Unique and unusual Soviet cars. What are the Soviet cars VAZ-E2121 "Crocodile" capable of - an early prototype of the legendary Niva

Unique and unusual Soviet cars. What are the Soviet cars VAZ-E2121 "Crocodile" capable of - an early prototype of the legendary Niva

It is generally accepted that the Soviet auto industry as a whole was very poor on all fronts. The Soviet motorist most often got the same type, stamped cars, which could not boast of either an exquisite design or a technical component. But is it really so? Few people know that sometimes really interesting models, which for some reason were not put into mass production.

On the other hand, news periodically appeared that someone had assembled cars in his garage that were able to compete or even surpass foreign concepts of that era. Like many things in the Soviet Union, these events most often remained in the shadows, and only recently photos of conceptual Soviet cars of those times began to get into the network, which could reflect the true scale of this phenomenon.

Who did it?

And if tuning of existing cars was popular in Western countries, Soviet "home-made" preferred to create unique cars from scratch. Most often, such craftsmen created exclusive cars on their own or in a team with like-minded people for personal use. Of course, there were those who tried to promote their creations by organizing demonstration races, thereby raising the culture of the Soviet automobile industry. Such races did not go unnoticed - hundreds of enthusiastic spectators gathered such cars in transit cities. To some extent, it was similar to modern auto shows and exhibitions.

Those who did not want to attract wide public attention, and made cars exclusively for personal use, were much more. In almost every more or less large Soviet city one could meet one or even several passenger cars, which had no analogues in the world. Such cars were created by ordinary citizens, who often were not even auto mechanics. In order to make your own car from scratch, a person had to be at least talented and technically well-versed. But the main thing that motivated such craftsmen was the very idea to realize their creative idea. But the price for this was very high - several years spent in the garage and solid costs for the component. Most often, such designers had a detailed technical project which they tried to stick to throughout production. In turn, many technical components and parts were often finalized "on the go".

In general, the authorities were quite loyal to such activities, however, there were official " Technical requirements to custom-made passenger cars”, which required the use of basic technological systems, such as brakes, steering gear, lighting equipment exclusively of Soviet production.

How were they created?

The main problem in creating homemade cars There were no workshops. Most of the creators exclusive cars there were average people who lived in apartments. But even this was not an obstacle for them - one of the rooms was converted into a workshop, and various technical units, and even entire bodies, were created separately in it. Against this background, the descent of the finished car from the balcony of the apartment seemed like a trifle. There are cases when cars were lowered to the ground using ropes ( sport car Shcherbin brothers), sometimes a truck crane was used (concept car of Henrikh Matevosyan from Yerevan).

Who touched the technical part homemade cars, then here, too, it was possible to turn around. It was too boring to install an exclusive body on the Zhiguli chassis, so the designers created their own undercarriage. Sometimes it was too long and expensive to order a finished engine from the store, so the craftsmen created their own engines. So in the 1980s, the plain-looking car "Spring" by designer Vladimir Mironov appeared, which had an automatic transmission with a V-belt variator, unprecedented at that time in the USSR own production. Of course, this technology has long been used in DAF cars, but few people in the Soviet Union knew about it, but to use automatic transmission Many people wanted gear. Bodies of own production were usually made of fiberglass impregnated with epoxy resin. Body parts were glued onto a blank made of wood or plaster, and in rare cases into a matrix. Matrix technology was more reliable and made it possible to replicate bodies in small batches.

After the car was created and ready for use, it naturally had to be registered, received a registration certificate and numbers. To do this, it was necessary to provide the conclusion of the technical commission on the safety of the built vehicle to the traffic police. Usually such conclusions were issued by the All-Union Voluntary Society of Motorists. In addition, it was necessary to attach checks of all purchased technical details and materials confirming the legality of their acquisition. However, they often turned a blind eye to this, and registration took place without much difficulty.

After the car received numbers, it was often subjected to further restyling. There are cases when a completely new one was created on the basis of one car, since a photograph of the vehicle was not attached to those passports. Be that as it may, due to the fact that such cars were created with love, some of them are still on the move or rest in museums, maintaining a decent technical and external condition.

"Victory-sport", 1950

In 1948, the government of the USSR issued a special decree banning the use of foreign cars in intra-union auto competitions. So, in 1951, on the basis of the bodies and units of the Pobeda serial car, produced at the Gorky car factory a group of engineers led by A. A. Smolin invents three sports racing car"Victory-Sport" codenamed "GAZ-20-SG1" for circuit competitions. These models were the first truly successful Soviet sports cars. They were equipped with engines with rotary superchargers with a capacity of 105 liters. With. Due to which the car could reach a speed of 190 km / h. For six years, two more copies of the sports "Victory" were created. In total, three USSR championships were won on Pobeda-Sport cars (1950, 1955 and 1956).

