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M 21 Specifications. Soviet car GAZ-M21 "Volga": description, specifications

20.04.2021

Restarting series originally launched in the winter of 2018. Both starts will go out in parallel.

Touch the pride of the Soviet Auto industry - assemble the model of the legendary car GAZ-21 on the scale of 1: 8 together with the new collection "M21 Volga". Publishing house Deagostini.

This rapid passenger car from the 50s of the last century has long been in his native Fatherland cult. Volga acquire and restore collectors and just lovers in this car enthusiasts. Today, no self-respecting car museum in Russia is in its meeting without a car with a flying deer on the hood, and even without three models of M21 "Volga", demonstrating all three series of release.

Model

The model on the scale of 1: 8 represents the "Volga" of the very first years of release - "with the star". This is the most spectacular machine from the entire family - she had the richest external decor with an abundance of chrome details and quite often two-color body color. The scale of the model allows not only with the scrupulous accuracy to reproduce all external nuances of the present car, including in the cabin and under the hood, but also add functional - all doors, the hood and trunk open on the model, the front and rear doors are lowered, the windows turn on, turn on The lights and lighting of the cabin, the movable suspension is made and the mechanism of rotation of the front wheels with the helm is installed.

  • Scale 1: 8
  • Working headlights
  • Accurate Salon Playing
  • Detailed engine device
  • Movable details

Features of the model:

Original symbolism
The hood of your model 21 "Volga" will decorate the legendary figure frozen in the leap of the deer - an ancient symbol of Nizhny Novgorod, depicted on the coat of arms of the city.

Included headlights
The models are performed by working headlights of head lights, farlights and rear lights - they are activated by a small switch hidden in the salon of the model.

Updated windows
The mechanism of lowered glasses is reproduced on the model - they are lowered due to the rotation of the handles on the doors.

Accurate copy of the engine
The engine model to the smallest details repeats the power unit of the real car GAZ-21 "Volga".

Rotary forces
Rotary vents in the front doors can be opened and reject any angle.

High detail
The detailing of the model M21 "Volga" will pleasantly surprise the most demanding modelist - for an example, all the devices with appropriate inscriptions are played in the cabin.

Radio
On the instrument panel you can see the miniature imitation of the radio with figured chrome plated overlays, buttons and handles made of plastic under the "elephant bone".

Sun shields
On the models, they not only exactly repeat the form of the original, but also functional - they can be rotated and left in any position as real.

Spare wheel
In the trunk of the model in its place the spare wheel is fixed. If you wish, they can replace any wheel on the model.

Rear lights
The rear lights are shined simultaneously with the front headlights, as it should be bright red.

Lid trunk.
On the lid of the trunk, not only realistic loops and miniature locks can be noticed, but also laid all the rules wiring the backlight of the license plate. On the hull hiding the light bulb - the miniature inscription "Volga".

Outdating salon
The front sofa model can be decomposed into a wide sleeping place - just as it was done on the real car M21 "Volga".

Attention to detail
In order to properly decompose the front sofa "Volga" in a sleeping place, the folding legs were mounted in his back - all the same thing was performed in a large-scale car model.

Illuminated salon
On the model, the interior lights simulated through the original shape layer, which is completely repeating in the thumbnail one that was installed on real cars.

Realistic suspension
All elements of the suspension of the wheels of the model are operational - each wheel of the model is telessen in the same way as on the real machine.

Movable details
The steering of the model is performed by active - the front wheels rotate due to the effects on the Volga steering wheel.

Size model:
Length: 59.7 cm
Width: 23.6 cm
Height: 20.2 cm

The model has such detailing and reproduction accuracy that during the assembly process the car and its design is inevitably studying. The fully assembled model has not only a collection value. Exhibited in a special showcase, it will decorate anyone at home. A large model with an abundance of functional parts inevitably attracts attention not only to children, but also adults. And the fact that it is collected from many small details, and not purchased ready, only adds respect for the owner of the house.

Magazine

Any legendary thing is obliged to have their own fascinating history. I did not exception and our "Volga" - in each issue of the magazine several pages are allocated by historical facts, one way or another related to it. And all this is richly illustrated by numerous archival and modern photographs. Do not forgotten and people who are owned by the creation of this beautiful car.
The assembly of the model will not be difficult thanks to very detailed instructions and multiple illustrations. And in addition on the pages of the journal, you can find a description of those or other design features of the car, which will not only help imagine how the collected knot looked at the real car, but also to understand its design and purpose.

