One of the most interesting pages in the national history of the 20th century was the chronicle of the development of the USSR automobile industry - an economic industry aimed at creating rolling stock and providing them with the country in all spheres of its multifaceted life. In the pre-war period, this process was inextricably linked with the general industrialization of the state, and in subsequent years it became an important component of the rise of the national economy and the creation of a solid economic base. Let us dwell on some of its most significant stages.

How did it all begin?

The history of the automobile industry of the USSR began in 1924 with the release of the first Soviet truck AMO-F-15. Its prototype was the Italian FIAT 15 Ter. The place of creation of this ancestor of the domestic automotive industry was the Moscow plant "AMO", founded in 1916, and in Soviet times, renamed and first received the name of Stalin (1933), and then Likhachev (1956) - its first director, who held this position since 1927 ...

A little later, in 1930-1932, this undertaking was further developed by the construction of another car manufacturing plant in Nizhny Novgorod. It was designed for the production of both passenger cars and trucks, produced under license from the American Ford Motors campaign. Many legendary Soviet cars rolled off the conveyors of these first two enterprises, created within the framework of the national industrialization program, and they became the basis for the further development of this important industry.

In subsequent years, several more car plants were added to these largest car enterprises in the country: KIM (Moscow), YAGAZ (Yaroslavl) and GZA (Nizhny Novgorod). Now it seems incredible, but in 1938 the auto industry of the USSR ranked first (!) In Europe and second in the world (second only to the USA) in the production of trucks. In the pre-war years, more than a million units were produced, which made it possible to equip the Red Army and enterprises of the national economy with the necessary amount of rolling stock. The creation of a large and sufficiently equipped vehicle fleet allowed the country to achieve success in the implementation of pre-war five-year programs.

Car production during the war

With the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the Moscow plant "ZIL" (former AMO) was evacuated to the rear, and part of its equipment was used to create new auto enterprises. So, using the production facilities of ZIL, the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant - UAZ, which at that time was called UlZIS, was opened. Subsequently, it was renamed and became widely known for its products both domestically and abroad. At the same time, at the UralZIS plant, built in the city of Miass, Chelyabinsk region, the production of the first samples of Ural trucks began.

It should be noted that during the war years, the production of cars in the USSR was not limited to the production of models based on domestic developments. To better meet the needs of the front, as well as to provide rolling stock for industrial enterprises evacuated into the interior of the country, the assembly of vehicles from sets of units and parts supplied under Lend-Lease was established - a special program under which the United States provided the countries of the anti-Hitler coalition with ammunition, equipment, medicines and food.

Post-war priorities of the domestic auto industry

The post-war years brought with them an exacerbation of relations between former allies, who found themselves on opposite sides of the Iron Curtain, and were marked by the beginning of a general arms race. In the history of those years, there are episodes when humanity was on the brink of a global nuclear catastrophe - suffice it to recall the Caribbean conflict of 1962. These circumstances largely determined the specifics of the development of the entire national economy of the USSR and the automobile industry as one of its most important components.

From the beginning of the 50s to the end of the 70s, the Ministry of the Automotive Industry of the USSR, supporting the course for the production of trucks, gave priority to those models that could be used with equal success both to maintain the country's defense capability and in various areas of the national economy. These were mainly dual-use trucks, as well as multi-axle all-wheel drive tractors. One of the most famous developments of those years was the ZIS-164 truck, which rolled off the assembly line of the Moscow Stalin plant and was the result of a deep modernization of the previously produced ZIS-150 vehicle.

The birth of the first ZILs and "Urals"

The next milestone in the development of the plant was the legendary Soviet car ZIL-130, released in 1963, which can still be seen on the roads of the country. In terms of its design features, it successfully competed with the best world models of that time. Suffice it to say that the car was equipped with an engine with a power of 150 hp. with., as well as power steering and a five-speed gearbox. A novelty was also a panoramic windshield washer developed by the plant's engineers.

At the end of the 50s, the country's car park was replenished with a new product released by the Ural specialists. It was a two-axle UralZIS-355MM truck (see photo below). Despite the fact that, in terms of its technical characteristics, this model belonged to the category of medium-duty vehicles (up to 3.5 tons), it was she who was destined to play a leading role in the development of virgin lands in Kazakhstan, Siberia and the Urals.

Impressive statistics

Statistics show how intensively the production of trucks and tractors went on in the first post-war decades. According to the available data, the total output of this type of product in 1947 amounted to 133 thousand units, and by the beginning of the 70s, the automotive enterprises operating in the USSR increased their number to 920 thousand, that is, almost seven times, which exceeded similar indicators of the leading industrial countries of the world.

No less impressive was the increase in the production of passenger cars, which in the pre-war period received less attention due to the need to provide the country with freight transport. According to the USSR auto industry, in 1947 about 9.5 thousand units were produced, while by 1970 this number had increased to 344.7 thousand, in other words, increased almost 36 times.

Cars that have become emblems of the era

Among the passenger cars produced in those years, the most famous was the legendary Soviet car "Victory", which rolled off the assembly line of the Gorky Automobile Plant under the M-20 index. Its development has become a new word not only in the domestic, but also in foreign automotive industry.

The fact is that "Pobeda" was the world's first model of large-scale production of passenger cars with a monocoque body that did not have protruding elements such as headlights, steps and fenders with all their rudiments. An important distinguishing feature of this design was also the absence of a frame, the function of which was performed by the body itself. The Gorky plant "Victory" was produced in the period 1946-1958, and their number on the roads of the country then reached almost a quarter of a million units.

It is noted that the 50s as a whole were an unusually productive period in the activities of the designers and designers of the Gorky Automobile Plant. At the 1958 World Exhibition in Brussels, three of their designs were awarded the highest award - the Grand Prix. These were passenger cars: Volga GAZ-21, which replaced Pobeda, Chaika GAZ-13 and the GAZ-52 truck. Later, the famous Volga GAZ-24 cars brought glory to the plant.

