GAZ ir kt. istorija (anglų kalba)

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The "Volga": the Soviet flagships

The first car with the "Volga" name, was launched in the 1956: it was the "M-21" (four pics above). Although it was smaller than the unapproachable limousines, the "M-21" remained a dream for the 99% of the Russians! Differently from the "Pobjeda", the performances are "almost" decent (130 km/h), with an improved engine, boosted up to 75 hp, and with an improved lubrification. The coachwork is more pleasant, but, sure, not original (with a typically "american" style). The early versions were equipped with a strange greasing system: a pedal, pressed by the driver, provides to grease the suspensions and other parts. Only defect: the grease in excess is poured...on the road. Today, this is a funny technical feature, but it was quite intelligent and useful for that period!

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Other versions were realized: the station-wagon (called "M-22", first and second pics above), the automatic-gearbox version, and also some exemplar with the V8 engine taken from the "Tchaika" limousines (for the KGB and the GAI). The production of the "M-21" was stopped in the 1970, after 14 years and 640.000 produced units, replaced by the "M-24" generation, still today in production. From the first "Volga", also some cars for the racing competitions was obtained: in the third and fourth pics above, the GAZ-22, realized by V. Shakverdov in the 1958-1959, with an engine boosted to 84 hp: weight 900 kg, max speed 200 km/h.

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In the 1968, the GAZ "Volga M-24" (four pics above) cames into production. The engine is the traditional 4-cylinders, boosted up to 2500 cc. and 98 hp, 145 km/h. The coachwork has a more "european" style, with a more simple front part, however it's inspired to some Ford realizations of the period. This car, called in Russia "barzha" (that means "great boat"...), is the most produced in the GAZ's history, and was exported in several countries (in Europe until the '92, exactly in Belgium, with Peugeot diesel engines).

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The GAZ realized also the station wagon version ("M-24 Universal", first and second pics, above), and the cabriolet (third pic). During the '80s, a new 12-valves engine was mounted (GAZ "3102", fourth and fifth pic). There was some exemplar with the V8 engine taken from the "Chaika" limousines, and even some exemplar with Wankel two-rotor engine (produced by Lada), with 210 hp. Probably, also others Wankel models were produced, with three rotors and 280 hp (!!). These types of Wankel models were used by the KGB patrols; tyres and brakes were still old-type, with diagonal-structure and drums (not disks)! I think that the braking action begins in Moscow and finish in Vladivostok, at the extreme East, near the North America...

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After several slight variants, in 1997 the "Volga 3110" (first, second and third pics above, sedan and SW), cames into existance. It derives from the "M-24", restylized in the front and in the interior; the engine is the same, old 2500 (eight valves) of the old model. With 1600 kg and only 100 hp, the performances are ridicolous: 0-100 in 20 seconds (slower than a Fiat Panda!), the max speed is 150 km/h. Now, a new 16 valevs engine 16 valves (150 hp) is available, but...it has still a threatening reliability (the previous engine is enough reliable, if well maintained). With a frequent maintenance, the "Volga" is an enough rugged car, but it's absolutely outdated and not competitive with with the medium and high class cars from Europe and Japan. The last version (launched at the Moscow Show 2002, fourth and fifth pics above) has been improved in several components, and equipped with new lights.

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But the generation of the old "M-24" is destined to live still for some years: above, the new version of the "3110", launched at the Moscow Show 2003, and equipped with the same headlights of the model "3111". Therefore, although this car is 35 years old, it remains still the main product of the old factory of Nizhny Novgorod! And, considering that there is no certainty about eventual future models...

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...paradoxically the new model-year 2005 has been already launched (four pics above)! In these pics, you can note that the front headlights are the sames of the Opel "Vectra", and the rear lights, on the sedan, are even taken from the old Opel "Tigra"! The station-wagon version was also totally restyled in the rear part (note the difference with the old version in the fourth pic). This further restyling of an old model from the Soviet era, is a sign that in Russia the situation is very uncertain! However, considering the age of the original model and the need to keep many parts of the old version (windscreen, side windows, doors...), the result is honorable...long life to the Soviet dinosaurs!

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The cars in the first and second pics above, instead, were made not directly by the GAZ factory, but by a Russian designer, Juri Algebraistov. These sport-coupè cars, both called "Juna", were realized in the second half of the '80s, and equipped with GAZ engines (but also with Lada "Zhighuli" engines). The structure was based on a tubular frame covered by a fiberglass coachwork. These sporty interpretations of the "Volga" were enough interesting (although the bad conditions of the blue exemplar...), especially considering that the Western cars -a better and newer mechanical base for these "self-made" prototypes- were still very rare during the '80s! Indeed, the heavy and slow GAZ "Volga M-24" were used even in the national racing competitions: in the third and fourth pics above, two exemplars during a race in Kiev, 1980, essential but aggressive!

