Late 1960 zaporozhye plant Kommunar 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. I must say that the "humpback" was not a blind copy of the Italian runabout. Many structural units have undergone significant changes. ZAZ 965 has become 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. Distinctive feature The car became 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" \u200b\u200bwas the main goal in the development of Soviet industry in the 1950-60s. This trend concerned and 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 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 companies. It is clear that the head of the Soviet Union could not drive the same car with mere mortals. An order was given for the production of a new executive car; the result of this order was the ZIL-111. Suspiciously similar to the American Cadillac, the Zil-111 combines all the best that the auto industry could give: automatic transmission push-button transmissions, power windows, V-shaped eight-cylinder engine, power steering, four-headlight lighting system and a seven-seater executive salon. During the production of the model, only 112 cars were produced. 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 Soviet Union, "Chaika" was the most massive Soviet executive class car. In terms of its external appearance, the car was a compilation of design solutions of the American car industry, the so-called fin style, or "Detroit baroque". "The Seagull" can be attributed to long-livers soviet car 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 start of the release of "Seagulls" the "hunt" began for them - an elegant, comfortable car seduced the 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 "Chaikas": the 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 cherished dream every Soviet citizen. The mass sale of Volgas to private hands, however, was never envisaged: most of the cars were distributed to government agencies, taxi companies and for export. Only very well-to-do people could afford the Volga, in comparison with the “people's” “Moskvichs” 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, to this day, "penny-limousines" are in use, 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 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 the 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 poor climate chamber. For its unusual shape, the "eight" was immediately dubbed the "chisel" among the people, however, despite the nickname, the car "took root". Particularly popular "eight" (and later "nine") earned during the years of perestroika among representatives of the criminals. Frisky front-wheel drive cars with "predatory" outlines - perfect car "Brothers".

VAZ 2121 "Niva"

The task to do four wheel drive car "Zhiguli" was put in front of "VAZ" by the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR Alexei Kosygin. The task was not easy, but they coped with it even better than well. "Niva" became the world's first small-class SUV. In fact, it was with the "Niva" that the era of crossovers began. In addition, the Niva was the first permanent all-wheel drive vehicle. The decision on permanent all-wheel drive was made by the designers due to economy in order to reduce the load on the transmission: when assembling the first Soviet jeep, parts from passenger cars "Zhiguli" were used. "Niva" became a very successful model and enjoyed well-deserved love not only in the USSR, but abroad. The export versions of the Niva were thoroughly tuned, the price for them abroad was comparable to the price of Mercedes, the demand was no less. "Niva" was successfully sold in more than 100 countries of the world, it was assembled in six countries: Brazil, Ecuador, Chile, Panama, Greece, Canada. In many countries, there are still clubs of Niva fans, and in England fans of Niva even publish their own magazine.

Copying foreign cars began with the very first Soviet passenger cars produced under license from Ford. Over time, copying took place most often without the permission of Western car factories. The Scientific Research Automobile Institute of the USSR bought several advanced models "for study" from the capitalist oppressors of the working people at once, and a few years later the Soviet analogue rolled off the assembly lines. True, by that time, the prototype was often already outdated and out of production, and the Soviet copy was produced for more than a decade.

GAZ A

First massive a car The USSR was borrowed from the American car industry. GAZ A is a licensed copy of the American Ford-A. The USSR bought equipment and production documents from an American firm in 1929, and two years later the production of Ford-A was discontinued. A year later, in 1932, the first GAZ-A cars were produced.

Despite the fact that the first cars of the plant were made according to the drawings of the American firm Ford, they were already somewhat different from the American prototypes from the beginning. After 1936, the operation of the obsolete GAZ-A was banned in Moscow and Leningrad. Small number of car owners were ordered to hand over GAZ-A to the state and purchase a new GAZ-M1 with a surcharge.

Leningrad-1

The Soviet experimental passenger car was almost an exact copy of the Buick-32-90, which by American standards belonged to the upper-middle class.

The Krasny Putilovets plant, which previously produced Fordson tractors, produced 6 copies of the L1 in 1933. A significant part of the cars could not reach Moscow on their own without serious breakdowns. As a result, "Krasny Putilovets" was reoriented to the production of tractors and tanks, and the improvement of the L1 was transferred to the Moscow ZiS.

Since the body of the "Buick" no longer corresponded to the fashion of the mid-thirties, the ZiS redesigned it. The American body shop Budd Company, based on Soviet sketches, designed an elegant and externally modern body for those years. It cost the government half a million dollars and took 16 months.

