In the 1950s, at the "Gorky Automobile Plant" there was a need to develop a new "middle class" car, which would adequately replace the GAZ M-20 "Pobeda" on the conveyor. Work on the creation of the machine started in 1952, and in the spring of 1954 experimental prototypes saw the light of day.

The first conditionally serial GAZ-21 "Volga" (until 1965 known as GAZ-M21) were released in October 1956, but the full-fledged production of a sedan that surpassed its predecessor in all respects was launched only in April 1957.

At the end of 1958, the car underwent modernization (the so-called "second series") - the exterior was updated, mostly in the front end, and the mechanical "stuffing" was slightly improved.

In 1962, the four-door was again modified ("third series"), transforming mainly from the outside, after which it was produced until July 1970, when it finally gave way to the GAZ-24 model.

And now the GAZ-21 "Volga" looks elegant, emphatically expressive and quite dynamic, and when it appeared on the market, it was a real breakthrough in terms of design, especially for the Soviet automobile industry. Smooth and streamlined front end, sprinkled with chrome, harmonious silhouette with convex strokes on the sidewalls and rounded rear fenders, upturned stern with vertical lanterns and a "shiny" bumper - no doubt, but the car is really good-looking.

"Twenty-first" in length extends to 4810-4830 mm, in width is 1800 mm, and in height does not exceed 1610 mm. The wheelbase and the clearance under the "belly" of the three-volume are 2700 mm and 190 mm, respectively. The curb weight of the machine varies from 1450 to 1490 kg, depending on the modification.

The interior of the GAZ-21 "Volga" leaves an extremely pleasant impression, and not only with its design, but also with the quality of performance. Inside the sedan, a classic atmosphere reigns - a large "steering wheel" with a thin and "flat rim", a dashboard original by today's standards with a translucent sphere of the speedometer and auxiliary indicators, a minimalistic dashboard, on which a radio receiver, an analog clock and various switches flaunt.

The main "trump card" of the car is the interior space: in front and behind there are two solid sofas (which is why a four-door is considered a six-seater one) with soft filling, and in the first case - also with adjustments in the length and angle of the backrest.
In addition, the front seat can be pushed almost to the steering column, and the backrest can be folded back, thereby creating a huge bed.

The trunk of the GAZ-21 "Volga" is able to hold up to 400 liters of luggage, while the compartment has a very good shape. True, a good share of the volume is "eaten up" by a full-size spare wheel.

Specifications. The "21st" is driven by an overhead gasoline "aspirated" ZMZ-12 / 12A with a volume of 2.5 liters (2445 cubic centimeters) with an aluminum cylinder head, four in-line "pots", an 8-valve timing, carburetor injection, a rectangular intake manifold section, contact ignition system and liquid cooling.
Its output ranges from 65 to 80 horsepower at 4000 rpm and from 170 to 180 Nm of torque, which is generated at 2200 rpm.

On the overwhelming number of cars, the engine is docked with a 3-speed "mechanics" and a rear-wheel drive transmission, however, on some modifications, a 3-band hydromechanical "automatic" is used.

To the first "hundred", the original "Volga" accelerates in at least 25 seconds, reaches a maximum of 120-130 km / h, and it "destroys" 13-13.5 liters of fuel in a combined travel cycle.

The GAZ-21 has an all-metal carrier-type body with subframes at the ends, and the power unit is located longitudinally in the front part. On the front axle of the car, an independent pivot suspension is used on the wishbones, which are connected by threaded bushings and springs, while a dependent system with longitudinal springs and telescopic shock absorbers (until 1962 - lever) is installed at the rear.
The sedan is equipped with a "globoid worm" steering mechanism with a double-ridged roller and a gear ratio of 18.2. On all wheels of the Soviet passenger car there are drum brake devices.

In addition to the basic one, there are other modifications of the "Volga" of the original incarnation:

GAZ-21T- a car for a taxi service, devoid of a number of equipment, but endowed with a taximeter and a "beacon". In addition, it has a split front seat and a folding front passenger seat, freeing up space for the carriage of luggage.
GAZ-22- a five-door station wagon, which was mass-produced from 1962 to 1970 in various versions: a “civilian” general-purpose model, an aircraft escort car, an ambulance, and others. This "Volga" meets with a 5- or 7-seater convertible saloon and a spacious cargo hold.

