ZAZ-965 "Zaporozhets" - passenger car with rear wheel drive sedan type. The first model produced at the Zaporozhye Automobile Plant. Produced in 1960-1969.

History of appearance

Since the mid-50s, all over the world there has appeared and during the second half of the decade there has been a constant increase in interest in minicar cars - cars that were one class lower than subcompact cars (according to the modern classification - especially small or class A). AT different countries numerous examples of such cars were born - from a primitive surrogate for a car to a reduced copy of a traditional small car. Work on such designs was also launched in the USSR. A significant role was also played by the fact that since 1956 MZMA stopped production of small-sized (length 3855 mm), light (840 kg), four-seater Moskvich-401 and switched to a more spacious, comfortable and expensive Moskvich-402. The vacant niche of an inexpensive compact car was taken over by the first-born ZAZ.

Our factories and research institutes in 1955-1960 designed, built and tested many prototypes of minicars and sidecars. Here are just a few of them: "Belka" IMZ-A50, NAMI-048, NAMI-031, GAZ-18, NAMI-059, MVTU... All these designs made it possible to more clearly define the requirements for ultra-small machines.

For example, in 1955, a prototype of the very distinctive "Squirrel" NAMI-050 of a carriage layout (designer - Yuri Dolmatovsky) was built, which had a length of slightly more than 3.3 meters, a rear location of the power unit, a fairly spacious interior (however, due to the practically absent trunk) and the front part of the body, reclining forward and down for landing on the front seats. There was also a “rural” version with a simplified body (designer Eduard Molchanov), as well as a number of other prototypes.

"Squirrel" NAMI-M050

Just in those years, in the mid-fifties, it was decided to reconstruct the plant for the production of agricultural machinery, founded in the middle of the 19th century. Kommunar in Zaporozhye and the plant of light diesel engines in Melitopol, in order to launch the production of minicar cars since 1960. Development new car instructed the team of the Moscow Small Car Plant - MZMA (now AZLK). Development began in the fall of 1956. They took as a sample FIAT-600, the most successful car in this class. An important circumstance that predetermined the choice was the fact that this machine was the newest (its production began in 1955) and that it best suited the conditions of mass production.

The first prototype of the car - originally it was developed under the brand name "Moskvich" and received the index 444 - was ready just a year later, in October 1957. Its appearance and knot design were influenced by FIAT-600, but nevertheless, even at this stage, significant differences were outlined.

For a small machine, the wheel diameter is always a decisive factor. Taking into account the road conditions of our country, the designers have increased the landing size for the tire from 12 to 13 inches. This step required significant changes in the kinematics of the wheel suspension, forced to increase the volume of wheel arches and make adjustments to the overall layout. Another important difference - the car was not equipped with a four-cylinder water-cooled engine, as in FIAT, but a two-cylinder opposed MD-65 of the Irbit Motorcycle Plant, which had air cooling. The disadvantage of the engine, and very significant from the layout point of view, was a very developed crankcase - its depth (the distance from the axis to the crankshaft to the bottom of the oil pan) was 184 mm. Therefore, to obtain an acceptable clearance value at the rear wheel hubs Moskvich-444 I had to install wheel gears, similar to those used today in LuAZe-969M.

In addition, the first sample of 1957 differed from the Italian car, in addition to the above, the shape of the rear of the body, a different design of the front end, reinforced with a gearbox. A triangular emblem at the front, a convex arrow-shaped understamping on the door, a decorative "comb" in front of the rear wheel opening (a motif borrowed from the Moskvich-402) and four round air intakes on the rear fender, reminiscent of miniature firefighter helmets - these were other distinctive body details. By the way, already at this stage the car had interchangeable windshield and rear windows - a valuable feature for a mass model.

The next year, MZMA built new samples with changed design elements: a front wing with a higher upper part, a different form of cladding. One of them, painted in ivory, with a carrot-colored roof, was exhibited in the winter of 1958/59 at the USSR Exhibition of Economic Achievements. This car, on the emblem of which instead of “444” was “650”, still retained from the first sample the front suspension on a transverse spring and sliding (non-lifting) glass in the doors.

The MD-65 engine, created on the basis of a motorcycle engine, turned out, as tests revealed, unsuitable for a car. On a motorcycle with a sidecar, which weighs 320 kg, this motor ran under more favorable conditions (in terms of load) than on a minicar, twice as heavy. In addition, the MD-65 at the stand developed a capacity of only 17.5 liters. from. Hence the poor dynamics of the car: sluggish acceleration and shortage of maximum speed (80 km / h instead of the design 95 km / h). The motor was very noisy and did not cool well. But the main drawback was that the engine was short-lived: its service life was up to overhaul could hardly be 30 thousand km.

For these reasons, first at MZMA in 1957, and then at NAMI, the design of a new, special engine began. The two designs of the two-cylinder boxer engine of the Citroen 2LS type with air cooling and a working volume of 748 cm3, created at MZMA, were just undergoing bench tests in the second half of 1958. As a temporary measure, the improved version, which received the designation "444-BKR" (that is, without a wheel reduction gear), was equipped with a BMW-600 engine - also from a minicar. This engine had a much smaller crankcase, like the MZMA and NAMI engines designed. The rejection of gearboxes allowed to reduce the unsprung masses by 6 kg. At the same time, the car received a front suspension on longitudinal balance arms and plate torsion bars and side air intakes in the form of an elongated grille.

Production of Zaporozhets ZAZ-965

In 1959, new prototypes of the future Zaporozhets were released. At the same time, the design bureau of MZMA, with the help of a team of ZAZ engineers that arrived at the end of 1958, began to issue drawings for preparation of production. In April 1959, all technical documentation for the 965 model was transferred to Zaporozhye.

Experimental Zaporozhets

Prototypes of 1959 as opposed to FIAT-600 they no longer had sliding door windows, but lower ones, as on most cars. The swept-like protrusion on the wing and the “comb” have disappeared. Rear lights equipped with reflectors not in the middle, but in the lower part. The sidelights were installed in separate housings on the wings.