GAZ-M-1

The GAZ-M1, in turn, was designed on the basis of the 1934 Ford Model B (Model 40A), the documentation for which was transferred to GAZ by the American side under the terms of the contract.

During the adaptation of the model to the domestic operating conditions, the car was largely redesigned by Soviet specialists. Emka surpassed Ford's later production in some positions.

KIM-10

The first Soviet mass-produced subcompact car, based on the British Ford Prefect.

In the USA, they made stamps and developed drawings of the body according to the models of the Soviet designer. In 1940, the plant began production of this model. The KIM-10 was supposed to become the first truly "people's" Soviet car, but the Great Patriotic War prevented the implementation of the country's ambitious plan to provide the majority of citizens with personal cars.

ZIS-110

The body design of the first Soviet post-war passenger car of the executive class almost completely imitated the American "Packards" of the older series of the pre-war production. Up to the smallest detail, the ZIS-110 was similar to the Packard 180 with the Touring Sedan body of the last pre-war model of 1942.

An independent Soviet development, they deliberately betrayed the appearance of the American Packard in accordance with the taste preferences of the country's top leadership and, mainly, Stalin personally.

It is unlikely that the American company liked such a creative development of its ideas in the design of a Soviet car, but no complaints from its side in those years followed, especially since the production of large Packards was not resumed after the war.

Moskvich 400

The Soviet small car was a complete analogue car opel Kadett K38, produced in 1937-1940 in Germany at the German Opel branch of the American concern General Motors, recreated after the war on the basis of surviving copies, documentation and equipment.

Part of the equipment for the production of the car was removed from the Opel plant in Rüsselheim (located in the American occupation zone) and mounted in the USSR. A significant part of the lost documentation and equipment for production was recreated anew, and the work was carried out in Germany by order of the Soviet military administration by the forces of mixed work collectives, consisting of seconded Soviet and civilian German specialists who worked in design bureaus created after the war.

The next three generations of "Muscovites" will lag behind the production of Opel.

GAZ-M-12

Six-seven-seater passenger car large class with a body "six-window long-wheelbase sedan" was developed on the basis of the Buick Super. Serially produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant (Plant Named after Molotov) from 1950 to 1959 (some modifications - to 1960.)

The plant was strongly recommended to completely copy the Buick of the 1948 model, but the engineers based on the proposed model designed a car that would rely as much as possible on the units and technologies already mastered in production. ZiM was not a copy of any specific foreign car, either in terms of design, or, in particular, in the technical aspect - in the latter, the designers of the plant even managed to some extent "say a new word" within the framework of the global automotive industry. In October 1950, the first industrial batch of GAZ-M-12 was assembled.

GAZ-21 "Volga"

The middle-class passenger car was technically created by domestic engineers and designers "from scratch", but outwardly copied mainly American models of the early 1950s. During the development, the designs of foreign cars were studied: Ford Mainline, Chevrolet 210, Plymouth Savoy, Standard Vanguard and Opel Kapitän.

GAZ-21 was mass-produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1956 to 1970. The factory model index is initially GAZ-M-21, later (since 1965) - GAZ-21.

By the time of the start of serial production by world standards, the design of the Volga had already become at least ordinary, and did not stand out against the background of serial foreign cars of those years. By 1960, the Volga was a car with a hopelessly outdated design.

Moskvich-402

The appearance of a small class car repeated opel model Olympia Rekord - Successor Opel kadett K38. The participation of specialists from GAZ, where the development of the Volga GAZ-21 was in full swing, had a strong impact on the car being designed. "Moskvich" took over many elements of its design from her.

Serial production of "Moskvich-402" was curtailed in May 1958.

GAZ-13 "Chaika"

Executive passenger car of a large class, created under a clear influence latest models the American company Packard, which in those years were just being studied at NAMI (Packard Caribbean convertible and Packard Patrician sedan, both 1956 model years).

"The Seagull" was created with a clear focus on the trends of American style, like all GAZ products of those years, but was not a 100% "stylistic copy" or Packard's modernization. The car was produced in small series at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1959 to 1981. A total of 3,189 vehicles of this model were manufactured.

"Seagulls" were used as a personal transport of the highest nomenclature (mainly ministers, first secretaries of regional committees), which was issued as component the assigned "package" of privileges.