"ZIS-112", 1951

Simultaneously with Pobeda-Sport, another interesting sports car was created at the Stalin plant - ZIS-112, which was released in 1951. Due to the specific shape of the front end, it was also unofficially called "one-eyed" or "Cyclops". The body-roadster of the car was designed by designer Valentin Rostkov, who was inspired by the design of the Buick X90. In addition, the ZIS-112 became the first Soviet car in which the body was made of fiberglass material. The first model was not allowed to participate in races, as it had a length of six meters and a weight of almost three tons, which is why it was modified several times in the future.

"Labor" 1964

A home-made car under the symbolic name "Trud" was created by Moscow engineer O. Kucherenko in 1964. Main Feature the car has become a metal body, which amazes with the laboriousness of the work. All rounded details were made by the master from carefully fitted and then welded pieces of sheet steel. The engineer did not wait for the engine from the store and installed a 3-cylinder engine of his own production on Trud.

Moskvich 408 "Tourist", 1964

In 1964, the Moskvich series 408, which was very popular at that time, was released, some copies of which are still found on the roads. But at the same time as the classic model, a variation of the 408 called "Tourist" was also released. The car was made in the style of a coupe-cabriolet, unusual for a Soviet person. The main disadvantage of the "Tourist" was that the folding roof did not fit completely into the trunk, which is why it had to be disconnected and stored separately. Main production capacity"Moskvich" were sent to the production of the classic 408th model, and the "Tourist" model came out in only two copies and subsequently did not go into mass production.

"GTShch", 1969

Perhaps one of the most famous Soviet "samavto", in the name of which the name of the creator brothers is encrypted - "Gran Turismo Shcherbinin". The car was installed 2.45 liters. an engine from a GAZ-21 with a power of 75 hp, which accelerated the GTShch to a speed of 150 km / h. Anatoly and Vladimir Shcherbin welded the frame of the car in the courtyard of a multi-storey building, after which they raised it to the seventh floor of the apartment and gradually sheathed it with panels glued from fiberglass. After the body was ready, the car was again lowered into the yard and fully equipped with power units, suspension, interior elements, etc. Having suffered two restyling, the car is quite good condition has been preserved to this day.

"Pangolina", 1980

Another iconic Soviet car, demonstrating the flight of fancy of the then engineers. And built this unusual car Alexander Kulygin on the basis of the VAZ-2101. The futuristic, but at the same time relatively simple body design made it possible to glue the body panels on a plywood blank. They decided to call the car "Pangolin" because of the distant resemblance to an armadillo. The car had a number of innovations, which at that time were a curiosity for Soviet people.

So, the role of the doors was performed by a roof rising with the help of a pneumatic actuator, along with side and windshields, and the engine was started using digital code. "Pangolina" Kulygin built for a year in his native city of Ukhta, together with a group of pioneer students from the circle of technical creativity. Finished car had to be transported to Moscow railway, since the bad roads of the northern city did not allow her to do it on her own.

"Mercury", 1982

In the early 1980s. d a group of enthusiasts of three people: an artist, a sculptor and a locksmith decided to create exclusive car based on the VAZ-2106. The locksmith, Vladimir Ivanovich Mishchenko, who headed the project, already had experience in building home-made cars. In 1982, a self-made a car"Mercury". In total, five copies of the car were built: three in Moscow and two in Tbilisi. The first prototype was built in a Moscow basement, and one of the best-preserved examples of the Mercury was recently converted into an electric car.

"Laura", 1985

In 1981, another race of home-made cars was held in Leningrad, organized by the Tekhnika-Youth magazine. Impressed by this spectacle, two comrades Gennady Khainov and Dmitry Parfenov decide to create their own cars. The friends spent the next three years working in a barn on the outskirts of the city, and now - in 1985, two practically identical cars, which received the common name "Laura".

The highlight of the cars was a self-made McPherson-type suspension and a futuristic body, with a supporting frame made of water pipes, pasted over with fiberglass and foam plastic sandwich panels. The engine for the Laura was taken from the VAZ-2105, the CV joints were used from the Niva, and the gearbox from the Zaporozhets was turned back and forth. Comrades performed strength calculations using a computer from one of the universities under the guise of laboratory work.

"Triton", 1985

"Triton" is a unique amphibious vehicle created by Moscow engineer D. Kudryachkov. The car was simultaneously registered with the traffic police and the State Inspectorate for Small Vessels. The Triton was equipped with an engine from the Volga GAZ-21, and a transmission from Zaporozhets ZAZ-968. The car felt great both on land and on water. On the highway, it was stable and smooth. To move through the water, the designer took a water cannon, which allows you to move through shallow water at a speed of 50 km / h. While moving through the water, the wheels were lifted up along the sides by a cable winch.

"Okhta" 1987

In 1986, the Leningrad Laboratory for Advanced Modeling of Passenger Cars began work at NAMI, where Soviet prototypes cars of the future. Dmitry Parfenov became the head of the laboratory, and the same creator of Laura, Gennady Khainov, became his deputy. The starting project of the laboratory was the creation of a promising minivan called "Okhta".

A year later, the first prototype was completed. The seven-seater interior of the car could be transformed - the front seats could turn 180ᵒ, and the middle row could be upgraded into a table. From under front bumper on high speeds a spoiler was extended to increase downforce. Unfortunately, the mass construction of the car was never destined to happen due to the imminent collapse of the USSR.