Later, samples were made with modified front fenders and stampings on the front panel. These cars have sidelights remained on the front fenders, but the emblem appeared on the front panel ZAZ and the inscription "Zaporozhets" rectangular letters.

In June 1959, the first two four-cylinder ZAZ-965 engines were ready at NAMI. One (965G) had a horizontal opposed arrangement of cylinders and a working volume of 752 cm3, the other (965B) had a V-shaped and a working volume of 746 cm3.

In terms of power indicators, both designs were equivalent, but the 965V engine had a number of advantages over the 965G, it was original and modern in terms of design. It was accepted for serial production.

In 1960, ZAZ was preparing for the production of a new car. The first batch of the plant assembled on November 22 and by the end of the year produced about one and a half thousand "Zaporozhtsev".

Price

In the year of its appearance, that is, in 1960, ZAZ-965 cost 16,000 pre-reform Soviet rubles ($ 4,000 at the then official exchange rate, which, when converted, according to dollartimes.com, corresponds to the modern $ 29,380) with an average salary of 783 rubles ( according to the same recalculation - modern $ 1,438 in purchasing power).

This corresponds to about 20: 1, that is, ZAZ could be purchased for an amount that roughly corresponds to the 20 official national average wages.

Modifications

• 965AE - export modification, featured improved interior trim and sound insulation, as well as an ashtray and a radio receiver as standard. In addition, the modification was distinguished by side sloped moldings, on some modifications at the end of the molding the nameplate "Jalta" was installed.
• 965B / 965AB - a disabled modification designed for disabled people with injured legs and healthy hands.
• 965AR - a wheelchair modification designed for disabled people with one healthy arm and one healthy leg.
• 965P - pickup for in-plant use
• 965C - car for collecting letters with a right-hand drive.

From October 1962 to May 1969, the modernized "Zaporozhets" rolled off the assembly line ZAZ-965A with a more powerful 27-horsepower engine, the displacement of which was increased to 887 cm3. It was also distinguished by a steering wheel with an insulated hub, sidelights mounted in the fenders (and not on them), decorative molding along the side of the body, a modified factory sign (instead of an asterisk - a rectangle), a decorative grille on the front panel. Model based 965A there were two versions with manual control: 965AB (1963-1969) and 965AR (1966-1972).

Model characteristics

Zaporozhets-965 was well received by the consumer from the very beginning. In fairness, it should be noted that (especially on cars of the first release), the torsion bars of the front suspension often lost their elasticity, and in hot weather the engine overheated. But, despite these "childhood illnesses", the minicar immediately showed its best side in rural areas, areas with poor roads.

The good cross-country ability of the ZAZ-965 is due to the smooth bottom, independent suspension of all wheels, and sufficient loading (60% of the total weight) of the driving wheels. In especially severe cases, when the car was not able to get out of the mud on its own, its crew, with a certain effort, could always free the car weighing only 665 kg from captivity.

And one more feature ZAZ-965 has created a reputation for him as a car, convenient for group and country roads. It is very difficult for a car, even a GAZ-69, to walk on roads with deep ruts left by trucks. Between the tracks, the GAZ-51 truck, for example, leaves a solid strip of road about 1150-1200 mm wide. All passenger cars, in order not to "sit on the differential", must follow this "hump" with the wheels of one side, and follow the track with the wheels of the other. Only the ZAZ-965, with careful driving, was able to drive through the space between the deep ruts.

The townspeople quickly appreciated in "Zaporozhets" its maneuverability, good efficiency, high strength of the body. The latter quality was facilitated by the presence of only two doors, the openings of which did not weaken the sidewall as much as on cars with four-door bodies. And of course, the engine with separate cylinders, which is relatively light and easy to dismantle, has always been possible to quickly and easily remove, to repair on its own "in the kitchen" and put it back in place without much loss of time.

This car was produced for nine years. And today it is still often found on the roads, and many of its owners consider their ZAZ-965 a famous car.

This car had many names. From offensive “Constipation” and “Humpbacked” to affectionate “Round” and “Cheburashka”. It was unusual for literally everyone: unusually small, unusually cheap, with an unusual "hump" in the stern, the bowels of which contained a rattling air-cooled engine. The price was also pleasantly surprising: 1800 rubles against 2511 for Moskvich and fabulous 5100 for the Volga! Having saved 22 of their salaries and having stood in line for a car for several years, the newly minted car enthusiast received his OWN vehicle... For many families in the USSR, it was the unsightly Zaporozhets that became the first car in the family. He was the subject of pride and ridicule at the same time. "Half an hour of shame and you are at work" - this is exactly about him. The most affordable car Soviet Union: Zaporozhets.

The history of this little car began at the end of the fifties, when it became clear that the country desperately needed a car of an especially small class, a kind of "people's car" in the manner of Citroen "Shi-Vi" or the Beetle. The initial development of the car was entrusted to the Moscow Minicar Plant (MZMA). The work began at the end of 1956, the Italian FIAT 600 was taken as a basis, and the development was entrusted to the Moscow Minicar Plant.
Already in 1957, a prototype of the future "Zaporozhets" was created - then still Moskvich - 444, and only 5 experimental machines were made. By 1958, it became clear that the fully loaded Moscow plant simply did not have the capacity to manufacture a new minicar. And on November 28, 1958, the USSR Council of Ministers makes a "historic" decision to organize Zaporozhye plant agricultural machinery "Kommunar" production of a new car without interrupting the production of the main product. Melitopol Motor Plant (MeMZ) was appointed as the engine supplier
The production had to be opened practically from a "clean face", the plant did not have its own "automotive" engineers, therefore, part of the team was called up from GAZ and all the same MZMA, and part of them underwent training at these factories.