Both sedans and seagull convertibles were used at parades, served at meetings of foreign leaders, prominent figures and heroes, and were used as escort vehicles. Also, "Seagulls" came to "Intourist", where, in turn, everyone could order them for use as wedding limousines.

ZIL-111

The copying of American design at various Soviet factories led to the fact that the appearance of the ZIL-111 car was created according to the same models as the Chaika. As a result, externally similar cars were simultaneously produced in the country. ZIL-111 is often mistaken for the more common "Chaika".

A high-class passenger car was stylistically a compilation of various elements american cars middle and upper class of the first half of the 1950s - mostly reminiscent of Cadillac, Packard and Buick. The basis external design The ZIL-111, like the "Chaika", was the design of the models of the American company Packard in 1955-56. But compared to the Packard models, the ZiL was larger in all dimensions, looked much stricter and "more square", with straightened lines, had a more complex and detailed decor.

From 1959 to 1967, only 112 copies of this car were collected.

ZAZ-965

The main prototype of the minicar was the Fiat 600.

The car was designed by MZMA ("Moskvich") jointly with the Automotive Institute NAMI. The first samples received the designation "Moskvich-444", and were already significantly different from the Italian prototype. Later the designation was changed to "Moskvich-560". Meanwhile, the conveyor of the MZMA itself by that time was fully loaded, and the plant did not have reserves for development in the production of minicars. Therefore, for the production of the car, it was decided to reconstruct the Kommunar plant in the city of Zaporozhye (Ukrainian SSR), which was previously engaged in the production of combines and other agricultural machinery.

ZAZ-966

A passenger car of an especially small class demonstrates a considerable similarity in design with the German subcompact NSU Prinz IV (Germany, 1961).

GAZ-24 "Volga"

The mid-range passenger car has become a hybrid of the North American Ford Falcon and Plymouth Valiant.

Serially produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1969 to 1992. The exterior and construction of the car were quite standard for this direction, specifications were also about average. Most of the Volgas were not intended for sale for personal use and were operated in taxi companies and other state organizations.

VAZ-2101

VAZ-2101 "Zhiguli" - a rear-wheel drive passenger car with a sedan-type body is an analogue of the Fiat 124 model, which received the title "Car of the Year" in 1967.

By agreement of the Soviet Vneshtorg and Fiat, the Italians created the Volga Automobile Plant in Togliatti with a full production cycle. The concern was entrusted with the technological equipment of the plant, training of specialists.

VAZ-2101 has undergone major changes. In total, over 800 changes were made to the design of the Fiat 124, after which it was named Fiat 124R. The "Russification" of the Fiat 124 turned out to be extremely useful for the FIAT company itself, which has accumulated unique information about the reliability of its cars in extreme operating conditions.

VAZ-2103

Rear-wheel drive passenger car with a sedan-type body. It was developed jointly with the Italian firm Fiat based on the Fiat 124 and Fiat 125 models.

Later, on the basis of the VAZ-2103, a "project 21031" was developed, later renamed to the VAZ-2106.

VAZ-2105

The VAZ-2105 model was developed by a serious modernization of previously produced models within the framework of the "second" generation rear wheel drive cars VAZ as a replacement for the firstborn VAZ-2101. The design was based on the Fiat 128 Berlina model.

In the screensaver of episode 15 of the 17th season of The Simpsons, in which the Simpsons are played by real actors in real scenery, Homer drives home in a Lada Nova (export name "five").

Moskvich-2141

The replacement Moskvich-412 was designed only in the 1980s, and it was already a completely different car - the Moskvich-2141, a front-wheel-drive hatchback based on the body of the French Simka and the UZAM engine already obsolete by that time. Export name - Aleko, from the Lenin Komsomol Automobile Plant.

Minavtoprom saw the recently appeared Franco-American model Simca 1308 produced by the European branch of Chrysler Corporation as the best prototype for accelerating the design of a new car. The designers were ordered to copy the car right down to the hardware. " However, in the process of development, the body of the "Moskvich" was redesigned, as a result of which the exterior of the car was significantly different from the French model and, albeit with some stretch, but corresponded to the level of the mid-eighties.

Hello dear readers, today we present to your attention best cars THE USSR. As you yourself understand, our TOP will include those cars that were popular among the population 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 designed for disabled people. Engine power of 30 liters. with. 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 engine displacement of 1.5 liters was quite enough to compete even with foreign brands, which were then quite rare. Engine power - 72 hp. with. It 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 only 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 with. 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 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 piece 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. with. 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. with. At the same time, up to a speed of 100 km / h, it allowed it to accelerate in 15 seconds. A very economical brand that consumed only 5.4 l / 100 km.