The phrase "American car with a V8" sounds as logical as "borscht with donuts." The phrase "Soviet car with V8" still sounds as unusual as "ice cream with bacon." Meanwhile, and ice cream with bacon, and soviet cars with eight-cylinder engines existed and continue to exist - we recall the glorious carriers of the glorious V-shaped units.

Of course, the vast majority of these cars are big black sedans for the party elite. However, in the development in the Union there were also such “folk” copies, which are still expensive to look at today. But let's start with BChS.

This beautiful black sedan replaced the outdated ZIS-110, which was not included in our selection only because its 8 cylinders under the hood were arranged in a row, not at an angle. But ZIL-111 received new motor with a similar marking, which had 6 liters of working volume, two hundred Horse power and a torque of 442 Nm. In tandem with him, a dual-range torque converter "automatic" worked.

On the basis of this sedan, the ZIL-111V phaeton, the successor to the ZIS-110V executive convertible, was also developed a little later.

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This, in turn, is the heir to the ZIL-111 - already at that time it was necessary to follow the automotive fashion so as not to “oversleep” the current design trends. The new sedan also received a new engine - of course, with the same markings as the sedan itself. This carburetor unit already gave out 300 forces with a volume that had grown to 7 liters, and the torque increased to 559 Nm. The automatic transmission, with which the new motor worked, also received an additional step.

Of course, on the basis of the ZIL-114, several special modifications. One of these is the ZIL-114A station wagon, which received a medical specialty. In the USSR, such machines were called "Black Doctors".

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This is a shortened version of the ZIL-117 limousine, which received the same technical basis as the original. The seven-liter ZIL-114 engine, with a reduced weight of the car, provided more confident dynamics, and a decrease in the base had a positive effect on handling.

ZIL-117 also did not escape popularity as the basis for special machines. In addition to copies for the special services, a two-door phaeton with a cloth awning was also produced - such cars participated in parades on Red Square.

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The limousine, which was supposed to receive the name ZIL-115 as the legal successor to the previous car in the collection, became known as the ZIL-4104 due to the change in the index system. The same name was given to its engine - V 8 with a volume of 7.7 liters. This unit received a slight increase in power relative to its predecessor - it increased to 315 hp, but the torque increased more noticeably, to 608 Nm. The motor retained the main features: an aluminum block with cast iron sleeves, two valves per cylinder, hydraulic valve lifters and a carburetor power system.

The government limousine traditionally went to serve in various departments, receiving various modifications. In addition to the ZIL-41044 phaeton, there was also a “short” sedan ZIL-41041, and the “Black Doctor” ZIL-41042, and a special version of the ZIL-41072 “Scorpion”, and many other special vehicles.

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This car has become a cosmetic update of the ZIL-4104: this is clear even from the name. Having kept the technical part and the body unchanged, it received new lighting equipment, a modernized version of the design of the front end and a different style of chrome elements on the body.




This is the last update of the ZIL-4104: such cars were produced until 2002, and after that they began to be produced piece by piece on special orders. The car was again left technically unchanged, but refreshed from the outside, making the exterior stricter and “square”.

This car, unlike most Zilov cars, did not become serial. Initially, it was supposed to replace the "short" ZIL-41041, having received a modern appearance and a new technical filling. The appearance of the new car was noticeably “more democratic” than that of the rest of the family, but the equipment was not inferior to them.

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The same ZIL-4104 engine with a volume of 7.7 liters and a power of 315 hp was placed under the hood, and the main technical distinction the new car was the lack of a frame - they planned to transfer it to a load-bearing body. However, the car did not receive development, remaining to exist in two copies, on which technical solutions and options for internal equipment were worked out.

In the photo: Under the hood of the ZIL-4102 Experienced '1988

ZIL-118 "Youth"

ZIL-118 "Youth" is not a passenger car, but a minibus, but we simply could not ignore it: its appearance was too chic - however, only in the first incarnation. The history of this curious car, but here we offer just to admire this example of the style of its time and class.

In the photo: ZIL-118 "Youth" '1962-70

Finishing the speech about Zilov cars, you can take a break from black sedans: in the history of the plant there were sports cars. One of these is the ZIL-112S: a fast roadster with a fiberglass body. Not one, but two different V-shaped “eights” could be installed on it. The first had 6 liters of working volume and developed 240 hp, and the second - already 7 liters, which gave in different time from 270 to 300 horsepower. The maximum speed of the roadster was about 270 km / h, and acceleration to hundreds took less than 5 seconds.



GAZ-13 "Seagull" is another legend of the Soviet automobile industry. Having absorbed the style of foreign cars of that time, it looked luxurious, bold and solid at the same time. The GAZ-13 engine was a match for the exterior: a 5.5-liter V 8 produced 195 hp. and 412 Nm. It had two valves per cylinder and an aluminum block, and was combined with a three-stage automatic transmission. In addition to it, the GAZ-13D engine was installed on the car, which, with the same volume and torque, already had 215 hp.