Serial FIAT-600

Moskvich-444. Prototype 1958. Highlighted by distinctive design elements and two-tone paintwork


ZAZ-965, 1960 prototype. Typical teardrop-shaped repeaters on the wings are visible

Here is what one of the creators of the car, then only demobilized from the army, airfield technician Ivan Koshkin recalls (Autoreview No. 4, 2011):

Experimental Muscovites turned out to be running models. We could somehow move independently, but we couldn't drive on the road with a load. Judge for yourself: the front suspension with a transverse spring provided a dynamic travel of only 30-40 mm, although our roads needed at least 70. And this Irbit motorcycle motor? After all, it was immediately clear that he was not suitable! We did not even seriously test this sample.

Failures associated with the engine have always pursued the Cossacks. At first, for a long time, they could not find the required power unit, they even equipped experimental samples bMW motors, then, in the shortest possible time, they "adjusted" the motor, created by US and hastily sent to Zaporozhye ... Air cooling of the engine automatically meant the presence of an autonomous stove, as a result, both did not work properly and did not have sufficient resource.



In 1961 the first batch of Humpbacks was released. However, it did not get into auto shops, but went to subcontractors. Disrupt the production plan passenger cars it was impossible in the USSR! Therefore, they got out as best they could, modernizing a frankly "raw" car "on the go" ...

Several basic modifications were produced on the basis of the Gorbaty:
965AE - an export version, featured improved interior trim and sound insulation, as well as an ashtray and a radio receiver as standard equipment. It was sold in Western markets under the names Yalta or Jalta. According to various sources, about 5,000 copies were exported.

965B / 965AB / 965AR - a disabled modification designed for people with damaged legs and healthy hands.

965P - pickup truck for in-plant use. In general, the feasibility of creating a pickup based on a rear-engined car is highly questionable. Created with a workaround technology, it did not have a side or rear door.

965C- car for collecting letters with the right-hand drive and plugs instead of rear windows.

In 1963, the car was seriously modernized for the first time and began to install a 27-horsepower (against 22 in the previous model) MeMZ-965 engine, and also carry out a facelift of the front end.

In 1963 the first Soviet "beach" comedy "Three plus two" was released on the screens of the country. The lyrical and carefree tape with tanned characters, shiny cars and restaurants on the seashore at first did not like the powers that be from the cinema. Like, how so: in the frame, Soviet people do nothing for an hour and a half! They embark on car chases, read Western "duduktivs" and make love affairs. Such skepticism, however, did not prevent the film from being screened in cinemas of the country to gather 35 million people ... However, for us, the picture is valuable primarily for the 966th Zaporozhets in the supporting role, as well as the catch phrase of Andrey Mironov: "Tin can of the Zaporozhets system."

By the way, the dialogue that follows the phrase seems meaningless:

- Tin can of the Zaporozhets system!
- New brand?
- Old stuff!

What new brand asked diplomat Vadim veterinarian Roman - remains a mystery, tk. by 1963, the ZAZ-966 model had not yet been produced. We can only assume that two friends visited VDNKh, where new concepts of the "maturing" 966 were exhibited every year ...

Meanwhile, objectively speaking, the ZAZ-965 was originally an outdated model: the body and rear suspension were borrowed from the popular FIAT-600, the front suspension was borrowed from the Volkswagen Zhuk, the engine resembled the Tatra “air”, only greatly reduced. By the way, FIAT - 600 also once "starred in a movie", and not with anyone else, but with Maestro Frederico Fellini himself. It was the white Fiat that became the first car of one of the minor heroes in the 1957 Cabiria Nights.

By the way, such a controversial element of the design as the doors hung on the middle pillars was caused by the need to improve the usability of the car for the disabled, whose "target audience" was partly. In general, the car was originally designed to be as maintainable as possible, simple in design and passable. For example, the engine could be removed from the engine compartment by two people, and the front and rear windows were interchangeable.

In Kiev, near the building of the road technical school on the Lybidska metro station, there is a monument to the 965th.

Historical background: Zaporozhye plant Kommunar has a long history. It was founded in 1863 (interestingly, two years after the abolition of serfdom) by the Dutchman Abraham (Abraham) Koop and specialized in the production of agricultural machinery. In 1923 the former Koopa factory was nationalized and renamed Kommunar. Having retained the main line of business, the plant was redesigned to produce more modern products - combines and tractors. In 1961, the plant was renamed into Zaporozhye Automobile Plant and the production of automobile products was launched there.

In 1966, the plant starts producing a new model of the Zaporozhets - ZAZ-966. There are still controversies surrounding the design of this car. Many point to an obvious resemblance to the West German NSU Prinz 4. However, the underlying idea of \u200b\u200bthe Prince's design - namely the wrap-around horizontal waist line - is in turn styling elements of the 1960 American Chevrolet Corvair. By the way, the "Constipation" so familiar to us could have looked much bolder, as evidenced by the search prototypes of those years. However, pretentious front fenders, a sloping roof and an abundance of chrome would very quickly make the car obsolete, and a private change or update of the main model was impossible for a number of reasons. Perhaps that is why a more “calm” outwardly version was put into production. Structurally, it did not differ much from its predecessor and was equipped with only a slightly "upgraded" engine from the previous model (ZAZ-966 with a MeMZ-966V engine - 887 cc, 27 hp).

One of the first prototypes of the 966th. 1961 year. Feels strongly influenced by the American School of Design



Another of the search prototypes. The front end is not so pretentious


And this option strongly resembles the VAZ "kopeck" design of the front end


Original Source: 1960 Chevrolet Corvair


NSU Prinz 4


Serial ZAZ-966


ZAZ -968 has been produced since 1972. Notable for including the introduction of reversing lights. Before us, however, is again an export modification.

Full-scale production of ZAZ-966 with its own power unit (1198 cc, 41 hp) began later, in 1967. However, there was not enough 1.2-liter engines for all cars, and some of the cars, even the next, "968", models were supplied with a 30-horsepower engine, leading its pedigree directly from the ZAZ-965 engine and even at that time did not provide the necessary speakers.

Below is a video recording of the news of those years, dedicated to the new ZAZ-966 going on sale

However, it seems to me more interesting to talk not about the "966" itself, but about the modifications that were supposed to be released on its basis and which have remained concepts forever.