  • Car in detail. The car is a complex device consisting of a variety of details, nodes and aggregates. All of them have their meaning, their design and even story. The model is doubly interesting to collect, reading in each issue a description of the most details and nodes that are invited to collect from the application to this issue.
  • Step by step instructions. In each issue, detailed step-by-step instructions for assembling the model M21 "Volga" will help you with your own hands to create your legend.
  • A hundred best. Directory from the 100 most significant Soviet cars left a noticeable mark in the history of our automotive industry.

Schedule exit

№1 – Details for assembly – 16.08.2018 (17.02.2018)
№2 – Details for assembly - September 2018.
№3 – Details for assembly – 2018
№4 – Details for assembly – 2018
Periodicity: weekly. (in the brackets of the release date of the first launch)

Myth first: GAZ M-21 "dismissed" with Ford Mainline (myth)

Many of the Soviet cars had for example, the first Gorky models of GAZ-A and GAZ-M1 were close relatives of American cars Ford, the VAZ "Kopeika" was a modified version, and created on the basis of French SIMCA-1308 on the basis of French. The degree of "kinship" in all these cars was different, however, the vowel and unlawful copying of constructive solutions and even the design of some foreign cars really existed. That is why many motorists believe that the Volga of the first generation was also created on the basis of a car of foreign production - and if it specifically, it allegedly "dismissed" with the Ford Mainline of 1954 of the model year.

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In addition, other American sedans of those years are indicated as "sources" - for example, Chevrolet Bel Air and Plymouth Savoy. Indeed, these American cars, along with some other classmates, were carefully studied by the constructors of the Volga, and this practice is generally accepted in the world since the beginning of the twentieth century. However, the purpose of such a close acquaintance was not blind copying of the design, but a comparison of these machines - including the "full-time" testing with prototypes of the future "twenty-first". The Ford and Chevrolet models mentioned were even purchased by the USSR - in order to disassemble and how to explore the automatic transmission, which until that time on Soviet cars was not applied.

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In the exterior of the Volga, you can find some common elements with the "Americans", but we are not talking about direct imitation, but only about rethinking the current designs of the design - the so-called "aerostyle", which is typical of the overseas designer school.

Moreover, the technique of Volga was significantly different from Ford and Chevrolet according to a simple reason - due to a certain unification of the aggregates of the transmission and the chassis with the former Gorky models like victory and winters. That is why the designer-designer Lion Eremeev can not be accused of plagiarism, nor in direct borrowing of other people's decisions. Volga Outside was similar to Ford Mainline no less and no more than another modern car for those years. After all, if you wish, our car can find a lot in total in appearance not only with the American sedans of one model year, but also with the French Simca Vedette 1954, the English Standard Vanguard 1955 and the Australian Holden Special 1956.


Pre-production specimens in some details differed from the serial M-21. Pay attention to the solution of the radiator lattice - not the "star", as in the first series, and the "shark fall", as on the second!





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In addition, the prototype M-21 at number 1 was collected by hand in early 1954, while the "live" copy of the Ford Mainline appeared on Gaza not earlier than the middle of the same 1954, and his tests began only in November.



Myth Second: Volga collected abroad (though)

It sounds amazing, but this is a fact: the Volga really produced abroad! Assembly (or rather, the seized) of cars called Scaldia-Volga in 1960 began the Belgian importer - the company SCALDIA-VOLGA S.A., which imported Soviet cars to Europe. The Belgian assembly Volga was different from the Soviet Machine "Heart": under the hood instead of the usual 4-cylinder engines ZMZs stood more economical diesel engines of several stamps - Indenor-Peugeot, Perkins and Rover.



Belgian firm SCALDIA-VOLGA S.A. carried out not only imports, but also "dieselization" of Volga

Such a move was to strengthen the interest of maternity Europeans to a spacious, but voracious Soviet car. And in order to "consolidate the effect", Scaldia even decided to order a small "restyling" of the Volga Italian Body Atelier Ghia, but almost at the same time the gas itself introduced the car of the so-called second series, which was quite significantly different from the "Star" externally. The scale of the assembly production of the Volga in Belgium was meager: just 1967 gathered 166 "twenty first" with diesel engines.



Export modifications "Twenty-first" visually could be distinguished on a richer body finish. Depending on the series, the power of exporting Volga was higher than usual by 5-10 hp. and ranged from 75 to 85 hp

Based on technical documentation M-21 in China, "Red East" - DongfangHong BJ760 car. Technically, he almost completely repeated the Soviet prototype, however, outside the machine from the subway was noticeably different from the Volga. In the period from 1959 to 1969, only about 600 Dongfanshunov was made, which was due to a significant number of manual labor and not the massability of the production of this car.