In the photo: GAZ-13 "Seagull" '1959-81

Of course, not without various modifications and on the basis of gas machines. So, for example, Chaika had an open version with a soft top, bearing the GAZ-13B index.

In the photo: GAZ-13B "Seagull" '1961-62

The successor to the first Seagull, the new car under the GAZ-14 index began to look completely different - stricter, simpler and more angular, approaching Zilovsky limousines in its style. Twin headlights, a long and low profile, a dosed amount of chrome - this was the Seagull in the second generation. At the same time, the GAZ-14 engine was registered under the hood, developed on the basis of the same GAZ-13 and having 5.5 liters, but a little more power and torque - 220 hp and 450 Nm, respectively. It was fed by not one, but two carburetors at once.

In the photo: GAZ-14 "Seagull" '1976–89

On the basis of the "second" Chaika, both the traditional phaeton for parades under the GAZ-14-05 index, and the Black Doctor GAZ-RAF-3920 were created.





In the photo: GAZ-14-05 and GAZ-RAF-3920

A separate caste of powerful gas vehicles with V 8 is cars for special services, the so-called. GAZ-23 - a sedan based on the GAZ-21, which received a reinforced body, adapted to install a slightly modernized power unit from Chaika. The ZMZ-23 engine had a volume of 5.5 liters and 195 hp. power, accelerating the sedan to one hundred kilometers per hour in 16 seconds and providing a top speed of 160 km / h. Of course, under the new technical realities, not only the body was finalized, but also the brake system, transmission, and chassis.

In the photo: GAZ-23 "Volga" '1962–70

This sedan replaced the GAZ-23. The new "catch-up" also received a modernized engine from Chaika and an automatic transmission: with a 5.5-liter ZMZ-2424, according to various sources, it accelerated to 160-180 km / h.

The logical development of the model was the GAZ-24-34, which received a body from the GAZ-24-10, in which, according to a well-established scheme, a V 8 and a three-stage “automatic” were installed, simultaneously modifying all the main components of the car.

In the photo: GAZ-24-34 "Volga" '1987–93

This little-known car was supposed to become a representative car of a new generation, not just replacing Chaika, but becoming much more modern and technologically advanced, and at the same time compact. Judge for yourself how much technical innovations was put into the car at the stage of creation: four-wheel drive With forced blocking center differential, disc brakes all wheels, hydraulic booster, climate control, original body glazing ... and this is only a small part of the interesting technical solutions - we talked in detail about

In the photo: Under the hood of the GAZ-3105 Volga '1992–96

Unfortunately, the new GAZ-3105 was never destined to become serial: the cessation of state funding and the emerging competition with foreign models made the model too costly to develop. The car that became unprofitable remained in the past as a model of what the conservative was capable of. Gorky plant with sufficient incentives.

Let's start with our pride. This truck is known and feared by rivals. No one has won the Dakar so many times as our KamAZ. But it's not even about titles and titles. Just watch and enjoy. So fearlessly bludgeoning over rough terrain and jumping from springboards can only "KamAZ"! And even though it is now in its modern guise, the foundation for success was laid back in the Soviet years.

2. "Zaporozhets"

People's car - "Zaporozhets" - is also able to surprise. How many anecdotes are composed about unsightly-looking "humpbacked" and "eared" models of the Zaporozhye Automobile Plant! Meanwhile, the rear-wheel drive ZAZ with a motor in the tail, thanks to the good loading of the drive wheels, demonstrated in skillful hands cross-country wonders.

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Who was the first to use four-wheel drive on a passenger sedan? Maybe Audi or Subaru? And here it is not. Meet the GAZ-61 family, created by the famous Soviet designer Vitaly Grachev. On tests, his car easily took 40-degree climbs, climbed stairs no worse than Sylvester Stallone in the role of Rocky the boxer, and in general turned out to be very talented, especially in military affairs.

4. URAL

Off-road for our country has always been in the order of things. Those conditions that foreigners consider incompatible with life ordinary cars, For domestic technology- work days. Winter cold swamp, slush to the waist, and on the back - freshly felled forest? Nonsense! This is how we work every day.

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5. Auger ZIL

Forward, backward and even sideways? There are no problems if instead of wheels the car has an auger propeller. It is impossible to use such equipment on asphalt, but on virgin lands it has no equal in cross-country ability. In Russia, this design has been known since the beginning of the last century, and in the mid-70s, Vitaly Grachev, mentioned above, experimented a lot with augers on ZIL. Now such a machine is part of the Blue Bird complex, which helps to search for and rescue astronauts after landing.

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6. Pneumohod

And this miracle of technology was also built at the Likhachev Plant in the capital. The PKU-1 all-terrain vehicle is no longer a car in the usual sense, but also not a tractor. After all, his caterpillars consist of pneumatic cylinders in the manner of ordinary wheel chambers. What does it give? Watch and be surprised!