In 1962, taking into account the experience accumulated on the ZAZ-970 model, Kommunar presented a whole family of light vehicles of the 970th family (all 4x2), among which was the all-metal van ZAZ-970B. The appearance of the entire family was developed at the factory bureau for the architectural design of the car (the concept of a "design center" did not exist then) under the leadership of Yuri Viktorovich Danilov, and Lev Petrovich Murashov was the leading designer of the monocoque body (while still working for ZMA, he participated in the creation of Moskvich -444 "). The cars were equipped with up to 27 hp. engine from ZAZ-965A (located behind) and a standard gearbox. In addition, the cars inherited from the ZAZ-966 independent suspension of all wheels: front torsion bar on trailing arms and rear spring suspension.


ZAZ-970. 1961 year


ZAZ-970B. 1962 year


ZAZ-970B vans had a partition between the passenger compartment and the cargo compartment. The useful volume of the cargo compartment was 2.5 cubic meters. Carrying capacity of the car was 350 kg with driver and passenger. The rear-engine layout of the 970th family determined the originality of access to cargo in the van body - cargo doors were located on both sides of the body. In addition, in some sources there is a mention of another auxiliary door at the back, above the motor. It is also worth noting that due to the V-shaped design of the engine, it "humped" into the body, which is why the cargo area was not even across the entire floor area.


Pickup truck ZAZ-970G "Celina". 1962-1964 years


All-wheel drive ZAZ-971. 1962 year
Soon after the creation of the prototype truck ZAZ-970, in 1962 at the Kommunar plant was built four-wheel drive car ZAZ-971 with a tented top, also made on the ZAZ-965A and ZAZ-966 units. The car had a rear-mounted power unit. Only one car with such a body was built. Subsequently, the plant carried out work on the creation of all-wheel drive modifications of cars of the 970th family based on the design solutions developed at the ZAZ-971.

In 1969, the country's screens released the cartoon "Gena Crocodile" about a crocodile working, oddly enough, an African crocodile in a zoo. Children are very happy with the new, unusually staged puppet cartoon, and adults rename "Constipation" to "Cheburashka" for the characteristic shape of "ears-air intakes"

In 1972 ZAZ-968 appears
In 1973 it was upgraded to the ZAZ-968A version.
In 1974, its original "luxury" modification ZAZ-968A was released. Active (brakes) and passive (seat belts and energy-absorbing steering column) safety improved. The cabin has less chrome and more plastic. A new plastic front panel covered archaic bare metal. Instead of the old seats, they installed new, more comfortable ones from the "Kopeyka" VAZ-2101. Both models were produced in parallel until mid-1979.
In 1979, it was replaced by the ZAZ-968M, which, with minor changes, was produced until the end of the production of this model.

Modifications of the ZAZ-968M as a whole repeated the models of previous years of production, and on the basis of defective bodies, pickups were still produced for in-plant services. However, there was information that until 1994, such cars were also produced on orders.

Small car big country: Zaporozhets


Experimental ZAZ-968M. Attention is drawn to the "refined" wheels. Such did not go into the series.
In terms of design changes, the designers followed the classic restyling scheme for those years: gradually the car lost its original chrome decorative elements, and plastic or rubber ones took their place. In the course of modernization, Zaporozhets lost both the famous ears and the characteristic chrome strip on the front end, called "Wings of the Soviets", and the rounded repeaters and lights were replaced by square and rectangular, respectively. Powerful and modern engine for all its long conveyor life, the car never got it. And even on the 968 M version, weak 30-strong motors were sometimes installed, although 41 and even 50-horsepower motors were already produced.

Since the beginning of the seventies, the Zaporozhye Automobile Plant has been making attempts to create a new front-wheel drive car Perspektiva (the name Tavria will be fixed much later), but all these attempts will be unsuccessful until 1988. However, the creation of Tavria is a different era and the topic of one of our next reviews.

In total, during the production of the Zaporozhets, about three million copies were produced, which is certainly not much for a country with almost three hundred million population (as of 1991). The same FIAT-600, produced from 1955 to 1969 - i.e. 14 years old, sold 2,600,000 copies, while by 1970 the population of Italy was about fifty-three million people. The Zaporozhets did not become truly popular. Neither the efforts of Nikita Khrushchev, nor the unconditional enthusiasm of the staff of the enterprise could work a miracle where this miracle was not expected. The tester Ivan Koshkin speaks most eloquently about the failures of his native enterprise:

… In our country the whole country worked for geniuses, but only in one area - defense.

And yet, in front of a huge part of Soviet motorists, Zaporozhets fulfilled its task - it became the first car, introduced it to a different culture of movement and way of life. They say that in 1972 a student of Leningrad State University Volodya Putin won his first car in the lottery - it was precisely the ZAZ-966. “Throwing in” is this or the truth, of course, we hardly know - however, in many respects, “Ushastik” really was the first, and if he was a little lucky, he would certainly become the most popular car ...

The whole history of "Zaporozhets"

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There are several versions about the year of foundation of the Zaporozhye Automobile Plant. The factory workers themselves are accustomed to consider the date of creation of the plant in 1863, when the Dutchman Abraham Coop created a plant for the production of agricultural machinery. Another option is 1908, when the Melitopol Motor Plant (MeMZ) was founded, which in 1960 began to supply its engines to ZAZ. Another date is 1923, when the former plant of Abraham Koop was renamed into Kommunar. However, the direction of the company's activity remained until 1960 - the production of agricultural machinery.

And so, probably, until now the Kommunar plant would have been producing hay mowers and harrows, if one day Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev hadn’t come up with the idea to overtake the States in terms of the number of cars per capita. True, unlike America, our car (like an apartment) should be small. Well, Khrushchev didn't like big things!

And the choice fell on the "Fiat" novelty FIAT-600. Initially, the car was planned to be assembled at the MOSKVICH plant and that is why the MZMA Design Bureau took over the development of the car, which together with the NAMI Automobile Institute developed the so-called Moskvich-444, later renamed Moskvich-560. But by the decision of the board of the State Planning Committee in connection with the congestion of the MOSKVICH plant, it was decided to start production at the Kommunar plant in Zaporozhye.