In the left-sided movement countries supplied "right-handed" Volga in export performance, but Soviet production.

Myth Three: Luzhny Body (myth)

One of the most sustainable myths associated with the first Volga is the congestion of body parts, in which many former and current owners "twenty first" believe, as well as fans of cars with a deer on the hood.

In fact, until 1962, for a number of reasons for processing welding seams and alignment of external body panels, tin was used. This allowed to get rid of technological defects with a relatively simple and rapid way. Having found a plot of tin with body repair, in the USSR and began to believe in the Volga's tinny body, which explained its high resistance to corrosion.

Volga did not strongly rust both due to gentle operation and due to the use of the body parts of the Belgian metal, as well as its high-quality processing, which provided phosphating and double priming by immersion.

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Starting with the so-called "third series" for the leveling of body elements in Gorky began to use the plastic brand TPF.






American Style: For an additional fee of the color of the body, the Volga could be two-color. But the durability of LCP and metal did not affect

Another popular misconception is associated with a metal thickness - in the Union it was believed that in this parameter "twenty-first" to compare it if not with a tank, then at least with a truck. However, in reality, only the bottom and roof stumbled from a two-millionth metal, while the thickness of the remaining body elements of the Volga oscillated from 0.9 to 1.2 mm. Yes, and the cutting mass of the car was not "almost two tons", according to many contemporaries, and 1,460 kg.

Myth Fourth: Gagarin had its own Volga (though)

In 1961, the world's first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin as a reward for the conquest of Cosmos received as a gift from the Gorkovsky Automobile Plant's team with a 70-strong engine. However, from the usual "twenty-first" of the second series "Gagarinsky" Volga black with the state number of 78-78 mod differed except that the light blue color of the cabin. Moreover, chrome nameplates with the inscription "Volga" from the later release on the front wings of the car Gagarin appeared in 1963, when he visited the Gorky Automobile Plant. After the death of Yuri Alekseevich in 1968, the car with a mileage of about 90,000 kilometers since 1971 was kept in a glass garage specially created for her near the House-Museum of the First Soviet Cosmonaut in the city of Gagarin of the Smolensk region.


Volga was far from the only car Yuri Gagarin. However, he quite actively used his "twenty-first"



But the people's artist Yuri Nikulin owned not a sedan, and the GAZ-22 model, which is a favorite of millions in order of exception in the first half of the sixties sold after Nikulin argued the need to acquire the "universal" Volga. After all, unlike the sedan, in the private hands "twenty-second" it was possible to get no earlier than the beginning of the seventies - and then in a pretty sweated form, being written off from any state institution.



Yuri Nikulin was an exception to the rules - he got into the personal use of the GAZ-22 wagon

Myth Fifth: Six-Cylinder Motor (Myth)

American cars of this class were equipped with six and eight-cylinder engines. Therefore, there was a legend that the six-cylinder engine was supposed to appear on the "twenty-first", but ... it did not work out.


However, another layout was originally selected for the Volga - four-cylinder, with the upper position of the valves, a hemispherical combustion chamber and the timing chain drive. The running tests showed that prototype of this 2.5-liter motor is not too economical and not enough. In addition, the specific design of the head of the cylinder block imposed certain technological restrictions, because of which it was decided to use another motor. If the first versions (until mid-1957) used the Lower Vedasy engine of GAZ-21B, which was an upgraded version of the Victory Motor, then later serial cars were equipped with a UMZ-21A supernklap engine, which was originally created for "half-timer" GAZ-56, which and so I did not go to mass production.

The designers remained correctly "rolled" on the victory of the four-cylinder scheme for a simple reason - it was believed that, given the class and the appointment of the car, it was enough for such an engine with a capacity of about 70 hp, while six-cylinder engines remained the prerogative of the representative winter and gas trucks 51/52.


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But about 600 of the first generation Volga at the factory was equipped with ... V-shaped "eight"! True, not massively and serial, but as part of preparation. By fulfilling the order of the KGB of the USSR, in the bitter installed under the hood "twenty-first" engine V8 from, which developed an impressive 195 hp Thanks to this, the Gorky "Dogonalka" accelerated to 100 km / h in 17 seconds (against 34 C at a standard Volga), and its maximum speed reached 170 km / h.