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7. "Knight"

Yes, it's a tracked vehicle. But we had no right to bypass it. After all, the super-passable Vityaz is the apotheosis of the struggle of our equipment with impassability. Two-link all-terrain vehicle can bend, like a caterpillar, in all conceivable directions. After all, his trailer is active, it also rows and pushes the car forward. Whether on land or on water. "Vityaz" passes where the tanks get stuck! See for yourself.

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We all love our auto industry very much, we don’t have a soul in it. But at the same time, many of us are not aware of the opportunities that Soviet engineers and designers were endowed with. And the possibilities were almost limitless.

Here I have compiled a list of rare, unique and simply unusual Soviet cars that you will never see with your own eyes.

I am proud of the Soviet engineers and resent the Soviet officials, who spoiled a lot of promising developments.

And what technological backlog was lost as a result of Perestroika is simply incomprehensible to the mind.

I promise it will be interesting.

Let's start with government projects in the automotive industry.

PROTOTYPES

GAZ-62 - our answer to the Americans

GAZ-62 (1952) - a prototype of an army off-road vehicle, created to replace the Dodge 3/4, which had proven itself in the army during the war (which was supplied to the USSR under lend-lease).

The car had overall dimensions of 5000x2100x1800 mm and wheelbase size 2850 mm, was designed to carry 12 people or 1200 kg of cargo, the maximum speed of the all-terrain vehicle was 85 km / h. A 6-cylinder 76-horsepower engine was used as a power unit.

A number of progressive solutions for that time were used in the design of this car: to prevent the ingress of water, dirt and sand, the drum wheel brakes were sealed, rubber pads in the seals of the springs reduced the amount of maintenance. The all-terrain vehicle was distinguished by comfort: there was a powerful heater with a windshield blower, and the rear springs had variable stiffness providing a high level of smoothness.

In addition to the main passenger version, it was also developed cargo modification cars - GAZ-62A with a body of increased volume and horizontal arrangement spare wheel.

GAZ-62 passed all the necessary tests and in 1958 was demonstrated as perspective model Gorky Automobile Plant at the All-Union Industrial Exhibition in Moscow (later - VDNKh), but for unknown reasons it was not put into production.

ZIS-E134 layout No. 1

In the summer of 1954, the newly formed VMS ZIS, which initially numbered only 20 people, was given the task of creating a fundamentally new medium multi-purpose four-axle (8 × 8) ultra-high cross-country vehicle (aka high-speed artillery tractor ATK-6) with a carrying capacity of 5-6 tons.

Since there was no experience in developing such machines, to study the issues of increasing cross-country ability wheeled vehicles, as well as to assess the influence of individual design parameters on the patency during July-August 1955, an experimental four-axle (8 × 8) truck ZIS-E134 layout No. 1 was built.

Experienced ZIL-E134 proved its worth. Practically not inferior to the caterpillar tractor in terms of cross-country ability and traction, it had a number of significant advantages - higher speed on the highway and a running gear resource, cheaper operation. The tests carried out made it possible to identify the directions further research. Both the developer and the customer wanted to see a more advanced machine. According to the requirements of the military, its carrying capacity was to be at least 6 tons, the weight of the towed gun doubled. Nevertheless, the invaluable experience gained in the design, construction and testing of the ZIL-E134 layout No. 1 gave confidence in the successful completion of the new task at a high technical level.

ZIS-E134 layout No. 2

In order to determine the parameters and constructive solutions on April 9, 1956, a prototype 8 × 8 ZIS-E134 layout No. 2 was built. It differed from its predecessor in a displacement hull, lack of elastic suspension wheels (based on the experience of testing the ZIS-E134 model No. 1), the presence of a water jet (not installed immediately) with a rotary nozzle that performs the functions of a water rudder. The water jet impeller was borrowed from the PT-76 tank. In terms of the power plant, transmission, propulsion and control system, the new machine did not differ from the ZIS-E134 layout No. 1.

MAZ-505

MAZ-505 (1962) - experienced four wheel drive truck with an onboard platform, created for the army. This model did not go into mass production, most likely giving way to another novelty of those years - the GAZ-66.

ZIL-132R - super truck for the agricultural industry

The machine, created under the leadership of the chief designer A. I. Filippov in the department of the chief designer of the ZIL, headed by V. A. Grachev, had a number of interesting features. The chassis had a uniform placement of three (2100 + 2100 mm) axles along the base, power unit(ZIL-130 engine, boosted to 165 hp) with a clutch and gearbox was placed between the first and second axles, and a fiberglass cabin with steel doors was placed in front of the engine. The transmission was carried out according to the n-shaped scheme, that is, with on-board distribution of the power flow so that the wheels of each side had a rigid (non-differential) kinematic connection with each other. Double disc clutch supplied hydraulic drive, and a manual 5-speed gearbox - remote control. Cylindrical side differential transfer box equipped with a locking mechanism. A power take-off mechanism with a hydraulic pump was mounted on the gearbox to drive a tipper body or fertilizer application equipment.

