Soviet car GAZ-13: specifications, photos

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

GAZ-13 "Chaika" is the first Soviet executive car with a bright and memorable design, a spacious and comfortable seven-seat interior, a solid frame structure and an innovative powerful aluminum engine.

Executive cars produced by GAZ

"The Seagull", or GAZ-13, is the most famous representative passenger car manufactured at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1959 to 1981. The new car was designed to replace the long-wheelbase six-seater sedan GAZ-12, created in 1948, as an official car for Soviet party domestic workers, but not used to transport top officials. "GAZ-12" was the first development of a representative model for a car factory. Prior to this, such cars were produced exclusively by the Moscow ZIS plant (later ZIL).

GAZ designers were entrusted with the production of representative cars thanks to their own developments, which were marked by bold and modern solutions. So, for the first time in the world, the GAZ-12 used the installation of three rows of seats on a car with a load-bearing body. A novelty for the domestic automotive industry wasthe use of a hydromechanical transmission that guarantees smooth movement of a large sedan. At the end of the sixties, the design of the GAZ-12 began to rapidly become obsolete, and the company urgently began to develop the next generation of an executive car.

Creation

Initially, in order to shorten the development time for a new generation of representative cars, the plant took the path of modernizing the GAZ-12 and created a prototype GAZ-12V, which received the name "Seagull". Despite the upgrades, which mainly boiled down to bodywork, it became clear that the car was clearly outdated, it would not be possible to create a modern model based on the old sedan, and therefore we started developing new items from scratch.

At the same time, the ZIL plant was developing a top-class car ZIL-111 Moskva. Since both enterprises were guided by the model of the Packard Patiken sedan and a convertible based on it, purchased by the NAMI Institute for study, the prototypes of the Seagull and Moskva turned out to be very similar. In this regard, the designers again had to change the external image of the Seagull. In 1956, a sample was launched for sea trials, which already resembled the future GAZ-13 (photo below).

Design

The appearance of the "Seagull" traces the features of American cars of that time, which, however, is not surprising, since the Gorky Automobile Plant already had experience in creating serial models based on American cars.

GAZ-13 received a flying external image, which at that time was called "Detroitbaroque". One of the main elements of this aerospace style was the design of the aft part of the car in the form of a jet tail or rocket, which was used on the Seagull.

In front of the GAZ-13, a swift image was formed;

• headlights recessed into special wells of the front fenders;
• wide grille with gull wingspan pattern;
• front bumper with jet engine-inspired inserts;
• straight and wide hood.

In the frontal silhouette, the solidity of an executive car was created by:

• straight roofline;
• wide glazing;
• enlarged doors;
• a large number of figured chrome moldings and edging;
• large front wheel arches and half closed for the rear.

All the solutions made allowed to create a bright, unusual and modern appearance of the new executive model GAZ-13 "Seagull".

Interior "Seagull"

The GAZ-13 saloon was distinguished by great spaciousness and comfort according to the parameters existing at that time. The main feature was the presence of three rows of seats. At the same time, the first and third rows are made in the form of wide comfortable sofas. The design of the second row consisted of folding seats designed for security.

Most of the produced cars had no partition, which ranked the "Seagull" in the class of sedans. The interior decoration was made of lightgray cloth for officer overcoats, and the interior design was distinguished by rigor and solidity, emphasizing the status of the passenger. Of the novelties, first used on domestic cars, we should mention the push-button control of the automatic transmission, located on the center console, as well as power windows.

Design Features

From the very beginning of development, it became clear that the representative car would receive a large mass, and therefore the designers initially abandoned the load-bearing body used on the previous GAZ-12 model. A frame option was chosen, while an X-shaped welded frame was used. This design had increased rigidity and made it possible to lower the level of the floor in the car.

GAZ-13 received a front-engine layout and an automatic rear-wheel drive transmission. A hydromechanical three-speed automatic was used as a gearbox.

The front suspension had an independent device, consisting of levers, special springs, hydraulic shock absorbers and a stabilizer bar for lateral stability. The rear version is made using two semi-elliptical springs, and telescopic shock absorbers were used to reduce body vibrations.

Power steering and vacuum booster for the brake system were used to ensure confident and safe driving of a heavy vehicle.

According to the Soviet gradation, "The Seagull" belonged to the first class of cars, above wereonly government ZILs, and therefore assembled by hand on special stocks, which ensured the highest build quality.

GAZ-13 engines

For the entire long period of production, "The Seagull" was equipped with two options for power units. These were gasoline engines under the designation GAZ-13 with a capacity of 195 hp. With. and GAZ-13D in 215 forces. Other main technical characteristics of the GAZ-13 and 13D (parameters are given in brackets) were:

• type - four-stroke, overhead valve;
• mixing option - carburetor;
• number of cylinders – 8;
• configuration - V-shaped;
• number of valves - 16;
• cooling - liquid;
• volume - 5.53L (5.27L);
• power - 195 hp With. (215 HP);
• compression ratio - 8.5 (10.00);
• gasoline – AI-93 (100).

The key feature of both power units was the manufacture of the following main engine elements from aluminum alloy:

• cylinder block;
• cylinder head;
• intake manifold;
• piston.

This solution was very innovative for that period. Similar engines from other car companies appeared only in the mid-sixties.

Technical parameters

The technical characteristics of the executive car GAZ-13 "Chaika" with the engine of the 13th model were:

• body type - sedan;
• number of doors - 4;
• capacity - 7 people;
• wheelbase – 3, 25m;
• length - 5, 60 m;
• height - 1.62 m;
• width – 2.00 m;
• ground clearance - 18.0 cm;
• track rear/front - 1.53 m/1.54 m;
• turning diameter - 15.60 m:
• curb weight – 2.10 tons;
• gross weight – 2.66 tons;
• max speed is 160.0 km/h;
• acceleration time (100 km/h) - 20 sec.;
• gas tank size - 80 l;
• fuel consumption - 21.0 liters (100 km combined);
• tire size - 8.20/15.

Modifications

In the Soviet period, the Chaika executive car, even after being decommissioned, could not be sold to private owners, which indicated the special status of the model, but several modifications were produced on its basis. They had the following name and purpose:

• GAZ-13A - the version was distinguished by the presence of an internal partition between the driver and the passenger compartment. This allowed the 13A to be classified as a limousine.
• GAZ-13B - convertible (phaeton) with an open top. At the same time, the soft roof awning was raised and lowered using a special electro-hydraulic system.
• GAZ-13 - with increased comfort and capacity for 6 people.

All these cars were produced directly at the Gorky Automobile Plant.

Separately, at the RAF Riga plant, a version of the GAZ-13C was produced (approximately 20 copies). It was an ambulance station wagon, with a cabin configuration to accommodate a stretcher. in ChernihivThe Kinotekhnika enterprise produced several GAZ-13 OASD-3 cars. They were intended for filming.

The number of produced legendary Soviet cars GAZ-13 "Chaika", according to the information of the GAZ enterprise, is 3189 copies. Currently, according to the forecasts of automotive experts and collectors, there are from 200 to 300 cars left. The cost of the preserved "Seagulls" can be, depending on the state, from 25 thousand to 100 thousand dollars.