GAZ 2410

Our beloved Volga is on the 4th position of our list. It was produced for a relatively short time, only 7 years, starting in 1985 and ending in 1992. 2.5 liter engine had a capacity of 100 liters. with. 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. with. 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.

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" specimens, which are dear to look at today. But we will start all the same with "BChS".

This beautiful black sedan replaced the outdated ZIS-110, which did not make it to our selection only because its 8 cylinders under the hood were located in a row, and not at an angle. But ZIL-111 received new motor with a similar marking, which had 6 liters of displacement, two hundred horsepower and a torque of 442 Nm. Together with him worked a two-band torque converter "automatic".

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

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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 "sleep through" 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 increased to 7 liters, and the torque increased to 559 Nm. An additional stage was received by the automatic transmission, with which the new engine worked.

In the photo: ZIL-114 "1967-71

Of course, on the basis of the ZIL-114, several special modifications were also produced. 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.

In the photo: ZIL-117 "1971-77

ZIL-117 also did not escape popularity as a 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 to receive the name ZIL-115 as the legal successor previous car collection, due to the change in the index system, it began to be called ZIL-4104. 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 has retained the main features: an aluminum block with cast-iron sleeves, two valves per cylinder, valve pushers and carburetor system nutrition.

In the photo: ZIL-4104 "1978–83

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

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This car became a cosmetic update of the ZIL-4104: even from the name it is clear. Retaining technical part and the body are unchanged, she received new lighting equipment, a modernized design of the front end and a different style of chrome elements on the body.

In the photo: ZIL-41045 "1983–85

it last update 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 unchanged technically, but refreshed from the outside, making the exterior stricter and more "square".

In the photo: ZIL-41047 "1986-2008

This car, unlike most of the Zilov cars, did not become serial. Initially, it was supposed to replace the "short" ZIL-41041, having received a modern appearance and new technical stuffing. 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 engine ZIL-4104 with a volume of 7.7 liters and a capacity of 315 hp was placed under the hood, and the main technical difference of the new car was the absence of a frame - it was planned to transfer it to a load-bearing body. However, the car did not receive development, remaining in existence in two copies, on which technical solutions and options for internal equipment were worked out.

In the photo: Under the hood ZIL-4102 Experienced "1988

ZIL-118 "Youth"

ZIL-118 "Yunost" is not a passenger car, but a minibus, but we simply could not ignore it: its appearance was too gorgeous - however, only in the first incarnation. The stories of this most curious car, and here we offer you 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: there were sports cars in the history of the plant. One of these is the ZIL-112S: a fast-paced roadster with a fiberglass body. It could be installed not one, but as many as two different V-shaped "eight". The first had 6 liters of working volume and developed 240 hp, and the second - already 7 liters, which gave at different times 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 "Chaika" 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 matched its appearance: the 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-speed 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 "Chaika" "1959–81

Of course, it was not without various modifications based on gas cars. For example, the Chaika had an open version with a soft top bearing the GAZ-13B index.

In the photo: GAZ-13B "Chaika" "1961–62

Successor of the first Seagull, new car under the GAZ-14 index, it began to look completely different - stricter, simpler and more angular, approaching in its style to the Zilov limousines. Twin headlights, a long and low profile, a metered amount of chrome - this was the Seagull in the second generation. At the same time, a 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 fed not one, but two carburetors at once.

In the photo: GAZ-14 "Chaika" "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 V 8 gas vehicles are special service vehicles, the so-called. GAZ-23 - a sedan based on the GAZ-21, which received a reinforced body, adapted for the installation of a slightly modernized power unit from the Chaika. The ZMZ-23 engine had 5.5 liters of volume and 195 hp. power, accelerating the sedan to one hundred kilometers per hour in 16 seconds and providing maximum speed at 160 km / h. Of course, under the new technical realities, not only the body was modified, but also brake system, and transmission, and chassis.