Myth Sixth: Automatic Transmission (True)

In the early fifties, the chief designer of the plant Andrei Alexandrovich Lipgart was engaged in the design of the future Volga. For the first time in domestic practice, on the idea of \u200b\u200bthe designer, the new model was supposed to obtain an automatic transmission. That is why after the translation of Lipgarta to Uralzis, Gorky Automobile Plant purchased Chevrolet Bel Air with a two-stage automatic machine and Ford Mainline with a more modern three-band transmission. The tests have shown that the Fordovskaya Ford-O-Matic can be seized with the Volga engine, which, according to Henry Ford, was developed by BorgWarner.


In the early fifties, Ford actively advertised its automatic transmission

In the summer of 1955, the test run towards the Black Sea showed the "vitality" of the Soviet "automaton" created in the image and similarity of the "Folds", but structurally adapted under the four-cylinder engine.



Why did such a transmission have ever met such a transmission on mass machines? Despite the delusion that all the frequencies of the first series (the so-called "star") were equipped with "automatic", in fact, only about 800 cars of 1957-1958 received this innovation, while the remaining 98% of the "stars" of this period were completed by the usual three-step Mechanics. According to some information, approximately the same car with "automatic" was released in 1959.

1964 GAZ 21 Volga - one owner

GAZ-21 "Volga" - Soviet middle class car, produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1956 (1957) to 1970. Factory code index - initially GAZ-M-21Later (since 1965) - GAZ-21.. In total, 639,778 copies of all modifications were released.

Prehistory

Since 1946, the gas has produced a passenger car GAZ-M-20 "Victory". At the time of the start of the production of "Victory" was characterized by a fairly modern design and an advanced design.

However, by the beginning of the next decade, the appearance of it gradually began to obstruct, the aggregate part was also lagging behind the level of world leaders. He brewered the need to replace it with a more modern technically and perfect visual model.

"Victory we"

The first attempt to develop a promising model for replacing the existing GAZ-M-20 is as early as 1948, when the specialists by order by the Ministry of the Automobile Industry have developed their own version of the serial "victory", in history remaining under the designation "victory we". There were two options - the authors of the first Yu. Dolmatovsky and L. Terentyev, and the second - Yu. Dolmatovsky and V. Aryamov.

The project "Victory" of the second generation

Since 1951, the development of an average class of a new generation under the designation of the GAZ-M-21 "Victory-II" (General Designer - A. A. Lipgart began to be directly on GAZ-E (General Designer - A. A. Lipgart, L. Solovyov; designer - L. Yeremeyev). The sample was brought to a gypsum layout, which externally reminded the serial gas-M-12 "WINE", the designer of which was the same Lev Eremeev.

However, the "WINE" himself has already become obscured by this time, so the project "victory" of the second generation was not taken to production. And soon at the factory, they started working on others, much more promising models, one of which was selected subsequently for mass production as the successor "Victory".

Basic modifications of the basic sedan

  • GAZ-M-21 - sedan of the 1957 model with automatic transmission;
  • GAZ-M-21A - 1957-1958, Taxi models 1957;
  • GAZ-M-21AYU - 1959-1958, tropical version of the taxi model 1957;
  • GAZ-M-21A - 1959-1962, Taxi of the 1959 model;
  • GAZ-M-21AYU - 1959-1962, tropical version of the taxi model 1959;
  • GAZ-M-21B - 1957, Taxi of the 1957 model of the lower engine;
  • GAZ-M-21B - 1957-1958, Basic sedan of the 1957 model;
  • GAZ-M-21BU - 1957-1958, tropical version of the 1957 model;
  • GAZ-M-21G - 1956-1957, Basic sedan of the 1957 model with a low-tangled engine;
  • GAZ-M-21GU - 1956-1957, tropical version of the 1957 model with a low-tangled engine;
  • GAZ-M-21D - 1957-1958, export version of the 1957 model;
  • GAZ-M-21TU - 1957-1958, tropical export version of the 1957 model;
  • GAZ-M-21E - Export version of the 1957 model with automatic transmission;
  • GAZ-M-21EYU - tropical export version of the 1957 model with automatic transmission;
  • GAZ-M-21I - 1958-1962, Basic sedan of the 1958 model;
  • GAZ-M-21K - 1959-1962, export version of the 1958 model;
  • GAZ-M-21KB - 1960-1962, machine collectors for Belgium model 1958;
  • GAZ-M-21KU - 1959-1962, tropical export version of the 1958 model;
  • GAZ-M-21L - 1962-1964, Basic sedan of the 1962 model;
  • GAZ-M-21M - 1962-1964, export version of the 1962 model;
  • GAZ-M-21MYU - 1962-1964, tropical export version of the 1962 model;
  • GAZ-21N. - 1964 - export version of the 1962 model with the right steering wheel;
  • GAZ-21UN - 1964 - Tropical export version of the 1962 model with the right steering;
  • GAZ-21P. - export version of the 1965 model with the right wheel;
  • GAZ-21PE - export version of the 1965 model with the right wheel and automatic transmission;
  • GAZ-21R - 1965-1970, Basic sedan model of 1965;
  • GAZ-21S. - 1965-1970, export version of the 1965 model;
  • GAZ-21T. - 1962-1964, taxi models of 1962;
  • GAZ-21TS. - 1965-1970, taxi models of 1965;
  • GAZ-21U. - 1959 (approximately) -1964, modification with improved design of models of 1959 and 1962;
  • GAZ-21US. - 1965-1970, modification with improved design of the model of 1965;
  • GAZ-21F. - experienced with a forkar engine;
  • GAZ-21E. - 1965-1970, sedan of the 1965 model with shielded electrical equipment;