GAZ-23- This is a "police catch-up", the production of which was carried out in small batches from 1962 to 1970, and it was used by the KGB and other special services. Such cars were painted mainly black, and under their hood had a 5.5-liter V8 gasoline engine from the "Chaika", which generated 195 "horses" and was combined with a 3-speed automatic transmission.

GAZ-21S- the export version of the Volga, which featured improved interior trim and richer equipment compared to the standard model.

Among the advantages of the Soviet sedan are: elegant appearance, roomy and comfortable interior, reliable body structure, durable and energy-intensive suspension, exclusivity on the roads, high maintainability, ample opportunities for tuning and much more.
But he also has enough shortcomings: weak engines, serious problems with ergonomics, low level of safety, high cost and difficulties in finding original spare parts and components.

Prices. In 2017, it is possible to purchase a Volga GAZ-21 in Russia at a price of 100 thousand rubles, but it will turn out to be such a copy for which the “Bulgarian is crying”. While the cost of perfectly restored cars (especially the first series) exceeds a million rubles.

In the mid-50s, the Gorky Automobile Plant began mass production of the middle class car GAZ-21 "Volga" with the aim of replacing the already obsolete "Pobeda" by that time. Initially, the car was called GAZ-M21., since the plant bore the name of Molotov, but after renaming the plant, the letter "M" in the name was abandoned.

The first attempts to develop a car that was supposed to replace Pobeda were made back in 1948 by specialists commissioned by the Ministry of the Automotive Industry. They offered their own version of the restyling of the serial GAZ-M-20, which resulted in the car "NAMI-Pobeda", but in the end this option was abandoned.

Specialists of the GAZ automobile plant began to develop a new car in 1951, the first plaster model was named GAZ-M21 "Pobeda-2", outwardly it strongly resembled the representative sedan GAZ-M12 "ZIM" design was also abandoned. However, some technical solutions were nevertheless taken from Pobeda-2, for example, the passenger compartment, which was brought forward somewhat forward, which, combined with a decrease in the size of the wheels from 16 to 15 ", made it possible to make it more spacious with the same wheelbase. It was decided to remove all protruding In addition, according to the technical specifications, the new car was to become more modern, dynamic and comfortable, with a new engine and automatic transmission.

Since 1952, parallel work was carried out on two independent projects called GAZ-M-21 "Star" designer John Williams and GAZ-M-21 "Volga" Lev Eremeev (he was also the body designer for "The Seagull"). Models of both machines were ready in 1953, but Williams' Zvezda was abandoned in favor of Eremeev's Volga. The first running sample of the twenty-first "Volga" was handcrafted in 1954. In the same year, a car with a license plate gv00-08 started testing.

In 1954 and 1955, a number of prototypes were assembled, which differed in design, they installed different engines and gearboxes, a 3-speed manual box was installed on some, and a 3-speed automatic hydromechanical box on others. These prototypes had a full set of chrome decor - a chrome grille, moldings, edging for the windshield and rear window, while in serial production chrome parts were an additional option.

Compared to previous domestic cars, the twenty-first Volga proved to be a dynamic, high-speed and comfortable car, it was more economical than its predecessor GAZ-M-20, and in terms of dynamics it surpassed the GAZ-12, which was of a higher class. The Volga was adapted to the domestic road conditions, and its durability and practicality surpassed its foreign counterparts.

GAZ-M-21 can be conditionally divided into three series, but the plant did not use such a division. The first series includes serial production models from 1956 to November 1958. The cars of the first series, produced in 56 and 57, were equipped with an upgraded low-valve engine from Pobeda (GAZ-21B) with a capacity of 65 horsepower, since the new engine that was planned for the Volga was not yet ready. By the way, the same engine was installed on the UAZ-450 and export modifications of the GAZ-69.