The brainchild of the capital's car makers

Another original emblem of that era was the Moskvich-400 passenger car, the production of which was launched at the enterprise of the same name in the capital, opened in 1930. Its specialists, taking as a basis the pre-war German car Opel Kadett, developed their own model, which was put into mass production in 1947. Its first samples were released on captured equipment exported from Germany.

After 7 years, the design of the car was significantly modernized, and it began to be produced under the symbol "Moskvich-401". In subsequent years, its new models were developed and put into mass production, which replenished the country's car park. The most famous among them is the Moskvich-408 car, which has earned a reputation for its reliability and unpretentiousness.

The era of "Zhiguli"

In the mid-60s, the USSR auto industry was tasked with setting up the mass production of passenger cars available to a wide range of citizens, and thereby eliminating the difficulties associated with their acquisition. As part of this project, in the summer of 1966, an agreement was signed with the management of the Italian concern Fiat for the construction of a passenger car plant in the city of Togliatti. The brainchild of the new enterprise were Zhiguli cars, which were produced in an unprecedented quantity for that time. In the 70s, their output reached 660 thousand per year, and by the beginning of the 80s it increased to 730 thousand. This period is considered to be the beginning of the country's mass motorization.

Small cars from the banks of the Dnieper

The Zaporozhye Automobile Building Plant also made a tangible contribution to providing the Soviet people with individual transport. In 1961, it launched the production of the small car ZAZ-965, popularly called the humpbacked Zaporozhets. It is curious that its design was developed by the specialists of the Moscow automobile plant, which produced Moskvichs, and it was also planned to start its serial production there, but in the absence of the necessary production capacities, they transferred the finished project to colleagues from the banks of the Dnieper.

In 1966, an updated and radically different model from its predecessor, known as "Zaporozhets-966", emerged from the gates of the enterprise, and more and more new developments appeared in the following decades. Their characteristic feature was the air-cooled engine located at the rear of the body. For the entire production period, which covered the period 1961-1994, almost 3.5 million cars were produced.

Contribution of Ukrainian specialists to the development of the automotive industry

For several decades, the main burden of passenger transportation in the field of public transport was assigned to the products of the Lviv Bus Plant (LAZ). Built in the early post-war years, until the collapse of the USSR, it was one of the main Soviet enterprises specializing in this field, and in 1992 it was transformed into a joint Russian-Ukrainian enterprise, which existed for 22 years.

The most famous among its products were the LAZ-695 buses intended for urban routes, the production of which began in 1957. In addition, models designed to serve an ever-increasing flow of tourists have left a noticeable mark in the history of the domestic automotive industry. These include developments such as LAZ-697 and LAZ-699A. In 1963, the plant mastered the production of new products for it - city trolleybuses LAZ-695T.

The creators of the famous "Urals"

The specialists of the Ural Automobile Plant operating in the city of Miass did not stand aside either. During the period from 1942, when the first sample of products rolled off its assembly line, and up to the collapse of the USSR, they developed an extensive range of machines and tractors of various carrying capacity and power.

In addition to the aforementioned two-axle truck UralZIS-355M, which became a legend of virgin lands, the first three-axle vehicle Ural-375, produced in 1961 and having increased cross-country ability, which made it irreplaceable in off-road conditions, can be attributed to the most striking achievements of that time. For its development, the designers of the enterprise were awarded the first degree diploma of the USSR Exhibition of Economic Achievements The high quality of the new machines was appreciated by many foreign buyers who rushed to conclude contracts for their supply.

The next government award, the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, was received by the Ural automakers in 1966 for the modernization of a number of previous models and the development of new ones. Shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the millionth car rolled off its assembly line. In the subsequent period, the plant has undergone repeated restructuring and today is part of the GAZ Group, which is the largest automotive company in Russia.

Achievements of the Ulyanovsk car manufacturers

In one of the previous sections of the article, it was mentioned that during the Great Patriotic War, an enterprise was formed on the banks of the Volga, which later became known as the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant (UAZ). Its role in the development of the national economy of the country turned out to be so great that it is necessary to dwell on it in more detail.

The history of this renowned plant began in May 1944 with the release of the first prototype of the 4-ton truck UlZIS-253. In parallel with this, his team set up the production of the GAZ-MM car, developed and manufactured at the Gorky plant, and then transferred to Ulyanovsk to continue its serial production. It was the same famous "lorry" - a car with a carrying capacity of 1.5 tons, which, having traveled the front roads, became an irreplaceable assistant in the post-war restoration of the national economy.

In 1954, Ulyanovsk specialists set up the production of an all-terrain passenger car GAZ-69, and after some time, its modified model - GAZ-69A. Both of these machines became bright milestones in the development of the Soviet economy in the post-war years. They turned out to be equally in demand in the Armed Forces of the country and in all areas of the economy. It is also important to note the fact that since 1956 they have been assembled from parts of their own production.

The next labor victory of the factory workers (as it was customary to say during the years of Soviet power) was the production of UAZ-450D low-tonnage trucks and modifications of UAZ-452D, established in 1966. These were the legendary “UAZs”, without which it is difficult to imagine the roads of those years. This development was awarded the VDNKh gold medal. Passenger cars of the brand UAZ-469 and UAZ-469B, which had increased cross-country ability and became a continuation of the tradition laid down in the days of the production of GAZ-69, enjoyed no less success.

Afterword

This article contains a far from complete list of products manufactured by the enterprises of the automobile industry of the USSR over the years that have passed from the moment of its formation to the collapse of the country. In addition, even most of the models mentioned had various modifications, each of which is of interest for the originality of the design and the boldness of technical thought. On the whole, the history of the Soviet automotive industry is a fascinating chapter in the annals of Russian history of the 20th century.

Volga, Zhiguli, Gaz or Moskvich. These are the most famous Soviet car brands during the Soviet era. Despite this, you will not find enthusiastic owners of these old cars across the country today who would be satisfied with such ownership of this Soviet vehicle. The thing is that most of the cars produced in the Soviet years were very unreliable due to their build quality.