Volga was produced for a long time - a whole era in the history of the country and the world, so that it became an integral part of the city landscape of Socratran sixties - seventies.


01/01/1967 Pilot-cosmonaut of the USSR Vladimir Komarov with his daughter Irina washes the car.

"Volga" can be seen in almost all Soviet movies from 1956. The most famous film in which GAZ-21 acts practically in the role of the hero - "Beware of the car". And in the fantastic film "Black Lightning" directed by Alexander Lastinsky, this car is able to fly.

Volga GAZ-21 starred in the clips to the songs "Kill The King" of the Megadeth Group, Du Hast Group Rammstein and Moonlight Shadow Groups Groove Coverage.

Also, due to the combination of appearance, largely similar to classical American cars, and widespread, GAZ-21 has become the basis for creativity of hotroid and customization.

GAZ-21 is considered to be a classic car-Oldtimer, and early and rare modifications are appreciated as collectible cars. At the same time, the relatively large number of cars is still in everyday use, and a considerable total number of cars of this brand makes the collective value of most of the Volga versions of the Volga rather dubious.

In Russia and in many foreign countries there are clubs of GAZ-21 lovers. Abroad, this car is perceived as one of the symbols of the Russian (Soviet) auto industry.

Car Vladimir Putin

According to available information, the President of Russia V. V. Putin is owned by GAZ-21 (M-21) "The second series" (on external signs) of the color of the "ivory", re-built on modern aggregates. As a donor of aggregates is called, in particular, the Bentley brand. Despite repeated information that it was released in 1956, this fact cannot correspond to reality - in essence, the cars of this year did not reach our time. According to the traffic police base in Moscow and the region (for 2007), two "Volga" were registered on Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich - M-21 1960 and GAZ-21P 1965. The machine showed the machine is very similar to the 1959-1962 model. On her, Putin North President George Bush. According to available sources, currently the car is transferred to the exhibition in the Avtovail Museum in Moscow.

Features of the Volga collection from the Publishing House Deagostini

What kind of car can rightly call the pearl of the Soviet Auto industry? Of course, the beauty of "Volga"! Behind the wheel of GAZ-M21 dreamed of sitting almost every Soviet motorist. It is no coincidence that this car became the heroine of the legendary comedy Eldar Ryazanov "Beware of the car" and other favorite Soviet films.

Now you can also become a full owner of this wonderful car. We are happy to report that the Publishing House "Deagostini" launches a new series - Volga M21.

Why will this collection be special?

You can collect a static car-m21 car model on 1: 8 scale. Its length will be 597 mm, width 236 mm, height 202 mm. Each issue is a collection of unique historical materials on the creation and production of the car M21 "Volga", biographies of its designers, and rare archival photos and drawings.

You will also receive a catalog with a description and photographs of 100 cult Soviet cars, which significantly affected the development of domestic automotive industry.

The Volga M21 series is a unique opportunity to touch the history of our industry and build a large model of the legendary car with working headlights with their own hands and moving details.

We did everything to be interested in collecting a Volga M21 car. This is not a banal 3D constructor, but a full-fledged model with moving and luminous details.

