a result, "24th" has become a real automotive revelation (compared to its predecessor "21R"). Judge for yourself: the sizes have decreased, and wheelbase increased, the width remained the same, but the interior became more spacious, and the trunk was completely huge. In general, a typical case of "more inside than outside".
"ZAZ-965A ZAPOROZHETS" (1963-1969), maximum speed 90 km/h, power 27 hp
On November 22, 1960, the first batch of brand new cars, serially named ZAZ-965, went to happy customers. Which soon lined up a huge queue, since the price for the "Zaporozhets" was set very reasonable - about 1200 rubles. Then it was about the annual average salary.
Strange as it may seem now, but then the ZAZ-965 was more popular with the intelligentsia than with workers or collective farmers. The reason for this was in many ways too tiny trunk, which could not be loaded with bags of vegetables. The problem was solved only by the creation of a lattice pallet, fixed on the roof of the car, on which they immediately began to load half a ton of potatoes, then a whole stack of hay, which made the Zaporozhets look like Asian donkeys.
ZAZ-968 Zaporozhets, maximum speed 120 km/h, power 45 hp
ZAZ-968 was produced from 1972 to 1980. He had such features as an improved MeMZ-968 engine with an increase to 1.2 liters. displacement, while its power increased to 31 kW (42 hp).
Volga, Zhiguli, Gaz or Moskvich. These are the most famous soviet stamps cars during the Soviet era. Despite this, you will not find many enthusiastic owners of old cars who were satisfied with the possession of Soviet vehicles. The thing is that most cars produced in Soviet years were very unreliable due to build quality.
The reason for the dubious reliability is that most of the cars created in the USSR were based on foreign analogues. But due to the planned economy of the Soviet Union, car factories were forced to save on literally everything. Naturally including savings on the quality of spare parts. Despite the quality of the fleet in our country, we have a rich history of the auto world.
Unfortunately, many Soviet car brands ceased to exist after the fall of communism and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Fortunately, some of the Soviet era auto brands have survived and exist to this day.
Nowadays, the popularity of Soviet vehicles has grown again, as many car models are now of collectible and historical value. Particular interest of the public arises in rare and sometimes strange cars, which were produced during the Soviet era.
Some of these models existed only in the form of prototypes, which never went into production. Cars that were built by private engineers and designers (homemade) are distinguished by a special exclusivity.
We have collected for you the rarest soviet cars, which appeared in the Soviet Union and make the history of our Patriotic auto world much more interesting.
GAZ 62
GAZ is the most famous car brand in our country. Cars under this brand were produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant. In 1952, the GAZ automobile plant introduced the GAZ-62 car, designed to replace the Dodge “three quarters” (WC-52) military SUV, which was used by the Soviet army during World War II.
GAZ-62 is designed to carry 12 people. The carrying capacity of the machine was 1200 kg.
Car designers have used several innovative solutions when creating the GAZ-62. So the machine was equipped with sealed drum brakes, as well as a fan for interior heating.
The car was equipped six-cylinder engine 76 hp This allowed the car to accelerate to 85 km / h.
It is worth noting that after the creation of the prototype, the GAZ-62 passed all the necessary tests. But some design problems did not allow the machine to be put into mass production. As a result, in 1956, GAZ began working on a new prototype.
ZIS-E134 Model No. 1
In 1954, a small group of engineers was given the task of building a special military vehicle for the military. The order came from the USSR Ministry of Defense.
According to the instructions of the Ministry, it was supposed to be a truck with four axles of wheels, which could drive through almost any terrain, carrying a large amount of heavy cargo with it.
As a result, Soviet engineers presented the ZIS-E134 model. As requested by representatives of the USSR Ministry of Defense, the car received eight wheels, four axles, placed along the entire length of the body, which made it possible to create pulling force, which was similar to the strength of armored tank vehicles. As a result, the ZIS-E134 truck easily coped with any rough terrain, which allowed it to go where no vehicle could reach.
The car weighed 10 tons and was able to carry up to 3 tons of cargo. It is worth noting that, despite the weight, the car could reach speeds of 68 km / h on any type of terrain with a hard surface. Off-road, the car accelerated to 35 km / h.
ZIS-E134 Layout No. 2
After the appearance of the first modification of the ZIS-E134, soon Soviet engineers and designers presented the second version of the eight-wheeled monster to the military department. This machine was built in 1956. The second version had a different body structure, reinforced beams, which made it possible to endow the car with landing capabilities. In addition, thanks to the tightness of the body and the special design of the technical part, the car was able to swim like a military tank.