The reason for such dubious reliability is precisely in the fact that most of these cars that were created in the USSR were based and built on the basis of specific foreign analogues. But because of the planned economy of the Soviet Union, car factories were forced to save money on literally everything. Naturally, this includes savings on the quality of auto parts. Despite the lousy quality of the entire Soviet vehicle fleet in the country, we have our own 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. But fortunately, a certain part of these Soviet-era auto brands survived and still exist today.

Nowadays, the popularity of Soviet vehicles began to rise and grow again, since many car models are now of collectible and historical value. The public's particular interest usually arises in rare and sometimes strange cars, which were just produced during the Soviet era.

Some of these car models existed only in the drawings in the form of prototypes, which never made it into the series. Cars that were built by private engineers or designers (homemade products) are especially exclusive.

Dear readers, we have collected for you in our review the rarest Soviet cars that once appeared in the Soviet Union and which make the history of our Patriotic auto world much more interesting today. And so, we proceed:

GAZ-62

GAZ is the most famous automobile brand in our country. Cars under this brand were created and produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant. In 1952, the GAZ automobile plant presented its GAZ-62, which was created to replace the military off-road vehicle of the Dodge “three quarters” (WC-52) brand, which was used by the Soviet army during the Great Patriotic War.

This GAZ-62 was designed to carry 12 people. The carrying capacity of the vehicle was 1200 kg.

When creating the GAZ-62, the designers used several innovative solutions in it. So, for example, the car was equipped with sealed drum brakes, as well as a fan for heating the passenger compartment.

Also, the car was equipped with a 76 hp six-cylinder engine. This allowed the car to accelerate to 85 km / h.

It is worth noting here that after the creation of this prototype, this GAZ-62 passed all the necessary tests. But some design problems did not allow the car to be launched into mass production. Ultimately, at the beginning of 1956, the GAZ automobile plant began working on a new prototype car.

ZIS-E134. Layout No. 1

In 1954, a small group of engineers was tasked with building a special vehicle for military needs. The order came from the USSR Ministry of Defense.

On the instructions of the Ministry, it was supposed to be a truck with four axles of wheels, which could pass through almost any terrain conditions, carrying a large amount of heavy cargo with it.

As a result, Soviet engineers presented the ZIS-E134 model to the Ministry. As requested by representatives of the USSR Ministry of Defense, the car received eight wheels for itself, four axles placed along the entire length of the body, which made it possible to create the necessary tractive effort, which was almost similar to the strength of armored tank vehicles. Ultimately, this ZIS-E134 truck easily coped with any rough terrain, which allowed it to drive where none of the equipment available at that time could reach.

The car weighed 10 tons and was able to carry up to 3 tons of cargo. It is worth noting here that, despite its weight, the car could reach speeds of up to 68 km / h on any type of terrain with 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 car, Soviet engineers and designers soon presented their second version of the eight-wheeled "monster" to the military department. The car was built in 1956. The second version had a different body structure, as well as reinforced beams, which made it possible to endow the vehicle with amphibious capabilities. In addition, due to the tightness of the body and the special design of the technical part, this machine was able to float like a military tank.

Despite its heavy weight (total weight - 7.8 tons), the car could accelerate overland to 60 km / h. The speed on the water was 6 km / h.

ZIL E167

In 1963, a military off-road vehicle - ZIL-E167 was built in the USSR. The car was designed to travel on snow. This ZIL-E167 was equipped with three axles with six wheels. On non-snow-covered sections of the road, the car could reach speeds of up to 75 km / h. In the snow, the truck could only accelerate to 10 km / h. Yes, undeniably, the car's speed was very slow. But nevertheless, on the other hand, this car had just amazing cross-country ability in the snow. So, for example, for this ZIL to get stuck in the snow, something incredible had to happen.

The car was equipped with two outboard (in the rear) engines with a total capacity of 118 hp. The ground clearance (clearance) of the monster was 852 mm.

Unfortunately, this truck never went into mass production, and all due to the great difficulties in the deployment of industrial production and the impossibility of creating a high-quality gearbox.

ZIL 49061

This car is called "Blue Bird". This ZIL-49061 was equipped with six wheels. Unlike its predecessors, the car nevertheless went into mass production and became popular in many countries of the world.

The amphibious vehicle was equipped with a manual transmission, independent suspension for each wheel and two propellers.

In addition to the ability to move on the water surface, this SUV could also overcome ditches more than 150 cm wide, and snow drifts up to 90 cm high.

The maximum speed of this 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 Armed Forces as rescue operations. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the vehicle was used by the Russian Emergencies Ministry Rescue Service. For example, two of these "Blue Birds" in 2002 were sent to Germany to participate in a rescue operation after a terrible flood. They turned to us directly for help, since in Europe itself in those years there was still no similar equipment that was capable of performing difficult tasks on water and on land.

ZIL 2906

If you dear readers think that today's Russian cars look very strange, then after learning about the next rare Soviet car in our rating, you will immediately understand and conclude that the current transport in our country is quite adequate and normal.

During the Soviet era, for example, cars such as the ZIL-2906 were produced in our country, which did not have wheels at all. Instead of them (wheels), the car was equipped with spiral shafts, which, by their rotation, set this unusual car in motion. This allowed the SUV to navigate the most difficult muddy terrain.

The car body itself was made of fiberglass. Two spirals installed instead of wheels were made of aluminum. This machine was designed to transport various types of cargo (felling trees, beams, etc. cargo) through swamps and snow.

Despite its advanced technology, the car was moving too slowly. The maximum speed of this ZIL was only 10 km / h (on water), 6 km / h when driving in a swamp and 11 km / h when driving in snow.

VAZ-E2121 "Crocodile"

Work on the creation of a prototype VAZ-E2121 (the letter "E" in the model name means "experimental") began in 1971. The car was developed by order of the Government, which wanted our country to have its own light SUV, so that it would be available to the general masses. Ultimately, engineers began to develop such an SUV based on the VAZ-2101 and VAZ-2103 Zhiguli models.

As a result, Togliatti designers developed a prototype of an off-road vehicle - E2121, which later received the nickname "Crocodile" (because of the body color, which one of the prototypes received). This car was equipped with all-wheel drive and a 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol engine, which was developed for the next generation of VAZ-2106 cars.

