Soviet car GAZ-22 ("Volga"): description, specifications, photos

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:41

The GAZ-22 is known to the general public as a station wagon. The series was produced at the Gorky plant from 1962 to 1970. In the cabin, 5-7 people could easily fit due to the transformation of the seats. The body was made from a special material that formed the supporting structure.

During the entire production period, several types of cars were created. The GAZ model range at one time was able to completely surprise domestic buyers. The sedan became the base for the Volga.

Initially, the 22nd model was produced specifically for the transport of goods and passengers. On its basis, such machines as modification B (ambulance) and A (van) were produced. The GAZ-24-02, one of the most popular, became a follower of the model, besides, it went on sale to the domestic market. The latter is quite common today on roads in very good condition.

Production history

Simultaneously with the creation of the presented sedan, a station wagon model was developed. However, it never reached mass production. Some time later, a station wagon created on the basis of the third generation GAZ-21R came off the assembly line. At that time, successfully created instances already existed. They were the "parents" of the 21I model. The produced GAZ-22 is quite different from the original sedan, has its own characteristics and advantages.

In 1965, mass production of the basic model, called 22V, began. It differed little in appearance from its prototype, but had slightly different technical characteristics. Some copies were published for a long time under the name GAZ-22G.

The styling of this model had improved performance. Most of the cars went to other countries, as a car was made for export. But still some were sent to domestic markets. The model had chrome parts (we are talking about the radiator grille, moldings, surfaces under the windshield and rear windows) and belt pads. This "Volga" (station wagon) was quite famous in the Soviet Union.

Small feature

Very decent (and impressive) spaciousness in the cabin is easily determined by some of the properties of the car. Firstly, the rear seats are installed so that they can be folded down without much effort. This nuance allows you to transport large loads in the car. Secondly, the high ceiling also plays a big role. One of the maindifferences from the sedan - the presence of a harder suspension spring. When transporting two passengers, the maximum carrying capacity of the GAZ-22 is 400 kg; if we are talking about transporting five people at once, then the car can additionally fit no more than 180 kg.

Speaking about the materials used in the assembly, it should immediately be clarified that the body sidewall is fully consistent in quality with that installed on the GAZ-21. The upper-back part was cut off in manual mode, and a door was installed instead of it at the factory.

Another difference from the original model is the tires. The newer model GAZ-22 received a stable coating option.

Car popularity

The car was not originally produced for sale to the general public. All copies were distributed among state organizations. We are talking about hospitals, police, taxi companies. Most of all, the car of this series was used by taxi drivers to transport passengers with a fairly large cargo. Also, these vehicles were often used as ambulances.

For the first time GAZ-22 (Volga) became a personal car in 1964. She was presented to Yuri Nikulin to transport circus supplies.

Due to the fact that the car was most used in government organizations, today it is quite difficult to meet the Volga of this series on the roads. Few models in proper form have survived. This is because the material used in the assembly is too unstable.

"Volga" station wagon, likesedan, was delivered to other countries, no matter how strange it may seem, at dumping prices. Many Americans, despite the large number of minuses, noted good spaciousness, cornering stability, strength, durability and cross-country ability. The cost of the car itself was not disregarded.

GAZ lineup: modification 22B

Those copies that were created for hospitals had special attachments for stretchers. This greatly facilitated the work of doctors. Of course, the manufacturer took care of the minimum medical support. The front seats in the GAZ-22B are separated from the rear by a partition. Good lighting and heating is what distinguished the model from other copies of the same series. There was no point in neglecting these issues, because medicine is a serious sphere of life.

Van 22A

First rolled off assembly line 22A in 1961. The middle and rear rows of the car's seats had no windows. Unfortunately, the machine was never launched into mass production. However, many automobile factories built their vans according to this model, finishing them and improving them every time. Their need was explained by the constant need for transport to transport goods.

Development of the lineup

It was quite common practice to create pickup trucks from station wagons and sedans of this model. The Moscow Repair Plant (ARZ) constantly produced new versions of old well-known machines, adding angular platforms. Most of the cars were paintedchocolate color. The highest quality copies were those that left the assembly line in Latvia. More finished outwardly cars were produced here. Complex platforms were added to them, making them more resistant to heavy loads.

Those cars that were vans and pickups never had much build quality. Their resource was small, and they were never sold for personal use. Now it is practically impossible to find at least one representative of the GAZ-22 (technical characteristics are described below) of this type.

It is known that the Volga was produced as a station wagon with all-wheel drive. According to rumors, Leonid Brezhnev used one of these machines to go hunting. In addition to such vehicles, just alterations of existing copies also left the assembly line. They were constantly supplemented and slightly changed.

Specifications

The manufacturer of this Volga model is the Gorky Automobile Plant, which, in principle, is clear from the basic name. The car belongs to class E (in other words, to the average). This station wagon has five doors and is designed for five to seven people. If we consider different configurations, we can clarify that the Volga was produced with rear-wheel drive, it was front-engine.

Three different engines were installed on the car: 75 hp. (for internal implementation), 85 hp and diesel unit 58-65 hp (these cars were exported). The gearbox has four steps, it is a mechanical type andfully synchronized. The tank is designed for 55 liters of gasoline. The maximum speed that can be obtained does not exceed 115 km / h. For 100 km, it eats up about 15 liters of GAZ-22 fuel. The price fluctuates within 150 thousand rubles.

Development of the 22nd model in the gaming and souvenir field

It so happened that the scale models of the GAZ-22 did not get into mass production both in the USSR and in Russia. Initially, they were produced in units, a little later, small batches were made by individual firms and companies, among which one can note those located in Ukraine (Kherson and Kyiv).

Currently, the souvenir Volga is produced by a Chinese company. The Dutch company provides high-quality copies at a very high cost. Among collectors, they are considered copies as close as possible to the original.

Fans of computer games can admire the GAZ-22 in the game GTA. Here in the catalog there are three modifications at once, among them a taxi and a van. You can also find a GAZ-21 pickup truck.