Despite the heavy weight (total weight of 7.8 tons), the car could accelerate on land up to 60 km / h. The speed on the water was 6 km / h.
ZIL E167
In 1963, an off-road military vehicle ZIL-E167 was built in the USSR. The car was designed to move in the snow. ZIL-E167 was equipped with three axles with six wheels. On non-snowy sections of the road, the car could accelerate to 75 km / h. In the snow, the truck could only accelerate to 10 km / h. Yes, it was very slow. Nevertheless, the car had an amazing patency in the snow. So for ZIL to get stuck in the snow, something incredible must have happened.
The car was equipped with two mounted (in the rear) engines with a capacity of 118 hp. The ground clearance of the monster was 852 mm.
Unfortunately, the truck never went into mass production due to the great difficulties in expanding industrial production, as well as due to the inability to create quality box gears.
ZIL 49061
This car is also called "Blue Bird". ZIL-49061 was equipped with six wheels. Unlike its predecessors, this machine went into mass production and became popular in many countries around the world.
The amphibious vehicle was equipped mechanical box gears, independent suspension for each wheel, two propellers.
In addition to the ability to move on the water surface, the SUV could overcome ditches more than 150 cm wide and snow drifts up to 90 cm high.
The maximum speed of the ZIL-49061 on land was 80 km / h. On the water, the car could accelerate to 11 km / h.
The car was mainly used by the USSR military as rescue operations. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the car began to be used by the Rescue Service of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Russian Federation. For example, two "Blue Birds" were sent to Germany in 2002 to participate in an operation to rescue people from a terrible flood. They turned to us for help, since in those years there was no similar equipment in Europe that was capable of performing difficult tasks in water and on land.
ZIL 2906
If you think that today's Russian cars are very strange, then learning about the next rare Soviet car, you will understand that the current vehicles of our country are quite adequate and normal.
During the Soviet era, ZIL-2906 cars were produced in our country, which did not have wheels. Instead, the car was equipped with spiral shafts, which rotated set in motion an unusual car. This allowed the SUV to move on the heaviest muddy terrain.
The body of the car was made of fiberglass. Two spirals installed instead of wheels were made of aluminum. This machine was designed to transport various loads (logged trees, beams, etc.) through swamps and snow.
Despite its advanced technology the car was moving too slowly. The maximum speed of the ZIL was 10 km / h (on the water), 6 km / h when driving through the swamp and 11 km / h when moving through the snow.
VAZ-E2121 "Crocodile"
Work on the creation of a prototype VAZ-E2121 (the letter "E" in the name of the model means "experimental") began in 1971. The car was developed by order of the Government, which wanted our country to have its own passenger SUV, available to the masses. As a result, engineers began to develop an SUV based on the VAZ-2101 and VAZ-2103 models.
Ultimately, Togliatti designers developed a prototype of the E2121 SUV, which later received the nickname "Crocodile" (because of the body color that one of the prototypes received). The car was equipped with all-wheel drive and a 1.6-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine, which was developed for the next generation of VAZ-2106 cars.
Despite not bad idea and the effort expended, this model went into mass production. A total of two examples were built for engineering research and testing.
AZLK MOSKVICH-2150
In 1973, the Moskvich Automobile Plant presented the prototype AZLK-2150. Recall that before that, the Moskvich automobile plant had already presented several conceptual 4 x 4 models. But compared to them, the new AZLK-2150 model had a number of new constructive solutions. For example, the car received a new engine whose compression ratio was reduced to 7.25 (this allowed the car to run on A-67 gasoline). The car was designed for use in countryside(in agriculture).
Unfortunately, like many stunning Soviet models, the AZLK MOSKVICH-2150 SUV never went into mass production. The reason is the lack of funds due to the widespread savings of the state. But it could not be otherwise. In a planned economy, it is generally surprising how so many high-tech cars appeared in the USSR.
In total, two AZLK-2150 prototypes were built: Moskvich-2150 (with a hard top) and Moskvich-2148 (with an open top).
VAZ-E2122
AvtoVAZ had another experimental car project, which received the code designation VAZ-E2122. It was an amphibious vehicle project. Development began in the 70s of the last century.
The most amazing thing is that the movement of the car through the water was carried out due to ordinary wheels. As a result, the maximum speed of the car on the water was only 5 km / h.
The car was equipped with a 1.6 liter gasoline engine, which transmitted torque to all four wheels.