The change in direction of movement was provided by turning the front and rear steered wheels due to hydraulic system no rigid connection between front and rear controlled axles. Tires 16.00–20 with a diameter of about 1400 mm were installed on the car, which, in combination with an independent suspension, provided ground clearance from 480 to 590 mm, centralized system air pressure control in tires and ventilated disc brakes with dual-circuit hydraulic drive, which were not located in the wheel hubs, but on the final drives of the front and rear steered wheels. Among the serial trucks ZIL-132 R at that time there was no equal. Moreover, the cross-country performance of the car was so high that it freely competed, and in many cases surpassed caterpillar tractors used in the countryside.

But the car was built in single copy.

ZIL-E167 - cross-country snowmobile

ZIL-E167 (1963) - experimental wheeled all-terrain vehicle off-road, designed for use in complete off-road conditions in adverse climatic conditions. The machine was created using components and assemblies from the 135L chassis, which was practically ready by that time, the frame of which was additionally reinforced.

The super all-terrain vehicle was driven by two ZIL-375 engines of 118 hp each. each, the power was transmitted according to the onboard circuit. The engines were placed at the rear, for better cooling, air intakes were provided on the sides of the body. Huge wheels, shod in tires with a dimension of 21.00-28 and a diameter of 1790 mm on unique fiberglass (!) Prefabricated disks with metal elements, weighed almost three times less than their metal counterparts. The ground clearance of the car with these wheels was 852 mm, the bottom was covered with steel sheets to protect the units and better glide through snow and mud.

The cabin of the driver and passengers was also made of fiberglass; longitudinal seats were installed in the cabin. The cabin, borrowed from the ZIL-135L, and the interior were heated by independent heaters. Among other things, a winch was installed on the machine with tractive effort in 7 tons.

Suspension matched that of 135L, drum brakes driven by a hydropneumatic system. During the tests, the car proved to be excellent, maximum speed in winter on the highway it was 75 km/h, on virgin snow 10 km/h. However, the all-terrain vehicle did not go into series, because due to the complexity of the transmission design, it was inferior in terms of maintainability to the GT-1 tracked tractor.

ZIL-49061

ZIL-49061 is a three-axle all-wheel drive floating vehicle based on the ZIL-4906 all-terrain vehicle. It is part of the search and rescue complex "Blue Bird".

These amphibians were equipped with ZIL-131 engines with mechanical gearboxes; applied independent suspension all wheels, two propellers; front and rear wheels made controllable, and the connection between the two was provided by a hydrostatic servo drive, due to which the rotation rear wheels begins after turning the front ones at an angle greater than 6 °. The solution for the brake mechanisms was very non-standard: they were disc brakes, but they were not located in the wheels, but in the body of the car.

The machines of the 490 complex have successfully passed the tests and have been mass-produced for many years. These "Blue Birds" are still serving in the Military Space Forces. There is no replacement for them. Two 4906s were sent to Germany during the floods that swept over it in the summer of 2002, where they were used very effectively to evacuate residents from flooded areas. In Europe, there was nothing like it, which caused the Germans a feeling of admiration and outright envy.

In addition, the Blue Bird complex included ZIL-2906.

ZIL-2906 is a rotary auger snow and swamp vehicle carried on a cargo ZIL-4906. After the improvement, he received the index 29061.

The swamp vehicle was equipped with two VAZ rotary piston engines with an onboard transmission scheme, the body and augers were made of aluminum alloy, and the cabin was made of fiberglass.

To this day, no other country in the world has such a unique complex, which, thanks to the ZIL-29061, has almost absolute all-terrain capability.

ZIL-4904

The auger snow and swamp all-terrain vehicle ZIL-4904 was built in 1972 and is the largest in the world. Payload - 2.5 tons. However, he developed a very low speed - 10.1 km / h on the water, 7.3 km / h in the swamp, 4.45 km / h on the rafting, 10.5 km / h on the snow.

Lightweight hollow or polymer-filled (for example, foam) augers allow the machine to float on water, cross such deadly places where any wheeled and tracked vehicles get stuck or sink. However, since the augers are made of a hard material, usually non-ferrous metals, an auger-rotary all-terrain vehicle is completely unsuitable for paved roads. On asphalt, concrete and even rubble, such a car will have to be transported on a tow truck.

VAZ-E2121 "Crocodile" - early prototype the legendary Niva

VAZ-E2121 "Crocodile" (1971) - an early prototype of the experimental VAZ-2121, with a frame and open body, switched off by the front and rear axles. In the future, the design of the car was almost completely changed, in total two prototypes of this model were produced.

AZLK-2150 - a prototype of the off-road Moskvich

AZLK-2150 is a light SUV from AZLK, created in the USSR in 1973, as part of a project to create a compact comfortable SUV. The aggregate part of the prototype was unified with the M-2140 model, which was planned for production at that time. In total, two prototypes of the M-2150 were created with canvas and hard tops.

The Moscow SUV turned out to be different in concept from the Niva, closer to the "classic" SUVs - with a separate spar frame, continuous axles and stiff springs. In the competition of three plants (at AvtoVAZ - the future VAZ-2121 Niva, and at IZH-mash - Izh-14), AvtoVAZ won, having managed to create the most comfortable and competitive on the world market, although less "off-road" design.