And on November 22, 1960, the enterprise released the first batch of "ZAZ-965" popularly called "Humpbacked" for its original body shape.

Almost immediately after the release of the "hunchback" design bureau of ZAZ began to develop a new car "ZAZ-966", which has a completely new body.

However, its production was delayed by the allied leadership, perhaps for economic reasons: it was considered wasteful to put a new model on the assembly line just a year after the release of the previous one. Therefore, "ZAZ-966" was published only six years later.

It was a typical 'rectangular' sedan of the 1960s, featuring side air intakes. The people immediately called them "ears", and the car itself "eared". So the era of ZAZ "hunchback" was replaced by a long era of his even more anecdotal "eared" heir.

Its engine was also located at the rear. At first it was a 30-strong MeMZ-966A, which was installed on latest modifications his "hunchbacked" predecessor. Then the 40-strong MeMZ-966V appeared, which made it possible to accelerate the car to a speed of 120 km / h on a straight track. True, in practice, not everyone achieved it, and fines for speeding by the Zaporozhets were really so rare that they were regarded as an anecdote.

The model underwent a more serious alteration in 1979-1980. "ZAZ-968M" became the last domestic car with an engine located in the rear compartment - but also the longest-lived, as it was produced until 1994. Having lost its "ears", replaced by simple grilles, the car received the nickname "soap dish" - for its already outdated and too simple design. But for her later, more powerful engines: MeMZ-968GE (45 hp) and MeMZ-968BE (50 hp).

Perhaps further modernization of the model would have allowed to create something interesting, but in the 1990s the opinion prevailed that the Zaporozhians were a disgrace to the Ukrainian car industry. And the Zaporozhye Automobile Plant concentrated on the production of "TAVRIA".

In November 1963, the 29-year-old engineer Vladimir Steshenko brought the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating a front-wheel drive minicar to ZAZ. The new chief designer "infected" her first design bureau, and then the leadership of the entire association. Steshenko himself became imbued with the idea of \u200b\u200bfront-wheel drive after meeting the famous Mini. The Ukrainian designer was especially impressed by the fact that this modest "box" Mini is exclusively due to front wheel drive, as well as the engine deployed across and pushed forward, completely defeated all competitors in the 1962 rally. And including the Porsche 911, Fiat Abarth 600 and Volkswagen 1200L.

By 1976, two more prototypes were created - a sedan with front-wheel drive and an all-wheel drive hatchback. These two options formed the basis for "Perspektiva" (this is how the TAVRIA car was called then in the design bureau). In 1980, the creation of the car was completed and it took 7 long years to bring the design idea to life. And only in 1988 the full production of this car was started. On the basis of the developed "TAVRIA" a car in the body of a sedan was created, which received the name "SLAVUTA".

Experimental developments of ZAZ that were not put into mass production deserve a separate word.

In 1961, under the leadership of Yu.N. Sorochkin, in parallel with the development of the 966th machine, an experimental ZAZ-970 truck with a carrying capacity of 350 kg was designed.

In fact, the car was a kind of search layout work. The car was nicknamed "Sharpener" by the factory workers and, unlike the subsequent cars of the 970th family, had a small hood.

In 1962, along with the ZAZ-970B van, a six-seater minibus (according to the current classification - minivan) ZAZ-970V was created. The seats of the second and third rows were designed folding, so the car was, in fact, a cargo-passenger - with the two rear seats folded, it could carry 175 kg of cargo, and with two rows of seats folded, 350 kg of cargo.

Like the ZAZ-970B van, the engine protruded into the cabin with a noticeable "hump", which is why the two third-row seats were separate and placed at a noticeable distance from each other - between them there was a service hatch for access to the engine. Unlike a van, a ventilation hatch in the roof was provided in the minibus, and there was only one door for entering and exiting passengers - on the starboard side.

At the end of the 70s of the twentieth century, ZAZ was considered as one of the options for expanding the model range produced at that time - the Taxi project. An in-house competition was announced for the best car of this type.

One of the options-winners of the competition was a car on the units of a promising "Tavria" and its length did not exceed 3.5 meters. The driver's location is noteworthy - above the left front wheel, while the engine was supposed to be placed to the right of it.

During 1990-1992, an unusual modification of the base ZAZ-968M was produced - the ZAZ-968MP pickup.

It should be noted right away that pickups of a similar design were produced by ZAZ, like any car plant, always for its own internal plant needs (a typical example is ZAZ-965P). However, the ZAZ-968MP that got into the series is nothing more than an attempt by the plant to offer the market its own in-plant pickup in the early 90s of the twentieth century as a delivery vehicle.

In fact, the ZAZ-968MP was made according to the slipway-bypass technology - the rear of the cab was cut off from the rejected or even conditioned (depending on the demand for pickups in a particular period) ZAZ-968M body, and the rear wall with a window was welded behind the front seats. Backseat was not placed, the resulting niche was the cargo compartment.

But the experience was unsuccessful and after the reduction in production of this car, the ZAZ-968M was also discontinued.

Another global change in Zaporozhye took place in 1998, when a Ukrainian-Korean joint venture with foreign investment was registered in the form of CJSC AvtoZAZ-DEU. and large-scale assembly of Daewoo Lanos, Daewoo Nubira and Daewoo Leganza cars began - the first models of the Korean company created by its own specialists.

History vehicle LANOS (supplied to Russia under the CHANCE brand) is very interesting. This front-wheel drive car, designed by ItalDesign, was first shown back in 1997. In 2002, Daewoo showed a new model called Kalos (in Russia it changed its name, which was incongruous for the Russian ear, to AVEO), but Lanos continued to exist! In 1998, the production of this car was launched in Poland and Ukraine.

And now, for almost 10 years, this car has been one of the best-selling foreign cars in Russia, having proven itself as a workhorse for taxi fleets, courier services, traffic police, and enterprises that use it as a "traveling" car.