Despite a fairly good idea and expended effort, the model never went into mass production. Only two were built, all for engineering research and testing.

AZLK MOSKVICH-2150

In 1973, the Moskvich automobile plant presented a prototype of the AZLK-2150 car. Let us remind our readers that before that, the "Moskvich" automobile plant had already presented several of its conceptual models 4 x 4, but, in comparison with them, this new model of AZLK-2150 had a number of new design solutions. For example, the car received a new engine, the compression ratio of which was reduced to 7.25 (this allowed the car to run on A-67 gasoline). The car was developed for use in rural areas (in agriculture).

To our regret, like many amazing Soviet car models, this AZLK MOSKVICH-2150 SUV never entered mass production. The reason is banal, the lack of funds due to the widespread savings of the state. But then it could not be otherwise. In the conditions of a planned economy, it was even surprising how so many high-tech cars could have appeared and appeared in the USSR. (?)

In total, two prototypes of AZLK-2150 vehicles were built and assembled: Moskvich-2150 (with a hard top) and Moskvich-2148 (with an open top).

VAZ-E2122

AvtoVAZ had another experimental project of a prototype car, which received a code designation for itself as VAZ-E2122. It was an amphibious vehicle project. Development began in the 70s of the last century.

The most surprising thing is that the movement of the car on the water was carried out by 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 that transmitted torque to all four wheels at once.

Unfortunately, due to the adaptation of movement on water, the car contained many design problems. For example, the engine itself, transmission and front differential very often overheated, due to the fact that all these components were in special closed cases. This was necessary in order to protect the components of this vehicle from water.

In addition, the car had just terrible visibility. There were also significant drawbacks in the operation of the exhaust gas system.

Despite a number of difficulties and problems in the development of the vehicle, the USSR military department was interested in the serial production of this amphibious SUV. Ultimately, the Ministry of Defense of the Soviet Union ordered several prototypes of this amphibian from AvtoVAZ. But unfortunately, this progressive project of an amphibious vehicle never reached mass production.

UAZ-452k

In the 80s, the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant developed an experimental model 452k based on the well-known UAZ-452 "Loaf" model. The main difference from the standard car was the additional axle, which improved the stability and traction of the SUV on rough terrain.

Initially, two versions of cars were created, i.e. 6 x 4 and 6 x 6. But during testing, 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, they decided to partially curtail the project. But not completely. The UAZ car plant eventually produced about 50 copies (pieces) of cars and sent them to Georgia. Ultimately, these off-road vehicles were used by various rescue services in the Caucasus from 1989 to 1994. These copies of cars did not deliver any particular problems and problems, since the mileage of the cars was relatively small due to the peculiarity of their operation.

ZIL-4102

When the ZIL-4102 car was created, it was considered that it should become a direct successor to the famous ZIL (a) limousine, which was used for many years by State servants and high officials of the Communist Party of the USSR.

ZIL-4102 was equipped with front-wheel drive and also had carbon fiber body elements, namely: roof panel, trunk lid, hood and bumper.

In 1988, two prototype cars were built. It was originally planned that this model will be equipped with three types of engines, i.e., a 4.5-liter V6, 6.0-liter V8 petrol engines and a 7.0-liter diesel unit.

Since this model was intended specifically for the elite, it is natural that the car was equipped with elements of luxury and comfort. For example, this 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 by this ZIL-4102 and he did not approve of this project. It is for this very reason that the ZIL luxury car never went into mass production. It's a pity we say. We believe that if this car model appeared in mass production, then our car industry would look completely different today.

US-0284 "DEBUT"

In 1987, the Russian Research Automotive and Automotive Institute (NAMI) developed a front-wheel drive prototype of the car, which was presented at the Geneva Motor Show, this happened in March 1988. The car received the code designation - NAMI-0284.

This car attracted huge public attention at the exhibition and received many positive reviews from critics and experts in the world car market.

The car had a unique feature for that time, namely, an impressive low coefficient of aerodynamic drag (only 0.23 cd). This was surprising, since many modern cars cannot boast of such aerodynamic characteristics to this day.

The length of the prototype car NAMI-0284 was 3685 mm. The car was equipped with a 0.65-liter engine, which in those years was installed in the Oka car (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) and considering the small 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 in those years positioned it as the most modern car ever created by the AZLK Automobile Plant.

According to the plans of the Moskvich automobile plant, this car was to go into mass production in two years, when the company planned to start producing new generations of Moskvich-414 engines. On the postponement of this release of the new model of Moskvich, the general director of the Lenin Komsomol Automobile Plant - "AZLK" insisted himself. He believed that a completely new generation of power units should have been in the new promising car model.

But in the end, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the cessation of state funding stopped this project completely.

Another thing 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 cars, which was produced in three versions, ie: - "Prince Vladimir", "Ivan Kalita" and " Duet".

UAZ-3170 "SIMBIR"

The development of a new off-road vehicle of the UAZ brand 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 car plant presented its first model UAZ-3370 "Simbir". This SUV had a high ground clearance of 325 mm. The car also turned out to be quite high (height - 1960 mm).

Fortunately for us, this car has still entered mass production. True, due to its planned economy, the car plant was unable to release large quantities of an SUV on the market. It is worth noting here that the vehicle was originally created by order of the War Ministry. And in the end, in mass production, the release of both military modifications of cars and civilian vehicles was established.

In 1990, the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant presented its second generation of the UAZ-3171 SUV, the development of which began back in 1987.

MAZ-2000 "Perestroika"

The experimental model of the MAZ-2000 truck received the code name "Perestroika". The truck was designed with the aim of creating a modern cargo vehicle for use by Soviet transport companies.

The main feature of the model was the model design of the truck. This meant that, for example, car parts such as the engine, transmission, front axle and steering were located at the front of the car, which made it possible to reduce the gap between the cab and the loading area itself. Thanks to the model design of the MAZ-2000 cab, it was possible to increase the volume of the car 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 such prototypes were built. To our deep regret, the project never received the green light and this car model never saw the production line.

Many experts believe that the Perestroika truck was the main inspiration for the designers of the Renault Magnum truck, which entered series production in late 1990 and then won the prestigious Truck of the Year award in 1991.