The military department became interested in the M-2150 prototype, formally an order was received from the Ministry of Defense for the production of 60 thousand vehicles per year at a plant in the city of Kineshma, but the matter never came to production.

VAZ-E2122 - army SUV from Tolyatti

VAZ-E2122 (1976) - the first version of an experimental, floating off-road vehicle, developed by order of the USSR Ministry of Defense (initially, the project was created on the plant's own initiative). The machine was designed using components and assemblies civil car VAZ-2121 Niva, which was being prepared for production at the same time.

E2122 differed from analogues in the first place original design, which did not give out an amphibian in it, small size and maneuverability (for example, the turning radius on water and land practically did not differ). The sealed body allowed the car to move through the water at a speed of 4.5 km / h by rotating the wheels. The 1.6-liter engine, permanent all-wheel drive, contributed to the good maneuverability of the car (on land and on water), which was not inferior to the “old man” UAZ-469 at all. From UAZ (for the purpose of unification), the prototype got a winch and a tow bar, at the request of the military, the bumpers were made as flat as possible, with lights recessed into them so that a car stuck in front could be pushed, the windshield and side door frames folded. In addition, the "jeep" was equipped with two gas tanks, and the body structure provided for the installation of a stretcher.

On the first version of the car, the awning did not have side windows, but during the tests it became clear that rear visibility was sorely lacking and they were included in the design. However, the tightness of the body had a bad effect temperature regime the work of the "Nivovsky" units, as a result of which they quickly failed, the light body could not withstand serious loads. But the customers still liked the prototype, it was decided to continue work and design the second version of the jeep.

VAZ-2E2122 - the second version of the floating jeep

VAZ-2E2122 (1977) - the second version of the floating SUV for the army, created on the basis of the E2122 prototype. On this prototype, VAZ designers tried to take into account all the wishes of the military department and get rid of the shortcomings of the first version: overheating of the engine and transmission, breakdowns in exhaust system, poor visibility, and work out several other important points, like the ability to start at low temperatures.

UAZ-452K - triaxial loaf

UAZ-452K (1973) - an experimental sixteen-seater bus with a 6x4 wheel arrangement. Based on this bus, Medea resuscitation vehicles were developed for the needs of Georgian mine rescuers. There was also a variant with a 6x6 wheel formula, later in Georgia a small-scale production of reanimobiles was established from 1989 to 1994, approximately 50 units per year.

But this project was not buried - the car was produced from 1989 to 1994 by the Vezdekhod cooperative from the Georgian city of Bolnisi.

ZIL-4102 - the prototype of the last "membership"

ZIL-4102 is a promising limousine that was supposed to replace the outdated five-seater ZIL-41041 sedan. In 1988, the sixth ZIL workshop produced two prototypes of the car. Fundamental difference the new model from other Soviet limousines was the lack of a frame, in connection with this, the ZIL designers had to do a lot of work to reduce the vibrations of the supporting body. The new sedan was half a meter longer than the Volga, and weighed half a ton less than the ZIL-41041. Roof and floor panels, trunk lid, hood and bumpers were made of fiberglass.

NAMI-0284 "Debut" (1987)

A car - a concept car, as they wrote then, "of an especially small class", was built with the prospect of using some solutions for a serial ZAZ car.

The original body was good aerodynamics(coefficient drag Cx - 0.23). The Oka engines (VAZ-1111 and VAZ-11113) were installed on the car, and the MeMZ-245 was installed on a later version with a slightly modified finish ("Debut-II"). They also planned to test a car with turbocharged VAZ-11113 and MeMZ engines with a 16-valve block head. "Debut" was equipped with an electrovacuum clutch, a cruise control system.

AZLK 2142 "Moskvich" - an experienced sedan

AZLK 2142 "Moskvich" (1990-96) is an experimental sedan created on the basis of AZLK-2141 and presented to the general public in 1990. The car was fully tested and practically ready for production, it was planned to send the car to the conveyor already in 1992, equipping it with a new Moskvich-414 engine.

After the collapse of the USSR, the death of the then general director of AZLK V.P. Kolomnikov, these plans were not destined to come true, but with various engines the prototype was assembled for several more years. Moreover, a car that did not actually exist later served as the basis for the small-scale models "Prince Vladimir" and "Ivan Kalita" produced in small batches.

Project "Istra"

AZLK-2144, "Istra" - experienced car AZLK plant, created in the mid-late 1980s. It was made in a single copy around 1985-88, never mass-produced.

Distinguished by a whole range unique solutions, including - duralumin body without central pillar; two wide side doors opening vertically upwards; diesel, rapeseed oil powered; night vision device and indication of instrument readings on windshield; unique automatic transmission.

Istra was ahead of its time in many ways. At that time, this machine was much superior to its predecessors.

The only model sample, previously kept in the AZLK museum, is now in the museum on Rogozhsky Val in Moscow.