In 2003, the plant in Zaporozhye again changed its form of ownership and became a closed joint-stock company with foreign investment “Zaporozhye Automobile Building Plant”. Now 50% of the enterprise is owned by UkrAvto and another 50% - by the Swiss company Hirsch & Cie.

Since 2004, in addition to the ZAZ and Daewoo models, the full-scale production of VAZ-2107, 21093 and 21099 vehicles has been mastered directly at the Zaporozhye plant, which are still being produced.

An interesting project in the development of the Zaporozhye Automobile Plant was the Opel project.

On March 25, 2003 in Kiev, a cooperation agreement was signed between Ukravto, ZAZ CJSC and Adam Opel AG. According to the contract, the Zaporozhye Automobile Plant in the spring of 2003 began assembling Opel cars of the Vectra, Astra, and Korsa models from vehicle kits imported to Ukraine.

According to the admissions of the auto plants themselves, cooperation with the German auto concern taught the plant workers in German a clear approach to the quality of assembled cars. And, despite the fact that at the moment this cooperation has already been terminated for reasons of economic efficiency, the car manufacturers are still using the quality system, which they have mastered together with German partners.

In 2009, the Zaporozhye Automobile Plant started to produce cars of the KIA concern at its facilities. Together with Korean partners, 2 models of the Korean concern are being produced at the facilities of ZAZ CJSC, these are KIA Cee "d and KIA Sportage.

But 2010 may become another major milestone in the history of the Zaporozhye Automobile Plant. In December 2010, the main conveyor of ZAZ was delivered new model, which will replace the most popular LANOS (in the Russian Federation since 2009 it is presented as CHANCE).

On the basis of the Chinese Chery A-13, the Zaporozhye Automobile Plant began to produce cars under its own brand ZAZ-FORZA.

Automobile plants already had experience in assembling cars from China, in 2006 at the plant in Ilyichevsk, which is part of ZAZ CJSC, “pilot” lots of Chinese cars were assembled.

And in December 2010, a full-fledged assembly of a new car started on the ZAZ conveyor. It will be supplied not only to the domestic market of Ukraine, but also to the Russian Federation. Base, Comfort, Luxury versions will be presented in sedan and hatchback bodies. At the moment, the cars are undergoing certification tests at the test site in Dmitrov, near Moscow, and in mid-2011 they will already appear at dealerships.

The text of the article and photographs were provided by A.O. Kremlev. - the head of the marketing department of the car dealership "", authorized dealer COMPANY .

Zaporozhets (export designations for Western European countries - Yalta, Eliette and ZAZ) is a brand of Soviet and Ukrainian rear-engined passenger cars of an extra small class produced by the Kommunar plant in the city of Zaporozhye.

(later - Zaporozhye Automobile Plant, in 1960-1994, part of the AvtoZAZ production association).
Under the Zaporozhets brand, they actually produced two different generations of car models, linked by technical continuity and rolled off the assembly line for some time in parallel:
- in 1960-1969 - the first generation, ZAZ-965 and since 1962 - ZAZ-
965A;
- in 1966-1994 - the second generation, ZAZ-966, ZAZ-966V, ZAZ-968,
ZAZ-968A and ZAZ-968M.
All cars "Zaporozhets" had a number of characteristic design features: a rear-engined layout with a longitudinal arrangement of a cantilevered engine behind rear axle and gearboxes within the wheelbase; body type "two-door sedan"; V-shaped four-cylinder air-cooled carburetor engine; independent suspension of all wheels; autonomous petrol interior heater.
All variants of "Zaporozhtsev" differed in the maximum degree of unification in units and assemblies with the army all-terrain vehicle TPK (a sanitary wheeled conveyor of the front edge, LuAZ-967). The same family included "civilian" all-terrain vehicles of the "LuAZ" brand - various modifications of the LuAZ-969.

ZAZ-965 / 965A.

The ZAZ-965 model was produced from 1960 to 1969. The main prototype of the ZAZ-965 with regard to the overall design of the body, partly - the independent spring rear suspension, steering mechanism, transmission was the Fiat 600; nevertheless, already at the level of the first prototype, the Moskvich-444, the design of the car was significantly redesigned relative to Fiat, and the power unit was developed completely from scratch. The body is a four-seater, with interchangeable front and rear windows, welded front fenders. The doors (there are two of them) open back, not forward. The engine is a rare type in the global automotive industry, a four-cylinder V-shaped, air-cooled, located at the rear. Magnesium alloy crankcase and transmission. The driving wheels are rear. The car was also manufactured in export and disabled versions.
The ZAZ-965A model is distinguished by an engine with an increased working volume (887 cm3) and power (27 hp), one muffler (instead of two) and the absence of decorative molding on the sidewalls.

ZAZ-966/968 / 968A / 968M.

Development of the next generation "Zaporozhtsev" began almost immediately after the development of the first in production - in 1961, and prototypes appeared by the fall of the same year. However, due to the lack of experience among the plant staff (the "965th" model was developed at MZMA in cooperation with NAMI) and also due to lack of funding, the production was put into production for many years, and the design of the final version was a collection of elements borrowed from various models of those years.
The ZAZ-966 model was in serial production from 1966 to 1972, and for the first year only a transitional modification of the 966B with an outdated 30-horsepower engine was produced - the production of a 1.2-liter 40-horsepower MeMZ-968 engine was ready only the next year.
ZAZ-968 has been produced since 1972. Initially, it did not have external differences from the "966", and its main feature was a slightly modernized MeMZ-968 engine (another carburetor) and a modified front panel (instead of stamped as a whole - the new instrument panel was assembled from individual elements). The model was constantly modernized, and by the end of production, in 1978, it was practically indistinguishable from the ZAZ-968A, which was produced in parallel and went into series in 1973 (according to other sources, in fact, production began only at the end of 1974) ZAZ-968A, which had an updated appearance and a number of design changes that improved safety: dual-circuit brakes, seat belts and a soft dashboard, which was subsequently installed on the ZAZ-968M.
The next modification was the ZAZ-968M, which was produced from 1979 to 1994 - this machine completed the Zaporozhtsev model line. It also installed various power units with a working volume of 890 cm³ with a capacity of 28 liters. from. and 1.2 liters. with a capacity of 41 (the bulk of the machines), 45 or 50 liters. s ... It differed from the ZAZ-968 model first of all appearance and the interior, there are fewer chrome parts and, in turn, there is more plastic. "Ears" on the sidewalls of the body disappeared, as the cooling system was radically changed - this almost completely saved the car from overheating problems during normal operation, but added new ones - with the tightness of the air duct and clogging of its box. This version of "Zaporozhets" is the most widespread. Before ZAZ-968M, the air was sucked from the heads and cylinders by a fan, and then the hot air "cooled" the car generator.