In the photo: GAZ-23 "Volga" "1962–70

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

In the photo: GAZ-24-24 "Volga"

The logical development of the model was the GAZ-24-34, which received a body from the GAZ-24-10, in which a V 8 and a three-stage "automatic" were installed according to the worked out scheme, 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 the Chaika at the post, but becoming much more modern and technologically advanced, and at the same time compact. Judge for yourself how many technical innovations were incorporated into the car at the stage of creation: four-wheel drive with forced blocking of center differential, disc brakes on all wheels, hydraulic booster, climate control, original body glazing ... and this is just a small part of interesting technical solutions - we talked in detail about

Almost all cars made in the USSR were copies of foreign models. It still started with the first samples produced under license from Ford. As time went on, copying became a habit. The Scientific Research Automobile Institute of the USSR bought samples for study in the West and after a while produced a Soviet analogue. True, by the time of release, the original was no longer available.

GAZ A (1932)

GAZ A is the first mass passenger car in the USSR, it is a licensed copy of the American Ford-A. The USSR bought equipment and production documents from an American company in 1929, and two years later the production of Ford-A was discontinued. A year later, in 1932, the first GAZ-A cars were produced.

After 1936, the obsolete GAZ-A was banned. Car owners were instructed to hand over the car to the state and purchase a new GAZ-M1 with a surcharge.

GAZ-M-1 "Emka" (1936-1943)

GAZ-M1 was also a copy of one of the ford models - Model B (Model 40A) 1934.

When adapting to domestic operating conditions, the car was thoroughly redesigned by Soviet specialists. The model surpassed later Ford products in some positions.

L1 "Red Putilovets" (1933) and ZIS-101 (1936-1941)

The L1 was an experimental passenger car, almost an exact replica of the Buick-32-90, which was upper-middle class by Western standards.

Initially, the Krasny Putilovets plant produced Fordson tractors. As an experiment, 6 copies of the L1 were produced in 1933. Most of the cars could not reach Moscow on their own and without breakdowns. The improvement of the L1 was transferred to the Moscow ZiS.

Due to the fact that the body of the "Buick" no longer corresponded to the fashion of the mid-30s, the ZiS redesigned it. The American body shop Budd Company, based on Soviet sketches, prepared a modern body sketch for those years. The work cost the country half a million dollars and took months.

KIM-10 (1940-1941)

The first Soviet small car, the development was based on the "Ford Prefect".

In the USA, stamps were made and body drawings were developed based on the models of the Soviet designer. The production of this model began in 1940. It was thought that the KIM-10 would become the first "people's" car of the USSR, but the plans of the USSR leadership were interrupted by the Great Patriotic War.

Moskvich 400.401 (1946-1956)

It is unlikely that the American company liked such a creative development of its ideas in the design of the Soviet car, however, no claims on its part followed in those years, especially since the production of "large" Packards was not resumed after the war.

GAZ-12 (GAZ-M-12, ZIM, ZIM-12) 1950-1959

A six-seven-seater passenger car of a large class with a "six-window long-wheelbase sedan" body was developed on the basis of the Buick Super, mass-produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant (Molotov Plant) from 1950 to 1959 (some modifications - to 1960.)

The plant was strongly recommended to completely copy the "Buick" of the 1948 model, but the engineers, based on the proposed model, designed a car that would rely as much as possible on the units and technologies already mastered in production. "ZiM" was not a copy of any specific foreign car, neither in terms of design, nor, in particular, in the technical aspect - in the latter, the designers of the plant even managed to some extent "say a new word" within the framework of the global automotive industry

Volga GAZ-21 (1956-1972)

The middle-class passenger car was technically created by domestic engineers and designers "from scratch", but outwardly it copied mainly American models of the early 1950s. During the development, the designs of foreign cars were studied: Ford Mainline (1954), Chevrolet 210 (1953), Plymouth Savoy (1953), Henry J (Kaiser-Frazer) (1952), Standard Vanguard (1952) and Opel Kapitän (1951).

GAZ-21 was mass-produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1956 to 1970. The factory model index is initially GAZ-M-21, later (since 1965) - GAZ-21.

By the time the serial production began by world standards, the design of the Volga had already become at least ordinary, and did not stand out against the background of serial foreign cars of those years. By 1960, the Volga was a car with a hopelessly outdated design.

Volga GAZ-24 (1969-1992)

The middle class passenger car became a hybrid of the North American Ford Falcon (1962) and the Plymouth Valiant (1962).

Serially produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1969 to 1992. The exterior and construction of the car were quite standard for this direction, the technical characteristics were also approximately average. Most of the Volgas were not intended for sale for personal use and were operated in taxi companies and other government organizations).

"Seagull" GAZ-13 (1959-1981)

An executive passenger car of a large class, created under the clear influence of the latest models of the American company Packard, which were just studied at NAMI in those years (Packard Caribbean convertible and Packard Patrician sedan, both 1956 model years).