What is the hidden 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 circulate in the auto world, this project did not take place due to the fact that Mikhail Gorbachev sold the very design of this amazing truck to the French. Naturally, all this is not officially confirmed by anything.

Homemade car "Pangolin"

In the Soviet years, everyone naturally knew that the reliability and performance of domestic cars were not the best, if we talk by world standards. Also, everyone knew that our vehicles were not very good design. That is why many Russian engineers decided at that time for themselves that since state car factories cannot create cars that are not inferior to any foreign analogues, then it is necessary to create them yourself. As a result, it turned out that many engineers in the USSR privately, inspired by Western European and American sports cars, began to create their own home-made vehicles.

One of such examples was the Pangolin auto-sports car, created by Alexander Kulygin in 1983.

The car body was made of fiberglass. Also, this sports car received an engine from the VAZ-2101. The designer was inspired by the stunning design of the Lamborghini Countach. Ultimately, Alexander decided to create a car in the same style as well.

It is worth noting here that this homemade car still exists and participates in various car shows.

True, over the years, some additional changes have been made to the design of the car. For example, new doors were installed in the original design of this sports car, which now open upwards.

Homemade car "Jeep"

In 1981, an engineer from Yerevan Stanislav Kolshanosov created an exact copy of the famous American Jeep SUV.

To build the car, the engineer used components from several other Soviet car models. For example, for a homemade copy of an American SUV, the engineer took the engine from the VAZ-2101 model. The rear axle, gearbox, electrics, headlights and drive shafts were taken from the Volga GAZ-21 car.

The suspension system, gas tank, instrument cluster and wipers were borrowed from the UAZ-469 car.

But some parts of the car were created according to an individual project. For example, the front axle of the car was created from scratch by Stanislav himself.

It is also 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 Parfenov and Gennady Hein. In our country, even today there is not a single normal Russian 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 analogs, Dmitry and Gennady decided to create a completely new car, nothing like any other motor vehicle.

"Laura" was equipped with a 1.5-liter engine producing 77 hp, front-wheel drive and an on-board computer. The maximum speed of the sports car was 170 km / h.

In total, two of these were built. It is worth noting here that these cars were marked by the leader of the Communist Party, Mikhail Gorbachev. These sports cars have also received many different 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 the car enthusiast Yuri Algebraistov. The name of the car was coined 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 that was built according to an individual project during the Soviet era, it is still in perfect condition and is used for its entire intended purpose.

The fact is that Yuri is still constantly updating his car, he carries out all the necessary technical work on time. That is why the machine is still in good order and works like new.

Currently "Yuna" has covered more than 800 thousand km. True, this became possible thanks to the use of a foreign engine (from the BMW 525i model).

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 structure. For example, the car did not have the doors we all are used to. Instead, the engineer used a design that allowed the entire front of the cab, including the windshield, to be folded back so that the driver and passenger could climb into and out of the car.

Also, the car received an independent suspension and, more surprisingly, it was also an electronic cruise control system, which could maintain a certain speed even on a descent.

In addition, this sports car also had many rare features and various options, which makes it one of the most interesting cars ever created in the Soviet Union. Thus, the "Katran" car can really be considered the most amazing car in the entire history of the Russian automotive industry.

In conclusion, I would like to note that our dear friends have placed not all the rare cars that were created during the Soviet era. We have selected the best ones that, in our opinion, deserve the attention of readers. If you have or have something to offer us in order to supplement our list of Soviet cars, we suggest everyone interested, below in the comments they will share their suggestions with us. We will be very happy.

Although today there are not so many true connoisseurs of the domestic car industry, some models of Soviet concepts from the past could have become a real breakthrough in the automotive industry, and the attitude towards modern Russian cars would be completely different. But, unfortunately, not destiny .. Read on.

US-1

It is often called the first passenger car of the USSR, although NAMI-1, which got a short start in life thanks to small-scale assembly, is more correct to be considered a prototype. This phaeton is a prototype of a mass passenger car for the needs of the young Soviet republic. And for the "first pancake" everything worked out well. Respect, for example, is the development process itself. After all, NAMI-1 was not a licensed or, as often happened, an unlicensed copy of a foreign analogue, but was an example of creative comprehension of technical and engineering trends of the era. Hence, by the way, the accusations of copying Tatra 11 (backbone frame) or Lancia Lambda (general body design).

Another plus of NAMI-1 is its initial adaptability for operation in the USSR. Note the huge 26-centimeter ground clearance, the curb weight of almost half a ton, which ensured good cross-country ability on bad roads, and the simplicity of the design, expressed, for example, in the absence of a differential, an air-cooled motor and a complete rejection of control devices (on the first versions of the model) ... With good basic qualities, NAMI-1 lacked only the gloss of engineering refinement. It was this circumstance, as well as the difficulties with the preparation of mass production, that stood in the way of an interesting car. It was decided to start the automobileization of the USSR with cooperation with the overseas concern Ford, and NAMI-1, after several hundred copies produced in a semi-handicraft way, moved from roads and streets to museums and storerooms.

GAZ "A-Aero"

At present, this project would be called a dissertation defense, rather than a concept car. But just look at these forms and relate them to the year of issue! In the early 30s, aerodynamics in automotive engineering was just getting up from its knees and taking its first timid steps. And it is so pleasant that in this forward movement there is also the contribution of domestic talent.

In fact, the "A-Aero" of the Moscow engineer Alexei Nikitin was an exquisite aerodynamic body fitted on the chassis of a standard GAZ-A. The car is not just unusual and attractive. All the main beauty of the "Aero", like integrated headlights, closed rear arches and an increased keel, worked to reduce drag. And they worked not only in theory, but also in practice. During the tests of the "Aero" concept car, to put it mildly, surprised others by a quarter lower fuel consumption and maximum speed, which increased by almost 30 kilometers per hour compared to the base "gas". It is a pity that this wonderful aerodynamic story has not been continued. The A-Aero itself disappeared without a trace.