  • The exact copy of the car gas - M21 "with a star", produced by the Gorky automotive factory in 1957 - 1958.
  • Movable wheels and steering wheel headlights and rear lights, engine, interior lighting and room lighting, sink windows and windows, sun plates, folding seats, realistic suspension and other important automotive parts.
  • Miniature dashboard: imitation of the radio, speedometer, instrument scales. And in the trunk is a spare wheel!
  • The original symbolism is reproduced as accuracy: deer, star, inscriptions and emblem on the steering wheel.

Until now, this car is still luxurious - Volga GAZ 21. Years, even, rather, the decade, many models of cars have changed on our roads, actively and firmly came to our lives of foreign production cars.

Classical Volga GAZ 21

And I must say that it happened completely naturally, because it happens everywhere. But a car many years ago, embodied the power, beauty, wealth and elegance, remained so elegant, beautiful, and everything also attracts passersby on the street, driving past them.

Yes, a lot of cars appeared, which are more powerful, specifications that are significantly superior to this miracle of the Soviet Auto industry. Yes, the fuel consumption of this car does not fully meet the modern requirements associated with the widespread struggle for energy saving, but few of the car enthusiasts, approaching the gas of GAZ 21, or much more, does not catch himself at wanting to carefully stroke his hood, touch Roof or racks.


auto gas M21 1956 release

At the very beginning of the fifties, the Soviet automotive industry faced the need to create such a car. The "victory" produced at that time was a fairly high-quality car. But it was decided to expand the range of Soviet roads.

As a preview of the then new ones of domestic automotive production, many have found the features of some Chevrolet models or Ford development, but here it is hardly possible to go about any plagiarism.

At that time, many automakers purchased samples of competitors models, they disassemble them hardly not by screws, studying the types of material that went to the manufacture of certain parts.

The types of compounds of parts, various design solutions, and so on were studied. On the same way, the hull of the Soviet automotive designers went.

Circuit diagram 21 Volga

Many cars that have been released then had convex front headlights, a predatory-aggressive hood profile, or a drawing of a radiator grille. Something could repeat something.

There was a "twenty-first", and in fact, the first model "Volga" for fourteen years, having survived a lot of tests, modernizations, design changes, body types ("Sedan", "Universal"). Let's start with history.

The history of creating a truly legendary Soviet car began in 1953, when it was decided to start developing such a car model, which largely repeats the lines and the common canvas of the American then designer school, but everything, she managed to give certain authentic features.

Volga Gaz 21 1953 release

Features that allow us to talk about originality, about dislike design characteristics, design features, so distinguished our "Volga". It is known that in the next 1954 there were already the first, not yet serial, but experienced, but already fully acting samples.

They were equipped then also by experienced engines with the upper valves and the combustion chamber in the form of a hemisphere, as well as a characteristic feature of them were the presence of a chain drive of the camshaft. Experiments with such a design gave negative results and a decision was made to serial output not to send them.

At first, two projects were developed, one was called GAZ M21 "Volga", the other - gas M21 "Star". By the way, a star, located on the grid of a single-ground construction radiator for a long time, was a distinctive sign and in honor of her called the car model itself.

Radiator grille GAZ 21 third series

"Volga" with such a type of lattice was called "Marshall", or "Zhukovskaya". The first years of its existence car was doomed to a permanent comparison with no less legendary car "victory".

But "Volga" even on trials showed itself much better, she was superior to "victory" in most technical characteristics, it was more dynamic, more maneuverable and surpassed in the economy of fuel consumption.

The production in those years was still quite imperfect, although the progress in the field of the automotive industry was, of course, there is no way, but the path from the test of a new car model to its receipt into the series, that is, in the serial release occupied years.

So the first series of the Volga car was released already in 1956, that is, years after the start of design developments.

Start of serial production

But the result is worthy of spending some time on the design of the new design (then, new) car. First, two, automatic and mechanical were developed. Both transmissions had three steps. At the same time, that is characteristic, the main transmission on this model of the car was a coneaidal structure, this already later models had a hypoid main transmission.

The then car M 21 was an independent type rear suspension and hydraulic shock absorbers of the lever construction. Also, an independent was the rear suspension, relying on the spring of the form, resembling a semi-terminal.

Well, as for the appearance, so far, as many motorists love to joke, the main, pulling in the front of the hood.
And from this "main part" to the front glass went molding. It appeared instead of the former "Marshal" new lattice of the radiator, the so-called "sharks of the teeth", where the vertical wide racks were mixed with holes. That added the overall design of a special color.