Externally cars of the "first series" can be distinguished by the chrome-plated radiator grill, in the center of which a star flaunts, some prototypes had the exact same star, and a branded deer flaunted on the hood. There were also differences in the cabin, for example, the dashboard was not trimmed with leatherette, etc. Some of the cars had a two-tone color of various combinations with three types of color separation. In total, about 30 thousand copies of the so-called "first series" cars were produced.

For more than 14 years of production, many modifications and prototypes of the twenty-first Volga have left the assembly line of the plant. The GAZ-21 "Volga" car was exported to such countries as Belgium, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Holland, Cyprus, England, Indonesia, Greece and the countries of the Middle East. Export models featured improved finishes. Produced "Volga" and abroad, for example, the Belgian company S.A. Scaldia-Volga, together with Sobimpex N.V. Diesel versions of the GAZ-21 (M-21) were produced on the basis of vehicle kits supplied from the USSR, and the diesel engine options were different, with a volume of 1.6 to 2.3 liters and a capacity of 48 to 62 horsepower. In 1968, in parallel with the GAZ-21, the production of a new Volga model under the GAZ-24 index was launched, which completely replaced the current model in 1970.

Design and construction

The new GAZ-21 "Volga" car received a three-volume, load-bearing sedan-type body with a more comfortable and spacious interior. A new all-aluminum 4-cylinder engine, which was almost one and a half times more powerful than the Pobeda engine. Brake system with separate hydraulic cylinders of the front brake pads and one common hydraulic cylinder for the rear pads, transmission parking brake.

Later, after the preparation of the new ZMZ-21 overhead valve engine was completed, the old Volga engine was abandoned. The new 2445 cc engine developed 70 horsepower and a top speed of 130 km / h.

First 1959 to 1962 produced the so-called "second series"... As part of the modernization, the front wheel arches of the car were increased, because of this, the shape of the fenders changed. The design of the front end resembled the front end of one of the prototypes with 16 vertical slots of the radiator grill, for which it was nicknamed the shark's mouth, a new hood lock appeared. There were reflectors in the glass of the rear lights, the license plate lamp changed, the upper part of the dashboard initially became flocked, and later covered in leatherette. The receiver has become more richly decorated. The trademark deer on the last samples of the "second series" was replaced by a traumatic "drop". There were other subtle changes as well.

By 1960, the modernization of components and assemblies took place. "Volga" received a new modern wiring, now the mass was not "plus" but "minus". The centralized lubrication of the chassis was removed, the body was strengthened. About 140 thousand copies of cars of the "second series" were produced.

The next modernization of the car, conditionally "third series", took place in 1962, the exterior design of the cars was completely changed, the radiator grill was changed again, now it consisted of 37 vertical struts (it was called the "whalebone"). The bumpers are divided into two halves and do not have "fangs". The branded deer and molding have disappeared from the hood.

The "third series" was equipped with a slightly modified ZMZ-21A engine, which developed 75 horsepower. The lever shock absorbers were replaced with telescopic ones, the gearbox remained only mechanical, the interior trim was carried out with new, more durable materials. There were other minor changes as well. The production of the twenty-first Volga lasted until July 15, 1970, the last car that left the assembly line of the GAZ-21US plant with an improved design. In total, about 447 thousand cars of the "third series" were produced, this was the most massive version of the GAZ-21 "Volga" sedan.

Modifications

The base sedan model of 1956 with a 3-speed automatic hydromechanical transmission.

Car for the taxi service. Car production: "First series" from 1957 to 1958, "second series" from 1959 to 1962.

Tropical version of the GAZ-M-21A model.

The basic sedan model of 1956 with a manual transmission and hydraulic clutch.

Tropical (Southern) variant of the previous modification.

Basic sedan model of 1957 with a low-valve "Pobedovsky" engine.

Tropical modification of the M-21G model

Export version of the 1957 model with a manual transmission.

Tropical version of the previous modification

An export version of the 1957 model with an automatic hydromechanical gearbox.

Southern version of the previous modification.

The basic sedan of the "second series" of the 1959 model. Years of manufacture, including the transitional model from 1958 to 1962.

Export version of the "second series".

Tropical version of the GAZ-M-21K model

Car kit for export to Belgium, model 1959.

The basic sedan of the "third series" of the 1962 model.