UAZ-3170 Simbir

In 1975, at UAZ, under the chief designer Startsev, development began, and in 1980 a demonstration model of a "car general purpose off-road" UAZ-3170 "Simbir". The car had a ground clearance of 325 mm and a height of 1960 mm - both parameters differed from the "469th" (215 and 2050 mm). The suspension was dependent spring.

Alexander Sergeevich Shabanov was the lead designer of the GAK theme and the head of the test group. Military samples of the machine were tested and protected by the project in the Moscow Region in 1982-1983.

Subsequently, according to the results, the second version of Simbir was born - UAZ-3171 (1985-1987).

Simbir 1990 army

Simbir 1990 civil

NAMI-LuAZ "Proto" - the ghost of a Russian country road

NAMI-LuAZ "Proto" (1989) - a prototype created in the Leningrad branch of NAMI as part of a competition announced by the Ministry of Autoselkhozmash, a team of designers and designers led by G. Khainov. The body was a metal frame, on which were hung plastic panels, which simplified the repair, improved the performance of the car.

As power plant the MeMZ-245 engine from Tavria was used, the transmission was developed almost anew: non-switchable cardan gear, gear box driving and pluggable front axle(without transfer box). Gearbox, power take-off on front-wheel drive, front final drive were assembled in one block. Front suspension independent (McPherson), rear dependent (De Dion). The motor, along with the front suspension and radiator, was mounted on a removable subframe, which facilitated the repair and assembly of the car.

Salon "Proto" is designed for four passengers, the seats have been transformed, forming a single bed. Rear end the roof was removed, it was possible to install an awning.

In parallel with Proto, LuAZ developed its own version as part of the competition future car which had significant differences.

LuAZ 1301 (1984/88/94) is a prototype of a light SUV, which was supposed to replace the outdated 969M model on the conveyor. The first version of the car was designed back in 1984 and was the same 969M with a new body. The 1988 prototype was different frame-panel body(steel frame and plastic panels), pneumatic elements in an independent spring suspension, allowing you to change the ground clearance. The upgraded MeMZ-245 engine from Tavria was used as a power plant.

The drive of all wheels is permanent, the transmission had a lockable center differential. The roof and sidewalls were removed, making it easy to convert a jeep into a pickup truck, and a soft top version was also planned. The rear door of the car was made of two sections - upper and lower, a spare wheel and a set of tools were placed in niches under the front seats, thus completely freeing the luggage compartment.

But for unknown reasons, not a single version of the machine was chosen, and a year later it was completely out of time for prototypes.

MAZ 2000 "Perestroika"

Brilliant name. Well, it just delivers wildly.

MAZ 2000 "Perestroika" (1988) - a prototype of the main truck, which was distinguished by its original modular design: most of the units were located in front - the engine, gearbox, drive axle and steering. If necessary, any of the "passive" bogies was replaced by a similar set of units, allowing you to build road trains of any length and carrying capacity.

It was the first Soviet car designed specifically for truckers. In the autumn of 1988, on Paris Motor Show this design was highly praised, but the prototype never made it into production, for obvious reasons.

The wrong country was called Honduras.

Of course, this is not the whole list. There were still a lot of interesting projects that remained in single copies. And even in the form of drawings.

Why were these projects not implemented? There are reasons for that. Soviet system again was imperfect, often it gave rise to brilliant projects and revolutionary ideas but immediately killed them.

What happened in our time with many of these exhibits?

HOME-MADE CARS

Why not? If you have a technical education, cooks a bowler hat, and claws do not grow from your ass - so why not build your own car?

In the USSR it was quite possible.

In the 1960s, the well-known magazine Tekhnika-molodezhi led the movement of amateur automotive industry in the USSR. For 20 years, on the pages of the magazine, on TV screens, during many car runs around the country, the eyes of millions of readers and viewers have appeared dozens self-made cars. A huge thing in the popularization of the amateur car industry in the 80s was the transfer "You Can Do It" (computer), which enjoyed popular attention. For each 45-minute broadcast, television received up to half a million letters (!!!).

Of all the projects of that time, I selected the most interesting ones.

"Pangolina"

Like the first products of Ford and Benz, the legend of the Soviet author's automotive industry - "Pangolina", was designed and built by almost one person. Alexander Kulygin. Unlike the amusing “Shelf” or “Ant”, Kulygin’s “Pangolin” was a full-fledged car, created by an experienced and talented designer.

The main structural material of the body was fiberglass. Work on the creation of the Pangolin body began with the formation of a master model - a plywood base for fiberglass. The main operations were carried out in Moscow. After Kulygin left for Ukhta, the master model was destroyed. The process of adapting the body to the chassis of the VAZ penny took place in the city of Ukhta. The original engine from the VAZ 2101 was used as the engine - a forced alternative to the planned boxer engine, which never appeared in final version"Pangolins".

Experts claimed that Kulygin was inspired by the Lamborghini Countach sports car. This is indicated by the shape of the body and the original design of the mechanism for opening and closing doors - implemented in the form of a movable cap that captures part of the roof. A periscope prism was used as a rear-view mirror.

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