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Daugiau matyt mums naujienos neaktualu ... tad neįdėjau visko kas dar buvo tame puslapyje ...

[kitoks]

Raudonosios armijos automobiliai 4x4

Prasidedant karui, 1938m GAZ gamykla pradėjo konstruoti visureigius: pirmas modelis buvo GAZ 61, įkvėptas, kaip ir vėliau sukurtas GAZ 64 (paminėti nuotraukas) amerikiečių “BANTAM”. 1943m buvo pradėtas gaminti GAZ 67 (nuotraukos pav), su kai kuriais patobulinimais (pvz., kitoks kuro bakas įtaisytas po vairuotojo sėdyne): bekelėje, GAZ 67 turėjo geresnį pravažumą, nei “Willys”, “BANTAM”ar “FORD”, bet buvo mažiau realeable : vartojo labai daug degalų (sunkiomis sąlygomis, sąnaudos galėjo siekti 1l vienam km), stabdžiai buvo labai prasti ir sudėtingai remontuojami.

Tyrimų instituto “NATI” konstruktorių grupė, vadovaujama F. Andronovo, 1941-42m sukūrė ir pristatė kita 4x4 automobilį, kuris turėjo konkuruoti su GAZ 64 dėl Raudonosios armijos oficialaus džipo statuso. Prototipas vadinosi NATI “AR” (nuotraukų pav). Kaip ir GAZ 64, automobilyje buvo montuojamas GAZ “M-1” motoras, bet aprūpintas dviem karbiuratoriais, kurie buvo montuojami “KIM-10” (pirmas “Moskvich” gamyklos modelis), kas padidino variklio galią nuo 50 ik 57AG. GAZ 64 ir NATI “AR” prototipai buvo pristatyti Stalinui, kur buvo pasirinktas GAZ modelis. Ir tai labai keista, nes NATI “AR” modelis buvo modernesnis nei GAZ, bet Stalino sprendimo nebuvo galima nepaisyti.

1953m, pradėtas gaminti naujas GAZ 4x4 modelis - GAZ 69 (liaudyje vadinamas “Koziol” kas lietuviškai reiškia - ožys) (nuotraukos pav). Projekto autorius buvo Grigorijus Moisejevičius Vasermanas ir nors tai buvo visiškai naujas automobilis, bet su senos konstrukcijos, šone montuojamais vožtuvais, 2100cc, 55AG motoru. Motoras buvo visiškai identiškas GAZ 20 “Pobeda” motorui. Kaip ir ankstesni GAZ 4x4 modeliai, šis buvo aprūpintas dviem kuro bakais: 47litrų buvo montuojamas po grindimis, o 27l – po vairuotojo sėdyne. Transmisija (galinio tilto blokavimas, rankiniu būdu (neesu tikras, dėl šios dalies)) turėjo įdomią savybę: 4-oji pažeminta pavara galėjo būti jungiama tik tada, kai buvo pajungti abu tiltai (būtinai turėjo būti pajungtas ir priekinis tiltas), tam, kad būtu išvengta excessive sollecitation galinės ašies perkrovų (kažkas tokio). Taip pat buvo pristatyta ir pradėta gaminti amfibija: GAZ 46-MAV (nuotraukos pav), kuri vandenyje galėjo pasiekti 9km/h greitį.

Žemiau pateikiamos GAZ 69 nuotraukos, kur vairuotojas “ekipiruotas” tautiniais drabužiais (laisvas vertimas - netikslus) ir nuostabiomis kaimo moterimis. Vystanti gamybai, automobilių GAZ 69 gamyba buvo perkelta į Uljanovską, kur buvo tęsiama šio modelio gamyba iki 1972m. “Ožiais” buvo aprūpintos daugelis rytų bloko kariuomenių (ne vien tik rytuose): Afrika, Mongolija, Kuba ir Afganistanas (naujesnįjį UAZ modelį UAZ-469 galima buvo pamatyti per TV, JAV atakų Afganistane metu).

Grigorijaus Moisejevičiaus asistentas, Vitalijus Andrejevičius Gračiovas, 1955 pristatė gamybai 4x4 “Pobeda” versija: M-72 (nuotraukos pav) su GAZ-69 važiuokle. Antroje ir trečioje nuotraukoje matomas M-73 pick-up, su 4x4 transmisija.

isverte (megejiskai): kitoks