Export options: Yalta / Jalta, Eliette.

As well as basic modifications Zaporozhtsev cars, their export versions were also produced (including those with a steering wheel on the right) - ZAZ-965E, ZAZ-965AE, ZAZ-966E, ZAZ-968E and ZAZ-968AE. Depending on the target market, they had the trade designation Yalta / Jalta ("Yalta") or Eliette ("Eliett"), since the phonetics and transliteration of the word "Zaporozhets" is very difficult for European languages. They had improved consumer qualities in comparison with the basic models. For example, the models "965E" and "965AE" differed from the "965" and "965A" in improved noise insulation, the presence of an outside rear-view mirror on the left, an ashtray, a radio, linings on the sides of the car and the lower edge of the trunk.
ZAZ-968E and ZAZ-968AE in quantities of up to 5,000 units per year were sold in
Europe through the Finnish company Konela and the Belgian Scaldia-Volga.

Jokes about "Zaporozhets".

Due to the poor technical condition of most of the Zaporozhtsev,
caused mainly by owners' non-compliance with the rules maintenance, unusual rear-engine layout and small dimensions - ZAZ cars were often the object of jokes and anecdotes. It is also worth recognizing that in fact, the Zaporozhian Cossacks were not inferior to foreign counterparts of their time in most of their performance characteristics, and in this case the rumor was unfair to them. Moreover, in Europe, cars of the same class “Volkswagen Beetle”, “Renault 4CV”, “Fiat 500” and others are considered a national treasure and symbols of their era, and numerous replicas of them are produced.
So, ZAZ-965 was nicknamed "humpbacked" for its characteristic body shape, as well as "Jewish armored car", ZAZ-966 and ZAZ-968 - "eared" or "Cheburashka" for the shape of the side air intakes of the cooling system, and ZAZ-968M "soap dish "For the similarity of the shape of the body that has lost its side air intakes (" ears ") with this object and the presence of cooling slots on the hood.
In post-Soviet times, there were many anecdotes about various accidents involving the driver of a "Zaporozhets" and a "new Russian" in a "600 Mercedes", as well as this car was sung by the famous Russian performer - Bogdan Titomir, with the song "A" Zaporozhets "- a car class "))

ZAZ-965 Zaporozhets, 1962-69

ZAZ-965A Zaporozhets, 1962–65 c.

Torpedo ZAZ-965A Zaporozhets, 1965-69 c.

ZAZ-965AE Jalta, 1965–69

ZAZ-966 Zaporozhets, 1967-71

ZAZ-966 Zaporozhets, 1971–72

ZAZ-966V Zaporozhets, 1966-72

ZAZ-966E Eliette, 1967–71.

ZAZ-968 Zaporozhets, 1971–79

Salon ZAZ-968A Zaporozhets, 1974–79.

ZAZ-968AE Zaporozhets, 1974–79

ZAZ-968M Zaporozhets, 1979–94

Well, and by right in this post - you need to show this one nice car, its modifications:

Why on this seemingly urban typewriter do you want to go to the sea - warm Black or cool Baltic? The motor is modest, it rumbles at least cheerfully, but loudly, the trunk is also not at all giant. The answer, I think, is simple: for many, this particular car is a symbol of the first automobile joys, freedom, long-distance romantic travel!

POPULAR MECHANICS

Half an hour of shame, but at work! Anecdotes and jokes about the Zaporozhets appeared almost simultaneously with the prototype at VDNKh. Still: well, everything is not like normal cars! The engine is in the trunk, there is no radiator, the doors open, like in old, still pre-war cars, and rear wheels are indecently crooked! The most attentive found: even the inscription on the front end is somehow strange - "Zaporozhets". Not everyone guessed right away: this is Ukrainian.

But the competition in wits betrayed strong interest. After all, the car, which is about to start producing at the former Kommunar combine plant in Zaporozhye, is specially designed for private car enthusiasts - their slowly but steadily growing army. Moreover, they promise that it will be available to almost every worker.

By today's domestic standards, the ZAZ-965 was created quite quickly. It, of course, was not original: the body and the rear suspension were borrowed from the popular FIAT-600, the front - from the Volkswagen-Zhuk, the engine resembled the Tatra "air", only greatly reduced. But, given the fundamental novelty of the machine for the USSR, the need to organize a new production not only in Zaporozhye, but also in Melitopol (engine), it must be admitted: they met the deadlines very tightly. Designing began in the fall of 1956 (jointly by NAMI and MZMA), in 1957 the first prototype of the Moskvich-444 appeared - first with an imported engine, then with a domestic motorcycle, and on June 18, 1959, the first prototype was assembled in Zaporozhye. True, even more than a year passed before the start of mass production.

Of course, the round (a little rough "hunchback" will come later) little car was far from ideal in general and even for a Soviet person in particular. Everyone, of course, dreamed of the Volga. Well, or at least about "Moskvich". And then back in 1959 in Sokolniki they showed the full color of the American car industry. How different from these luxurious, huge, shining with chrome and stunning technical characteristics, the small "Zaporozhets", as if pursing his lips from offense! But newspapers and magazines insist that catching up with and surpassing the United States does not mean repeating all overseas excesses. Well, against the background of European counterparts ZAZ-965, by the way, looked pretty decent: completely independent suspensions - front torsion bar, rear spring (FIAT-600, by the way, front spring), four-speed gearbox, motor - 23 hp The same FIAT-600 has 22 hp, and the "five hundredth" has 13 hp. The engine of the famous "ugly duckling" - "Citroen-2CV" developed 12.5 hp. Only the German "Zhuk", BMW-700 and "DKV-Junior" were equipped with motors of 30 or more forces.