US-013

It was already a concept car with no discounts or apologies. His ideological inspirer is Yuri Dolmatovsky, a brother of the Soviet poet Yevgeny Dolmatovsky. Not only an engineer, but also a designer, journalist and one of the most famous popularizers of the car in the USSR, Yuri Aronovich, back in the late 40s, thought about the advantages of a carriage layout. It was with his participation that the development of the first passenger car in the USSR began.

The concept car NAMI-013, as they like to repeat today, was ahead of its time. Indeed! The rear-engine layout, five meters long, three rows of seats and the driver sitting in front of the front axle, is, whatever one may say, a breakthrough. Alas, Dolmatovsky's enthusiasm, which met with approval even on the pages of the foreign automotive press, did not find support in higher authorities. The matter did not go further than a single prototype, and even that was disposed of in 1954.

And seven years later, the rear-wheel drive, rear-engined single-volume Chevrolet Corvair Greenbrier debuted in the United States, ideologically very similar to Dolmatovsky's car.

ZIS-112

Again, a pure concept car - as a product of engineering thought, designed to rotate the gears of technical progress, this handsome man does not pull. Before us is "just" a racing car on the ZIS-110 chassis. But even in very specific linear races - in paired races several hundred kilometers long, which were arranged on ordinary highways, the 112th showed by no means outstanding results. But for the role of a dream car - a car that asserted, if not the superiority of the socialist industry over the "decaying West", then at least the parity of the parties, the car fit perfectly.

The brainchild of Valentin Rostkov can easily be accused of imitating the conceptual Buick Le Saber. But two cars appeared almost simultaneously, and both are beautiful in their own way. But in 112th there was a truly Russian scale: almost six meters in length, a terrifying-looking cyclopean headlight in the center, dashing "mustache" growing from the front fairing, and overlapping the powerful sidewalls of the front wings. It was cool! And not only in design. In the most pumped-over version, the in-line (!) Eight-cylinder engine of the dream car developed nearly 200 horsepower and, according to the stories of contemporaries, jumped over two hundred in maximum speed.

"Squirrel"

Having failed with NAMI-013, Yuri Dolmatovsky was not disappointed in the carriage layout. And when the management of the Irbit Motorcycle Plant started thinking about producing a passenger car at its facilities, the management of NAMI again began to promote the idea of \u200b\u200ba compact single-volume vehicle.

Now he really was quite compact - less than 3.5 meters in length, and the equipped weight - about half a ton. At the same time, the microvanchik called "Belka" had a full-fledged five-seater saloon, and its 700-cc motorcycle engine produced only 20 horsepower. However, given the low weight, this was quite enough for city trips. Among other things, the "Belka" was graceful and futuristic in a good way - which is only the front part of the cockpit for access to the salon, leaning forward. However, the design, well thought out with an eye to mass production, remained a concept. They changed their minds to build cars on the Irbit, and the Belka was not given a second chance.

MZMA "Moskvich-444"

Almost everyone knows that the first "Zaporozhets", nicknamed "The Humpbacked" among the people, is a clone of the Italian minicar FIAT. But not many are aware that at the beginning of his life, "Constipation", in fact, was considered "Moskvich".

According to the original plan, "Humpbacked" was supposed to get on the conveyor of the Moscow Small Car Plant (MZMA), later better known as AZLK. It was for this purpose that several copies of the popular FIAT 600 were purchased in Europe - they were disassembled, looked inside and, let's say, creatively reworked. Despite the changed wheel diameter and cosmetic changes in the external design, it was clear to everyone where the ears of this "domestic development" were sticking out from.

Ultimately, the borrowed design did not bring happiness to MZMA. By order from above, the finished concept project of the city "Moskvich" with all the technical documentation and driving prototypes was handed over to the Ukrainian plant "Kommunar" - the well-known parent of "Constipation". And "Moskvich" remained a prototype.

"Youth" ZIL-118

One of the most beautiful cars ever created in the Soviet Union, the Yunost bus, can also be called a grimace of the socialist economy. Suffice it to say that this bus was created on the components and assemblies of the government limousine ZIL-111. Just imagine a minibus or an ambulance weighing four tons and even with a gluttonous gasoline V8 under the hood. Absurd!

But the appearance of "Youth" would have done honor and the best European body shop of that time. The futuristic and fresh exterior of the minibus in Soviet realities seemed almost a revelation. Even the beautiful Volga GAZ-21 - the most fashionable car of the USSR at that time - looked down-to-earth and modest next to the ZIL-118.

Not in beauty, however, happiness. Despite its status, "Yunost" was unscheduled, semi-official and, therefore, not the most beloved child of ZIL. Created practically on a voluntary basis, the bus turned out to be expensive to manufacture, overhead in operation (fuel consumption exceeded 25 liters per 100 kilometers), and most importantly, its scope was too specific. He did not pull on a full-fledged city or intercity bus, but for a minibus it turned out to be too bulky and heavy. In a word, even despite the success at the "Bus Week in Nice" in 1967, where the car received the Grand Prix, the "Youth" remained a beautiful and in many ways progressive design, which in the end turned out to be of no use to anyone.

VNIITE PT

You will laugh, but after the second "bummer" with a one-volume car, Yuri Dolmatovsky did not give up. The talented and tenacious designer decided to step on the rake of socialist realism for the third time. And again it all started as if it were good.

Yuri Aronovich infected the specialists of VNIITE (All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Technical Aesthetics) with the absolutely sensible idea of \u200b\u200badapting a "monospace" to the needs of a taxi. Taking as a basis the experience of operating a taxi on the basis of an ordinary "Volga" GAZ-21 and methodically eliminating all its inherent shortcomings, Dolmatovsky presented a project for a Perspective Taxi.

Needless to say that it was a one-piece? The driver sat in front of the front axle, and the motor was next to the drive wheels, that is, in the back. In addition, VNIIET PT also received a fiberglass body, the prospects of which at that time seemed limitless. The sliding door on the right and the huge, by the standards of the time, the volume of the cabin, in which passengers could sit with their legs crossed, looked no less revolutionary. The advantages of the car are also excellent visibility and ease of active operation - for example, the simplicity of washing the body and cleaning the interior, which is very important for a taxi. Finally, the 50-horsepower "Muscovite" engine provided 100 kilometers per hour, which are quite adequate for a city taxi. Alas, as in previous cases, Dolmatovsky's work was praised, and that's all.