GAZ-M-21M, GAZ-M-21MYu

Export version of the sedan "third series" model 1962 and its tropical version.

1964 GAZ 21 Volga - One owner

GAZ-21 "Volga"- Soviet middle-class car, mass-produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1956 (1957) to 1970. Model factory index - initially GAZ-M-21, later (since 1965) - GAZ-21... A total of 639,478 copies of all modifications were produced.

BACKGROUND

Since 1946, GAZ has been producing the GAZ-M-20 Pobeda passenger car. At the time of the start of production, "Pobeda" was distinguished by a fairly modern design and advanced design.

However, by the beginning of the next decade, its appearance gradually began to become outdated, the aggregate part also lagged behind the level of world leaders. There was a need to replace it with a more modern technically and visually perfect model.

"VICTORY-US"

The first attempt to develop a promising model to replace the existing GAZ-M-20 dates back to 1948, when NAMI specialists, commissioned by the Ministry of the Automotive Industry, developed their own version of the restyling of the serial Pobeda, which in history remained under the designation Pobeda-NAMI. There were two options - the authors of the first, Y. Dolmatovsky and L. Terent'ev, and the second, Y. Dolmatovsky and V. Aryamov.

SECOND GENERATION VICTORY PROJECT

Since 1951, the development of a new-generation middle-class car under the designation GAZ-M-21 "Pobeda-II" (General Designer - AA Lipgart, later - V. Solovyov; designer - L. Eremeev) began directly at GAZ-e. The sample was brought to a plaster model, which outwardly to a large extent resembled the serial GAZ-M-12 "ZIM", the designer of which was the same Lev Eremeev.

However, ZIM itself had already become obsolete by this time, so the second generation Pobeda project was not accepted for production. And soon the plant began to work on other, much more promising models, one of which was subsequently chosen for mass production as the successor to Pobeda.

BASIC MODIFICATIONS OF THE BASE SEDAN

GAZ-M-21- sedan model 1957 with automatic transmission;
GAZ-M-21A- 1957-1958, taxi model 1957;
GAZ-M-21AYU- 1959-1958, tropical version of the 1957 model taxi;
GAZ-M-21A- 1959-1962, taxi model 1959;
GAZ-M-21AYU- 1959-1962, tropical version of the 1959 model taxi;
GAZ-M-21B- 1957, taxi model 1957 with a lower valve engine;
GAZ-M-21V 1957-1958, 1957 base sedan
GAZ-M-21VYu- 1957-1958, tropical version of the 1957 model;
GAZ-M-21G- 1956-1957, 1957 base sedan with a low-valve engine;
GAZ-M-21GYu- 1956-1957, tropical version of the 1957 model with a low-valve engine;
GAZ-M-21D- 1957-1958, export version of the 1957 model;
GAZ-M-21DU- 1957-1958, tropical export version of the 1957 model;
GAZ-M-21E- export version of the 1957 model with automatic transmission;
GAZ-M-21EE- tropical export version of the 1957 model with automatic transmission;
GAZ-M-21I 1958-1962, 1958 base sedan
GAZ-M-21K- 1959-1962, export version of the 1958 model;
GAZ-M-21KB- 1960-1962, car kit for Belgium, model 1958;
GAZ-M-21KYu- 1959-1962, tropical export version of the 1958 model;
GAZ-M-21L- 1962-1964, base sedan model 1962;
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 right-hand drive;
GAZ-21NYU- 1964 - Tropical export version of the 1962 model with right-hand drive;
GAZ-21P- export version of the 1965 model with right-hand drive;
GAZ-21PE- export version of the 1965 model with right-hand drive and automatic transmission;
GAZ-21R- 1965-1970, base sedan model 1965;
GAZ-21S- 1965-1970, export version of the 1965 model;
GAZ-21T- 1962-1964, taxi model 1962;
GAZ-21TS- 1965-1970, taxi model 1965;
GAZ-21U- 1959 (roughly) -1964, modification with improved design of 1959 and 1962 models;
GAZ-21US- 1965-1970, modification with improved design of the 1965 model;
GAZ-21F- experienced with a pre-chamber engine;
GAZ-21E- 1965-1970, sedan model of 1965 with shielded electrical equipment;

"Volga" was produced for a long time - a whole era in the history of the country and the world, thanks to which it became an integral part of the urban landscape of socialist countries of the sixties - seventies.