"The Seagull" was created with a clear focus on the trends of the American style, like all GAZ products of those years, but was not a 100% "stylistic copy" or Packard's modernization.

The car was produced in small series at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1959 to 1981. A total of 3,189 vehicles of this model were manufactured.

"Seagulls" were used as personal transport of the highest nomenklatura (mainly ministers, first secretaries of regional committees), which was issued as a part of the "package" of privileges.

Both sedans and seagull convertibles were used at parades, served at meetings of foreign leaders, prominent figures and heroes, and were used as escort vehicles. Also, "Seagulls" came to "Intourist", where, in turn, everyone could order them for use as wedding limousines.

ZIL-111 (1959-1967)

The copying of American design at various Soviet factories led to the fact that the appearance of the ZIL-111 car was created according to the same models as the Chaika. As a result, externally similar cars were simultaneously produced in the country. ZIL-111 is often mistaken for the more common "Chaika".

The high-end passenger car was stylistically a compilation of various elements of American mid-to-high-end cars from the first half of the 1950s - predominantly reminiscent of Cadillac, Packard and Buick. The exterior design of the ZIL-111, like the Chaika, was based on the design of the models of the American company “Packard” of 1955-56. But in comparison with the Packard models, the ZiL was larger in all dimensions, looked much stricter and more square, with straightened lines, and had a more complex and detailed decor.

From 1959 to 1967, only 112 copies of this car were collected.

ZIL-114 (1967-1978)

Small-scale executive passenger car of the highest class with a limousine body. Despite the desire to move away from the American automotive fashion, the ZIL-114, made from scratch, still partially copied the American Lincoln Lehmann-Peterson Limousine.

A total of 113 copies of the government limousine were collected.

ZIL-115 (ZIL 4104) (1978-1983)

In 1978, the ZIL-114 was replaced by new car under the factory index "115", which later received the official name ZIL-4104. The initiator of the development of the model was Leonid Brezhnev, who loved high-quality cars and was tired of the ten-year operation of the ZIL-114.

For creative rethinking, our designers were provided with a Cadillac Fleetwood 75; the British from Carso helped the domestic automakers in their work. As a result of the joint work of British and Soviet designers, ZIL 115 was born in 1978. According to the new GOSTs, it was classified as ZIL 4104.

The interior was created taking into account the intended use of cars - for high-ranking statesmen.

The end of the 70s is the height of the Cold War, which could not but affect the car carrying the country's top officials. ZIL - 115 could become a refuge in the event of a nuclear war. Of course, he would not have withstood a direct hit, but there was protection on the car from a strong radiation background. In addition, it was possible to install hinged armor.

ZAZ-965 (1960-1969)

The main prototype of the minicar was the Fiat 600.

The car was designed by MZMA ("Moskvich") together with the Automotive Institute NAMI. The first samples were designated "Moskvich-444", and were already significantly different from the Italian prototype. Later the designation was changed to "Moskvich-560".

At the very early stage of design, the car differed from the Italian model with a completely different front suspension - as on the first sports cars Porsche and Volkswagen - "Beetle".

ZAZ-966 (1966-1974)

A passenger car of an especially small class demonstrates a considerable similarity in design with the German subcompact NSU Prinz IV (Germany, 1961), which in its own way repeats the often copied American Chevrolet Corvair, presented at the end of 1959.

VAZ-2101 (1970-1988)

VAZ-2101 "Zhiguli" - a rear-wheel drive passenger car with a sedan-type body is an analogue of the Fiat 124 model, which received the title "Car of the Year" in 1967.

By agreement of the Soviet Vneshtorg and Fiat, the Italians created the Volga Automobile Plant in Togliatti with a full production cycle. The concern was entrusted with the technological equipment of the plant, training of specialists.

VAZ-2101 has undergone major changes. In total, over 800 changes were made to the design of the Fiat 124, after which it was named Fiat 124R. The "Russification" of the Fiat 124 turned out to be extremely useful for the FIAT company itself, which has accumulated unique information about the reliability of its cars in extreme operating conditions.

VAZ-2103 (1972-1984)

Rear-wheel drive passenger car with a sedan-type body. It was developed jointly with the Italian firm Fiat based on the Fiat 124 and Fiat 125 models.

Later, on the basis of the VAZ-2103, a "project 21031" was developed, later renamed to the VAZ-2106.