But today, looking at the specialized Nissan NV200 Taxi, roaming the streets of New York and London, it is difficult not to notice a whole heap of similarities between the "Japanese" and the Perspective Taxi from VNIITE.

"Moskvich-408 Tourist"

This experimental convertible differs from dozens and hundreds of factory prototypes that were not included in our selection in one fundamental thing. The order for its manufacture came from abroad. According to the official version, "Moskvich-408" with a removable hard top was developed at the request of the European importer of Soviet cars, Scaldia Volga. With such a machine, the firm from Belgium hoped to stir up interest in the beginning of the export of conventional 408s.

A convertible from a sedan was made in the simplest way - by cutting off all unnecessary. Fortunately, the matter was not limited to the "decubitus" of the experimental subjects. The body was reinforced, the extra rear doors were removed, and the front doors were stripped of their frames. Moreover, one of the two prototypes built received aluminum body panels and even an engine with a fuel injection system. But the main thing, of course, is the design. "Moskvich-408" itself was known as an impressive car, and "Tourist" is generally pure sex. One of the most elegant cars in the USSR, alas, it did not receive the honor of mass production.

VAZ-E1101

The first "kopecks" have not yet rolled off the assembly line of the Togliatti giant, and the designers of VAZ were already thinking ahead. In the late 60s, it became clear that automotive Europe was confidently shifting to front-wheel drive. In this sense, the FIAT-124 of the classic layout, chosen as the prototype of the VAZ-2101, was among the laggards. That is why the VAZ employees saw a promising minicar not only front-engine, but also front-wheel drive!

The compact "VAZ-E1101", nicknamed "Cheburashka" for the piercingly compassionate look of the headlights, was created exclusively by the internal forces of VAZ and without the participation of foreign specialists. Although, judging by the sketches, the designers were inspired by the style of the Austin Mini, Autobianchi A112, Honda N600. But something else is more important - almost everything VAZ had to create from scratch. Not only the body, but also the engine (0.9 liters with a return of 50 horsepower), and the gearbox (four-speed). The project fluttered for a long time. "Cheburashka" survived not only to the stage of a driving prototype, but even to an updated body. Restyling for the concept car was in the spirit of the Soviet long-term construction. However, it never came to the assembly line.

VAZ 1801 "Pony"

An original solution to an unoriginal idea. A light open car - call it a buggy, if you like - a golf cart designed for the 1980 Olympics stood out both for its good looks and non-trivial engineering solutions. Suffice it to say that the Pony was an electric car! The VAZ-1801 had two nickel-zinc batteries, weighing 180 kilograms each. One was located in the front block, the other in the back. The power reserve was 110-120 kilometers when driving at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour. But in the end, this habitué of Soviet car dealerships, as usual, remained just an interesting project.

"Okhta" NAMI

Created by DIY craftsmen Gennady Khainov and Dmitry Parfenov, Okhta is not just a luxurious aerodynamic body, but also a flat floor in the cabin, an active spoiler, and most importantly - wiring on a common data bus. For the late 80s, multiplex is fantastic squared! True, there was nothing super-unique in terms of technology - the units were used here from the VAZ G8.

This is how Okhta looks now. “Shaking” a concept car is our way!

MAZ-2000 "Perestroika"

One of the few concept trucks in the USSR. And, probably, the only carrier of a really advanced concept. The striking design of "Perestroika" is one thing, but the original modular layout of the road train, with motorized bogies, depending on the required carrying capacity, is quite another. On the threshold of the 90s, it seemed like a decision from the future. Time has shown that "Perestroika", like its modular trolleys, is a beautifully distant business.

US-0288 Compact

The project of a minicar, which, according to the modern classification, could be attributed to class B, surprised with emphasized attention to aerodynamics, interesting layout solutions and design that was okay for the late 80s. But the main achievement of the car remained participation in the Tokyo Motor Show, where the concept received an award. Foreign comrades looked at Kompakt with interest and surprise - they did not expect such progress from the USSR.

"Orange" NAMI-0290

The rally "group B" in the Soviet style, or simply "Orange", is a racing car created by NAMI engineers in their free time. A spatial tubular frame, a forced 1.5-liter engine from the "six", plus body panels stylized as a cocktail from the Peugeot 205 T16, Lancia Delta S4 and Ford RS200 - this is the recipe for one of the brightest Soviet sports cars of the 80s. Unfortunately, in the 90s, "Orange" was cut into pieces and thrown into a landfill, like many other unique machines of the Land of the Soviets.

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Hello dear readers, today we will present to your attention the best cars of the USSR. As you yourself understand, our TOP will include those cars that were popular among the population of the Soviet Union back in the middle of the 20th century. Perhaps you will meet some of them on the modern roads of the country. The list will be quite large, so I propose to go straight to its consideration.

ZAZ 968

The well-known "Zaporozhets" was quite popular during the Soviet Union. In particular, this concerns the ZAZ 968 model. It was the dream of many. It was produced right up to 1994, but with the advent of more advanced technology, it gradually went down in history. Special modifications of this Zaporozhye giant were created, which were specially intended for the disabled. Engine power of 30 liters. from. in those years it was quite enough for traveling around the city. In those days, the first place was not speed, but quality. ZAZ 968 fully met the needs of the inhabitants of the Soviet Union.

Moskvich 412

This is the ninth place in our ranking. Even today, you can find this model on the roads of our country. The peak of popularity of the steel horse came in the mid-70s. The 1.5-liter engine capacity was quite enough to compete even with foreign brands, which were quite rare at that time. Engine power - 72 hp from. That was pretty good for that time. Our country in the 70s even exported the model to foreign countries. Moreover, the geography of distribution was wide enough.

