"Volga" (car): history, models, specifications

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

"Volga" - a car that was produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant, due to which the models bear the same name GAZ. The first car saw the light in 1956, the last was released in 2010. Volga models were used by ordinary citizens, in taxi services, as official cars in state institutions, some were made specifically for organizations such as the KGB.

Building a car

The first Volga is the GAZ-21 car, which first rolled off the assembly line in 1956. Even then, he began to constantly use it in cinema, and to this day he can be found in modern films. Over time, many international festivals and exhibitions gave well-deserved awards to cars of this brand. At that time, the car belonged to the premium class, but had an average cost, which made it possible to purchase it even for not very we althy citizens of the Soviet Union.

Over time, it became clear that the most iconic and at the same time outstanding car is the Volga.

How did the Volga story begin?

Car "Volga" (interior eventhe first models were very convenient and comfortable) after a long period of development, it appeared before potential buyers in a relatively updated form. At that time, the design and technical characteristics of its predecessor, Pobeda, fully met the needs of its contemporaries. However, by the 50s, its design was outdated, and the issue with the engine remained unresolved - it lagged far behind the world's leading units in terms of its characteristics. As a result, the development of a new machine began (this happened in 1953). A year later, the first sample of the Volga rolled off the assembly line. For him, two types of gearboxes were developed - automatic and mechanics.

Technical innovations of the time

Considering the technical characteristics of the Volga car (the review of the car is more focused on its general changes), you can see that among the interesting nuances there is a CSS. Thanks to the lubrication system, when you press a certain pedal, the oil is directed to the oil lines. The fact is that, being in a rural area, where there is basically one continuous off-road, the driver often cut off some suspension elements. The CSS helped to prevent such unpleasant moments. However, one of the significant disadvantages of the system was that it leaked, leaving traces of oil on the pavement. Over time, the use of CSS was abandoned.

GAZ-23

It so happened historically that almost all the authorities of the state of the USSR drove the Volga. Some specifications did not meet their requirements. Therefore, the manufacturer took into accountevery comment, as a result of which the produced Volga models experienced strong changes. By 1962, a 160-horsepower unit taken from the Seagull was installed on new machines. An automatic transmission and hydraulic booster were supplied to a special GAZ-23 model, which was not available to an ordinary resident of the country. This is due to the fact that the KGB became the customer of this model. The car weighed 100 kg more than the base version. Its maximum speed is 160 km/h. Up to 100 km / h, the car accelerated in just 16 seconds. There were no changes to the braking system.

GAZ-21: first series

Volga, the GAZ-21 model of the first series, was produced for two years. In 1956, the first three samples of the car rolled off the assembly line. Until the end of the same year, only 5 copies were produced. Large-scale production began only in 1957.

The number of models of the Volga brand, cars of the first series, for all the years of production reached 30 thousand copies. The Volga with a Star has not reached our days in its original configuration, most of the surviving cars are already in the second or third series. This explains the demand and high fee for such a rarity.

The most noticeable feature of this series is that the instrument panel is equipped somewhat unusually - it was not finished with spraying or any material. In this state, she arrived until 1958. Some models did not have a solid color, but this equipment cost a little more.

GAZ-21:second series

Cars that were produced from 1958 to 1959 are popularly called "transitional", and those that were born in 1959-1962. - second series. The next generation Volga models had more external changes than internal ones. The wings took on a different shape due to the increase in the dimensions of the wheel arches. In principle, if you look closely, you can see that the design of the GAZ-21 began to resemble the prototype of the 55th year. It cannot be said that the modernization of the car was completely stopped, but the changes were minor and not serious - the technical characteristics did not change, the appearance of the interior remained the same.

Reflectors, an updated instrument panel and other innovations appeared only closer to 1959. If you count all the models that were released (and all the configurations), then we can say for sure that more than 140 thousand copies rolled off the assembly line.

GAZ-21: third series

The manufacturer did not consider restyling the first generation a rational decision, so the car appeared before the viewer in a slightly transformed version. The characteristics of the Volga remained practically unchanged - only the bumpers and bodywork were changed, some finishing elements were added.

Over time, the appearance of the car has undergone significant changes. Models referred to as the "third series" began to roll off the assembly line after 1962, and they no longer resembled the original version.

The appearance of the car was constantly upgraded, but the manufacturer did not forget about the technical side either. Gradually, the unit became more powerful, banal lever shock absorberswere replaced by telescopic ones, and the automatic transmission version was discontinued.

GAZ-24: first series

A feature of the first series of the Volga GAZ-24 was the bumper, which had a chrome-plated number table, bodies, lights with rear reflectors, sofa seats, consisting of 3 parts, doors, or rather their panels, with a pattern in a vertical position, instrument panel in black, covered with leather replacement.

The manufacturer constantly subjected the car to some minor changes, for example, by 1975 the car lost the clutch in automatic mode to activate the fan (due to unstable operation). A little later, the rear mirror became a slightly different shape, the trunk was equipped with a more reliable and comfortable lock, the tape speedometer was replaced with a standard arrow one.

GAZ-24: second series

The car "Volga" GAZ-24 was subjected to major changes during 1976-1978. The release of the car with these modifications can be called the release of the second series.

Bumpers of the new generation received "fangs", headlights suitable for driving in foggy places, lights with reflectors. The interior has also undergone changes. The metal elements, which in one way or another posed a threat to the he alth of passengers, were covered with a protective plastic overlay, a drawing appeared on the doors in a horizontal orientation. The manufacturer added static straps, as a result of which the armrests had to be removed. The seats received a new (improved) upholstery in the GAZ-24 models. "Volga", the car of the second generation, was produced for several years -until 1985.

GAZ-24: third series

The release of the third series was marked by new upgrades, which were more radical and significant. The next generation of the car - GAZ-24-10 - appeared on the market in the mid-1980s.

This time, the manufacturer found it necessary to gradually introduce new items. The process of complete change took place from the 1970s, when the radiator grille was changed, until 1987. By the last year, an updated sedan was already being produced, which combined several designs of previous versions of Volga cars at once. The car acquired the name (unofficial) GAZ-24M.

The third series included not only the model described above, but also the GAZ-2410. This option was used to discuss public institutions: hospitals, schools, etc. It was developed almost from 1976, while it was implemented only by 1982. In fact, after some time it became clear that this model would become the ancestor of new cars under the name "Volga". The car was produced until 1992 and then was replaced by an almost similar assembly, but under the name GAZ-31029. The difference between them was only in the type of unit and the shape of the body.