Unfortunately, due to adaptation for movement on water, the car had many design problems. So the engine, transmission and front differential often overheated due to the fact that these components were in special closed cases. This was necessary to protect the vehicle components from water.
In addition, the car had terrible visibility. There were also significant shortcomings in the operation of the exhaust gas system.
Despite a number of difficulties and problems in the development of the machine, the USSR military department was interested in mass production of an amphibious off-road vehicle. As a result, the Ministry of Defense of the Soviet Union ordered several prototypes from AvtoVAZ. But unfortunately, this progressive car project never reached mass production.
UAZ-452k
In the 80s, the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant developed an experimental model 452k based on the famous UAZ-452 "Loaf". The main difference from the standard car was an additional axle, which improved the SUV's stability and traction on rough terrain.
Initially, two versions of cars were created 6 x 4 and 6 x 6. But during the testing process, the developers realized that due to the complexity of the design, the car turned out to be very heavy, which led to huge fuel consumption. As a result, the project was decided to be partially curtailed. But not completely. The UAZ automobile plant eventually produced about 50 copies and sent them to Georgia. As a result, SUVs from 1989 to 1994 were used by various rescue services in the Caucasus. These instances did not cause any particular problems, since the mileage of the cars was relatively small, due to the peculiarity of operation.
ZIL-4102
When ZIL-4102 was created, it should be the successor to the famous ZIL limousine, which was used for many years by government servants and senior officials of the Communist Party of the USSR.
ZIL-4102 was equipped with front-wheel drive, and also had carbon fiber body elements: roof panel, trunk lid, hood and bumper.
Two prototypes were built in 1988. It was originally planned that the model will be equipped with three types of engines: 4.5 liter V6, 6.0 liter V8 and 7.0 liter diesel.
Since this model was designed for the elites, the car was naturally equipped with elements of luxury and comfort. So the car had power windows, ten audio speakers, a CD player, an on-board computer and a white leather interior.
Unfortunately, Mikhail Gorbachev was not impressed with the ZIL-4102, and he did not approve the project. That is why the luxurious ZIL did not go into mass production. It's a pity. We believe that if this model appeared in mass production, then our auto industry today would look different.
NAMI-0284 "DEBUT"
In 1987, the Russian Research Automobile and Automotive Institute (NAMI) developed a front-wheel drive prototype of the car, which was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1988. The machine received the code designation NAMI-0284.
This car attracted huge public attention at exhibitions and received many positive feedback critics and experts of the world car market.
The car had a unique feature for that time - an impressive low coefficient aerodynamic drag air (total 0.23 cd). This is surprising since many modern cars cannot boast such aerodynamic characteristics.
The length of NAMI-0284 was 3685 mm. The car was equipped with a 065 liter engine, which in those years was installed in the Oka (VAZ-1111).
In addition, the experimental model was equipped with electronic servo steering and cruise control.
Despite the low power of the engine (35 hp), given the low weight of the car (less than 545 kg), it was able to accelerate to 150 km / h.
Moskvich AZLK-2142
The first AZLK-2142 "Moskvich" was presented to the public in 1990. Engineers positioned the car in those years as the most modern car ever created by the AZLK automobile plant.
According to the plans of the Moskvich automobile plant, the car was to go into mass production in two years, when the company planned to start producing new generations of Moskvich-414 engines. The general directors of the Lenin Komsomol Automobile Plant - AZLK insisted on postponing the release of the new Moskvich model. He believed that the new promising model should have had new generation power units.
But in the end, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the cessation of state funding stopped the project.
It is noteworthy that despite the fact that the car was not mass-produced, it became the starting point for the development of a new generation of Moskvich-2142, which was produced in three versions: "Prince Vladimir", "Ivan Kalita" and "Duet".
UAZ-3170 "SIMBIR"
The development of the new UAZ SUV began in 1975. It was invented and developed by the leading designer of the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant Alexander Shabanov. As a result, by 1980, the automobile plant introduced the UAZ-3370 Simbir model. SUV had a big ground clearance, which was 325 mm. Also, the car turned out to be quite high (height 1960 mm).
Fortunately, this machine entered mass production. True, due to the planned economy, the car plant could not produce large batches of SUVs. It is worth noting that the car was originally created by order of the Ministry of War. But in the end, the production of both military and civilian modifications was launched in mass production.
In 1990, the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant introduced the second generation of the SUV - UAZ-3171, the development of which began in 1987.
MAZ-2000 "Perestroika"
experimental model truck MAZ-2000 received the code name "Perestroika". The truck was designed with the aim of creating a modern truck for use by Soviet transport companies.