Special attention deserves a car salon. With all the then Soviet tendency to giantism, the salon even at that time seemed huge. The capacity of the entire car still generates legends. By the way, large sizes, let's say, the trunk are an unconditional advantage, for the modern owner of GAZ 21 or those who have preserved gas 21 can consider themselves happy owners if you allow the semi-sighted car model. The weight of the cargo, which can translate the "Volga", compare little with which other passenger cars.

semorage Volga GAZ 21

However, let's return to the salon of our car. The rear seat in it nobody does not call in it, because it is rather a sofa. At the same time, the front sofa had to be divided into pressure, otherwise it was simple, there was no place to put the gear lever.

So, the beginning of the serial issue is officially customary to be considered 1957.

But although the serial release began, but the engine, which was staffed by Gas M 21, the predecessor of GAZ 21, was borrowed from earlier cars, such as "victory" or "winters." All the same received his engine "Volga", but somewhat later, and, in the same year, and it was a new ZMZ - 21 engine, produced on specifically for these purposes built by the Savolzhsky motor factory. As for the technical characteristics of this motor, then he had a volume of 2.4 liters and the power of seventy horsepower.
It was an aluminum engine, topless design, fairly innovative for its time.

Read also

Car Volga GAZ-M21

And, by the way, then a series of gas M 21 appeared, which was equipped with an automatic gearbox (three steps) and a liquid transformer. But this innovation was then doomed to the USSR for failure, since the quality of lubricants was not just at a low level, but quite low, the first gas 21 with automatic transmission brought more trouble with their owners than pleasure.

And since 1958, the release of cars "Volga" with a box-machine was under an indefinite period suspended and produced machines equipped exclusively mechanical gearbox. In the same year there was still a lot of extraordinary events.

automatic gearbox GAZ 21

In addition to the fact that the USSR was the first country in the world, which launched a spacecraft, has now occurred by everyone in the world almost forgotten as a phenomenon, the festival of youth and students in Moscow. This event described the famous Khrushchev "thaw" and, as a result of this phenomenon, Volga entered the international car market.

At that time, no international car dealers have not yet existed, and the auto store was highly rare, but Furore, who produced the Volga GAZ 21 in European countries, best describes the nicknames adhering to the Soviet car, such as "Tank on wheels", or A more elegant "Tank in Frace". By this time, the production of gas M 21 was discontinued, and only the "twenty-first" "Volga" was not equipped with any additional literals in the name of the model.

Operating data and technical specifications of the Volga GAZ-21

The car GAZ 21 became a worthy receiver "Victory M-20" and lasted on the conveyor for almost 14 years. During this time, the car was upgraded twice, but even the first serial cars had more popularity and a certain success.

Example of Volga GAZ 21 black

Popularity promoted the unpretentiousness of the car and excellent technical specifications. Volga was successfully used in a taxi and as a service car, the model was also available for private use. On the technical and operational characteristics of the legendary car, it is worth focusing.

Gas dimensions 21.

It is impossible to say that by the standards of cars "Volga" GAZ 21 was compact. Although the car belonged to the middle class, her sizes are rather impressive. The sedan model has a length of 4.77 m, a width of 1.8 m and a height of 1.62 m. Such dimensions allowed the salon to be quite spacious and comfortable, it easily placed five people, including the driver. The distance between the axes (Wheel Base) from the Volga is 2.7 m. The body has 4 doors.

Production also includes GAZ 22 - version of the passenger car in the body of the type "Universal".

It looks like a classic Volga GAZ-22 with a body wagon

This modification in mass production appeared later, it was produced since 1962 (GAZ 21 since 1956). In size, gas 22 is a little longer (4.81 m), the fifth door is provided on the back of the body (the trunk door) is provided.

The trunk door consisted of two halves - top and bottom. The salon allowed to transport already 7 people, and three rows of seats were placed in it. The last row was evolving, and the volume of the luggage compartment increased markedly. There were no other principal differences between GAZ 22 and GAZ 21.

Unlike the predecessor "Victory", Volga had a good visibility due to the installed panoramic windshield. The front wheels of the 21st wheels are 1, 41m, the rear wheels - a collection of 1, 42 m. GAZ21 has a good reversal radius, and in general almost does not lag behind modern cars in this indicator.

Original Painted Volga 21

Operational data

According to the car operating manual, GAZ 21 has the following characteristics:


The safety of the car was not at the highest level. There was a complete absence of seat belts. In addition, the steering traction was so located that, if any serious blow, hard steering in the cabin was shifted back, and the driver's chance was not very big.

Engine specifications

In the sixties of the last century, constructive ZMZ 21 was considered a perfect engine not only according to Soviet standards, but also in the world value.