However, for the Soviet people it is much more important that Zaporozhets costs 1,800 rubles new, while Moskvich costs 2,500 rubles, and Volga is even fabulous 5,100 rubles! That is why ZAZ-965 became the first car in life for most of its buyers. Remember? It's almost like first love with its joys and disappointments ...

SEA - FORWARD, MOTOR - BACK

It is not at all as uncomfortable as it seems at first glance. At least for the driver and front passenger. Worst of all, the wheel arch is in the way of the left foot, but the floor pedals are quite acceptable, to the gear lever with quite a big moves you can get used to it - no worse than on foreign rear-engined counterparts. Brakes without booster? Nonsense! If the 21st "Volga" and even the GAZ-51 were driven ...

To patiently endure acceleration to at least 60 km / h, you need a sense of humor and good nature. At the same time, the 27-horsepower air vent (this is already a modernized ZAZ-965A of 1967) rattles heartily. Even fun at first! But imagine a path to the sea of \u200b\u200bfive hundred kilometers, or even a thousand! But small, cramped cars during their youth served, as a rule, as summer cottages and vacation rentals!

The back is already getting tired of the flimsy puny "chair", the rattling presses on the ears more and more - despite the fact that even for an incompletely loaded car, the limit is 80 km / h, the maximum speed. Spoiled! For many families in the 1960s, a trip to the sea in their own Zaporozhets was a great happiness! Which even more families envied. Well, the scanty trunk was often supplemented with a roof structure, the dimensions rather suitable for the Volga.

In summer, at normal speeds for a "zazik", handling is tolerable - again, not worse than that of a foreign equal. But the machine does not like extremism. This was quickly understood by those who participated in the ZAZ-965 rally. Yes, rally! For example, the famous racer in the USSR, repeated champion of the Union and prize-winner of international competitions, Stasis Brundza, began his sports career on the "hunchback" - and, like some other athletes, tested the strength of its roof. By the way, the ZAZ-965 is at its best! However, maintainability is much more important to the vast majority of owners. The first car, in conditions of a shortage of workshops and spare parts, contributed to the development of the skills of a locksmith, minder, even a tinsmith and painter. Simple manipulations with the power unit (first lower it, then pull it back), and you can repair it - right in the garage or in the yard. Sometimes, with the help of a neighbor, the engine was even delivered home! There, under the disapproving hum of his wife and the interested chirping of the heirs, the air-cooled engine (but there are no leaks!) Was repaired by disassembling it in cylinders. And here is the common family joy - the car is on the move again!

The thing in itself was an autonomous stove. Heats up regardless of engine temperature ... when running. Glow plug, regulator ... Now sounds as exotic as "turn on the ignition" or "adjust the level in the carburetor". However, we rarely traveled in winter. Most of the "Cossacks" stood at a standstill - rarely in the garage, more often under a tarp in the yard, where impudent boys strove to make a snow slide out of a car ...

Pulling off the highway onto a scenic forest path. By the way, the Zaporozhets' cross-country ability is quite decent: the minimum ground clearance, as now in other crossovers: 175 mm, and 200 mm under the engine. And the suspension is not particularly afraid of bumps. So we arrived. The back just seemed to hurt, the restless left leg and ears were getting tired. But now for some reason I want to go further!

LITTLE CAR OF BIG POWER

A seashore or at least a river, a tent, a bowler hat, a transistor receiver (the lucky ones have a Riga Spidola!) And, of course, their own car: a hymn to motor tourism in the 1960s. Or maybe the truth is here nearby - say, beyond that pine tree - a romantic adventure awaits, or even a future fate? The comedy "Three plus two", where in addition to the five animated heroes, important roles are played by "Volga" and "Zaporozhets", with all the naively sweet artificiality, the spirit of the era reflected quite correctly.

It does not matter that the minicar "Zaporozhets" is cramped and noisy, not too fast and not so very reliable. He's the first! And ahead is a big and bright life - your own and the country, which is building more and more housing, albeit small-sized, and a couple of months before the start of the serial 965, even launched living creatures into space - dogs Belka and Strelka!

Of course, the future will not turn out to be exactly as it was seen. "Cossacks" for a long, long time were not museum exhibits, but family transport. And when changing owners, as a rule, they got to those who also just started their automotive life. Now "zazik" taught them how to drive, repair, paint. Many more years passed before the "Cossacks" began to be treated as funny toys, building convertibles, sports coupes, and stretches from them. Or - finally! - as rarities. Of course, many parted with the old “hunchbacks” who did not correspond to the rhythm of life without regret. But now they too are looking at this little blue car with a smile and light sadness. Probably, they remember their first love with its delights, joys, resentments and disappointments ...

On the early ZAZ-965 it was written "Zaporozhets" - in Ukrainian.

On the early ZAZ-965 it was written "Zaporozhets" - in Ukrainian.

SOVIET PEOPLE Serial production of ZAZ-965 "Zaporozhets" began in November 1960. The V4 engine developed 23 hp. at 4000 rpm. Since 1963, a modernized ZAZ-965A with a 27 hp engine has been produced. The last time the model was changed in 1966, installing, in particular, a 30-horsepower engine. The car was exported to some countries under the name "Yalta" (Jalta). On the basis of ZAZ-965, several prototypes were created, in particular the mail van 965C, as well as the ZAZ-970 family - a van, a pickup truck and a minivan of a wagon layout. In total, a little more than 322 thousand cars were built until 1969. The editors would like to thank Natalia Golovanova and Pavel Zalazaev for their help in filming, as well as the “Wheels of History” workshop for the car provided.