The main feature of the model was the model design of the truck. This meant that parts of the car such as the engine, transmission, front axle and steering were located in front of the car, which reduced the gap between the cab and the loading area. Thanks to the model design of the MAZ-2000 cab, it was possible to increase the volume of the body by 9.9 cubic meters. meters.
The stunning MAZ-2000 truck was first shown at the Paris Motor Show in 1988, where it made an incredible impression on the public from all over the world. In total, several prototypes were built. But unfortunately the project never got the green light and the model didn't see the production line.
Many experts believe that the Perestroika truck became the main inspiration for the designers developing the Renault Magnum truck, which entered mass production at the end of 1990 and then received the prestigious Truck of the Year award in 1991.
What is the reason that our ambitious project MAZ-2000 "Perestroika" did not take place? After all, apparently there were no obstacles to mass production. According to rumors that go around in the auto world, the project did not take place due to the fact that Mikhail Gorbachev sold the design of an amazing truck to the French. Naturally, all this has not been officially confirmed.
Homemade car "Pangolin"
In the Soviet years, everyone knew that reliability and performance domestic cars were not the best in the world. Also our vehicles didn't have a very good design. That is why many Russian engineers decided that since state-owned car factories cannot create cars that are in no way inferior to foreign counterparts, then it is necessary to create them on their own. As a result, many engineers in the USSR, in private, inspired by Western European and American sports cars, began to create their own home-made vehicles.
One such example was the Pangolin sports car created by Alexander Kulygin in 1983.
The body of the car was made of fiberglass. The sports car also received an engine from the VAZ-2101. The designer was inspired by the stunning design of the Lamborghini Countach. As a result, Alexander decided to create a car in the same style.
It is worth noting that this homemade car still exists and participates in various car shows.
True, over the years, some changes have been made to the design of the machine. For example, new doors were installed in the original design of the sports car, which now open up.
Homemade car "Jeep"
In 1981, an engineer from Yerevan, Stanislav Holshanosov, created an exact copy of the famous American SUV Jeep.
In order to build the car, the engineer used components from several other Soviet car models. For example, for a homemade copy of the American SUV, the engineer took the engine from the VAZ-2101. Rear axle, gearbox, electrics, headlights and drive shafts were taken from the Volga GAZ-21
The suspension system, gas tank, instrument cluster and windshield wipers were borrowed from the UAZ-469.
But some parts of the car were created by individual project. For example, the front axle of the car was created from scratch by Stanislav himself.
It is noteworthy that the design of the front axle was repeatedly exhibited at various exhibitions throughout the Soviet Union and received several awards.
Homemade car "Laura"
Another example of an author's car is the Laura sports car, designed and built by two engineers from Leningrad, Dmitry Parfyonov and Gennady Hein. In our country, even today there is not a single normal sports car. Not to mention the USSR. So the engineers had no choice but to create their own sports car.
But unlike other engineers who actually created copies of cars of foreign analogues, Dmitry and Gennady decided to create a completely new car that is nothing like more than one vehicle.
"Laura" was equipped with a 1.5 liter engine with 77 hp, front-wheel drive and an on-board computer. The maximum speed of the sports car was 170 km / h.
Only two examples were built. It is worth noting that these cars were even marked by the leader of the Communist Party, Mikhail Gorbachev. Sports cars have also received many awards.
By the way, both cars are still preserved and are currently exhibited at various exhibitions.
Homemade car "Yuna"
This sports car was created by motorist Yuri Algebraistov. The name of the car was invented on the basis of combinations of the first letters in the name of the designer and his wife ("Natasha"). The car was built in 1982. This is the only sports car today, built on an individual project during the Soviet era, which is still in perfect condition and is used for all its intended purpose.
The fact is that Yuri is still constantly updating his car and carrying out all the necessary technical work on time. That is why the machine is still in good condition and works like new.
At the moment, "Yuna" has covered more than 800 thousand km. True, this became possible thanks to the use of a foreign engine (from the BMW 525i).
Homemade car "Katran"
This car was created by a man who has been obsessed with cars all his life. This car was created by a car enthusiast from the city of Sevastopol. The sports car received a unique body design. For example, the car did not have the doors we are used to. Instead, the engineer used a design that allowed the entire front of the cab, including the windshield, to be folded down so that the driver and passenger could get into the car.
Also, the car received an independent suspension and, more surprisingly, an electronic cruise control system that could maintain a certain speed even on the descent.