Graphics showing engine characteristics GAZ 21

The upper arrangement of the valve and the aluminum block with the head of the cylinder block were far from all the motors of those years.

ZMZ 21 (ZMZ-21A) was established on the model GAZ 21 since 1957 and possessed the following characteristics:


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Figurine deer on the Volga

Technical characteristics of transmission and clutch

The model of the car 21 has rear wheel drive (wheel formula 4x2). The first model "Volga" was produced in two versions - with a three-stage manual transmission and with an automatic three-stage gearbox.

With automatic gearbox "Volga" was produced long, in the Soviet Union lacked qualified masters for servicing automatic transmission, it was not in the desired volume of special oil. In addition, on a 4-cylinder engine, a weak acceleration of the car was obtained, the maximum speed was less than with a mechanical gearbox.

Gas has released about 1500-1700 cars with a gearbox with a machine gun with a total of about 640 thousand Volga 21 copies. There is an opinion that only 700 cars have been released with automatic transmission, but it is not.

Coupling diagram twenty-first Volga

About 700 units were produced in 1957, and about the same in 1959. In 1958, the conveyor went about hundreds of cars with an automatic box.

The mechanical gearbox was inherited from gas M 20, only was distinguished by the presence of a manual brake, which was installed on the back of the box (drum type).

Since the MCPP was originally developed for the Winter Car 12, it had a sufficient stock for strength.

The disadvantages of the structure include the non-indexed first transmission and manual control of the box. It is believed that 4-speed "mechanics" was installed on GAZ 21. But the plant did not release cars from the conveyor in such a configuration, except for the craftsmen made changes to the design with their own hands.

The gear switch that was on the steering control was long traction.

Scheme of the gear shift device in the Volga

New traction behaved fine, but with an increase in the mileage of the compound in them wested, and various defects appeared. Two programs could immediately turn on, could have been transferred to "fly out". When you turn on two gears, it had to climb under the hood and translate the levers to the desired position. Traction often required adjustment and lubrication.

The clutch on the "Volga" also got from the "victory", but already had a hydraulic drive, there was a mechanical inclusion on gas 20. The new clutch had advantages:

  • Easier began to disclose pedals;
  • It stopped flying dirt and water to the salon, as the slot was eliminated around the pedal, which was necessary during mechanical drive.

Technical data of transmission and clutch:


Fuel system

Fuel system for gas 21 carburetor type.

This is what the fuel pump is twenty-first Volga.

The fuel tank was located behind the bottom of the body and had a capacity of 60 liters. The pipes on the tubes were injected with a gasoline pump in the carburetor, and it was sprayed from the carburetor to the engine intake manifold. Mechanical gas fuel pump with glass top. The transparent lid had its own convenience - it was visible, gasoline comes into a pump or not. In the future, they refused such a lid, they often cracked.

The carburetor on the "Volga" was three modifications, the brand varied depending on the year of release. 1956-58 release cars are counted for the first batch, the second series GAZ 21 includes cars until 1962. The third generation was produced from 1962 to 1970. Initially, the "Volga" was completed by the K-22I brand carburetor, they were installed mainly on the models of the first and second series.

Example of a carburetor for the Volga

In 1962-65, the K-105 carburetor appeared on the machines, and the model of the K124 device appeared closer to the end of the production of the car "21".

After the termination of the serial release of the car in parts was to be modified K-129, much the differed from K-124. All carburetors were still one-chamber, and the landing place in the collector was unified for them. That is, the interchangeability of the devices was complete.

Characteristics of suspension

Front suspension "Volga" 21 spring, independent. Swivel fists have a pivot joint. In the first models of the machine, the top levers of the suspension served also by shock absorbers - shock absorber liquid for rubber hoses was suppressed. But such a scheme was very inconvenient, and in the future, more familiar telescopic type shock absorbers began to be installed.
The front suspension consisted of the following parts:

  • Front carrier beam. It was the basis of the suspension, and all other parts were attached to her;
  • The levers are two lower and two tops. All levers are composite, each of the two parts. The lower seat is fastened to the lower levers under the spring, the top platform is the beam itself;
  • Springs. They provide the smoothness of the move when the car moves;
  • A pivot rack. Connects suspension levers among themselves. A swivel fist is attached to it. The racks are only two, for each wheel one by one;
  • Rounded fist. They are also two - right and left, and among themselves they are not interchangeable;
  • Front hub. One from each wheel, the front hubs are the same, replaced with each other. Studs are brought into the hubs, and the wheels are screwed with nuts.