VAZ 2107

The famous seven, which has not been published for just a couple of years, is in 8th place in our rating. In the early 80s, this particular brand was one of the most popular. Then it was done conscientiously. Engine power - 74 hp from. It was just perfect for that time. At the same time, the car was very economical, and consumed only 7 liters of gasoline per 100 km. The design for that time was simply progressive. Today a used model can be purchased at any car market for a reasonable price, but since the 90s the quality of the brand has deteriorated significantly.

GAZ 12 ZIM

Just a luxurious car, which was produced in the Soviet Union in the period from 1948 to 1960. It was at that period that its popularity peaked. Today he can only be found in the collection of wealthy oligarchs. The brand engine ran on 72-m gasoline. The engine power was enough for the then city. This work of art was sometimes used as a taxi.

VAZ 2103

Sixth place goes to VAZ 2103. A typical Lada, which was developed in conjunction with the Italian company Fiat. Produced at the Volga Automobile Plant in the period from 1972 to 1984, the four-cylinder engine was capable of accelerating to a hundred in 16 seconds. Its capacity was 77 liters. from. Today, cars can be found on the streets of our country, but every year there are fewer and fewer representatives of this family.

VAZ 2108

The top five is opened by the VAZ 2108, which in the mid-80s made a revolutionary revolution in terms of design. After that, Soviet brands began to have a very respectable look. Years of release - 1984-2003. The standard engine had a capacity of 64 hp. from. At the same time, it allowed to accelerate to a speed of 100 km / h in 15 seconds. A very economical brand that consumed only 5.4 l / 100 km.

GAZ 2410

Our beloved Volga is at the 4th position of our list. It was produced for a relatively short time, only 7 years, starting in 1985 and ending in 1992. The 2.5 liter engine had a capacity of 100 hp. from. For that time, very good indicators. At the same time, a person bought at his disposal a fairly roomy steel horse. There is even a limousine.

Volga 21

Volga 21 opens the top three. It was produced from 1955 to 1970. The iron horse was produced in several modifications at once. At the same time, it was available to the middle class of the population of the Soviet Union. Perhaps that is why it became popular. The 2.5-liter engine had a capacity of 75 liters. from. Today, the car can be found on the roads of the country, but this happens less and less. The model cannot be called economical. It consumes 15 l / 100 km in mixed mode.

At the end of 1960, the Kommunar plant in Zaporozhye produced the first series of Zaporozhets cars. The dream of a "people's car" has become a reality. The Soviet car industry fulfilled the dreams of both a peasant car and a car for the party elite.

Zaporozhets

Since the mid-50s, the demand of the population for a compact, inexpensive "people's" car began to take on more and more mass character. The task of creating such 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 runabout. 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. There was a "hunchback" even in the cartoons "Wait a minute" and "Holidays in Prostokvashino".

The Ukrainian auto industry, having experimented on the "hunchback" "Zaporozhets", which was a replica of the six hundredth Fiat, during the years of Brezhnev's rule released a new model, almost a full-fledged, but very compact sedan, in the exterior similar to the Chevrolet Corvair. A distinctive feature of the car was the large air intakes, which the people immediately christened with 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 Communist Party of the Soviet Union Nikita Khrushchev wanted the same car as the American president, only better. By the end of the 50s, the "Stalinist" ZIS-110, which served faithfully for 13 years, became morally obsolete and ceased to suit at once for several reasons. Firstly, it outwardly did not in any way 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 combined all the best that the auto industry could give: an automatic transmission with push-button control, power windows, a V-shaped eight-cylinder engine, power steering, a four-headlight system and an executive seven-seater interior. During the production of the model, only 112 cars were produced. An interesting fact: when the production of representative cars "Huntsy" began in China, the design of the ZIL-111 was taken as a basis.

"Gull"

The most beautiful car in the Soviet Union, the Chaika was the most massive Soviet executive car. In terms of its external appearance, the car was a compilation of design solutions of the American automobile industry, the so-called fin style, or "Detroit baroque". "The Seagull" can be attributed to the long-livers of the Soviet automobile industry: cars were produced from 1959 to 1981. Heads of ministries and departments, first secretaries of republican communist parties, ambassadors of the USSR abroad traveled on "Chaikas". In addition, several special modifications of the car were produced: filming, semi-phaetons, the case of the production of a railcar on the basis of "GAZ-13" is also known.
Immediately after the release of the "Seagulls" began, the "hunt" began for them - an elegant, comfortable car seduced party functionaries, but the obsolete ZiM remained the main member of the group. A way out was found: at one of the defense plants, the front and rear parts of the ZiM were welded to the body of the "Chaika". In practice, the result was a camouflaged car of a high level of comfort, popularly nicknamed "Oslobyk". For a long time "The Seagull" was inaccessible to the mass buyer, after two overhauls it was supposed to be disposed of. Only in the 70s did Brezhnev allow making money on the Chaikas: cars began to be widely operated by registry offices, served by Intourist, diplomatic missions of foreign countries, ministers, military parades, Soviet ambassadors abroad and stars visiting the USSR.

Volga

The 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 a cherished dream of every Soviet citizen. The mass sale of Volgas into private hands, however, was never envisaged: most of the cars were distributed to government agencies, to taxi companies and for export. Only very wealthy people could afford the "Volga", compared to the "people's" "Muscovites" and "Zhiguli" the nomenclature cars were very expensive. "Volga" was produced in several modifications, the most common was, of course, the sedan. There were fewer station wagons, and almost all of them were used for the needs of the national economy, so for a long time it was possible to buy them either in the shops of the Berezka chain for checks, or to receive them on an individual order.

VAZ 2101 ("Kopeyka")

VAZ 2101, "Kopeyka" - a legendary car, the most popular car in the USSR. The Italian Fiat 124 was taken for the prototype of the first Zhiguli model. True, the Italian was significantly improved, more than 800 changes were made to the Fiat design.
The "unit", as the people called the VAZ 2101 lovingly at first, 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 later used 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, “penny-limousines” are still in use today, which are used as 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", 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. Prior to 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, rumor has it that the sharpening of the "chisel" allowed the company to build a full-size wind tunnel to replace the squalid climate chamber. For its unusual shape, the "eight" was immediately dubbed the "chisel" among the people, however, despite the nickname, the car "took root".