01/01/1967 Soviet pilot-cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov washes a car with his daughter Irina.

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

Volga GAZ-21 starred in videos for the songs "Kill The King" by Megadeth, "Du Hast" by Rammstein and "Moonlight Shadow" by Groove Coverage.

Also, due to the combination of appearance, in many respects similar to classic American cars, and wide distribution, GAZ-21 became the basis for the creativity of hot rodding and customizing fans.

GAZ-21 is considered a classic oldtimer car, and early and rare modifications are prized as collectible cars. At the same time, a relatively large number of cars are still in daily use, and the considerable total number of cars produced of this brand makes the collection value of most versions of the Volga rather doubtful.

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

VLADIMIR PUTIN'S CAR

According to the available information, Russian President Vladimir Putin owns a GAZ-21 (M-21) of the "second series" (in appearance) of the "ivory" color, rebuilt on modern units. As a donor of aggregates, in particular, the Bentley brand is called. Despite the many times repeated information that it was released in 1956, this fact cannot correspond to reality - in fact, experimental cars of this year have not reached our time. According to the traffic police base in Moscow and the region (as of 2007), two Volgas are registered for Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich - M-21 1960 and GAZ-21R 1965. The car shown to the press is very similar to the model from 1959-1962. On it, Putin rolled US President George W. Bush. According to available sources, the car has now been transferred to the exhibition at the AvtoVille Museum in Moscow.

GAZ-M21 is a car of the Volga brand, which has been produced for 14 years since 1956. The development of the car, which was later renamed GAZ-21, began back in 1951. This happened because the previous model was very outdated and did not fit under the standards and requirements of drivers. Even then, the design idea was created, and it was adhered to all the time, while the car succumbed to the installation of new modifications. At that time, aviation and rocket motifs became popular, so the GAZ-M21 interface, the photo of which is below, immediately struck and attracted the attention of buyers due to its restrained, but at the same time interesting and elegant appearance.

Design

If we take into account the general design elements of those years, then we can say for sure that the car did not have any very prominent accessories. But it looked fresh, interesting and attractive. Unfortunately, the interior of the Volga quickly became faded, because the trends changed every year. By 1958, the design of the GAZ-M21 car was outdated and required updating.

It was changed in the 60s, then it acquired a European appearance. The model has become more conservative, strict and formal. Which became decisive when purchasing this option for the needs of the government.

Features in technical tuning

The GAZ-M21 car, the technical characteristics of which are described a little below, had the necessary tuning for driving on the roads of the USSR. The elements of the car were somewhat reminiscent of American models. The salon was designed for 5-6 people. This is due to the fact that the sofa in the second row has impressive dimensions. The engine installed on cars has 4 cylinders and is paired with an automatic transmission. By the way, the latter was borrowed from the American company Ford. The body had the characteristic features of "Victory", the suspension was also taken from this car. The first was distinguished by its resistance to corrosion, special rigidity and hardness, which ensured safe movement.

Prototypes of the car GAZ-M21

The first prototype of the car had a cherry color. He, together with two other models, which were also the predecessors of the monitored car, went for testing. Only one car was equipped with an automatic transmission, the rest - a mechanical one. In appearance, they also differed slightly - another radiator grille, bumper, body, some decorative elements in the cabin, etc.

Prototype number four was constructed in the spring of 1955. He did not go on a test run. In the same period, this model and the other two received a different grille.

Production start

The very first versions were put into production in 1956. During this period, five copies were released.

The tests of the model took a long time and, perhaps, in extreme conditions. The car covered 29 thousand km. He drove along the roads of Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, the Caucasus. The final stage of testing was carried out in Moscow. During this period, a sufficient number of faults were identified, but most of them were eliminated almost immediately. Those that were not eliminated immediately remained with it until the end of the model's release, or after a while they succumbed to modernization.

Initial release

The GAZ-M21 car was in pre-production production for two years. Several prototypes were released to the public, which differed from each other in appearance and internal parameters. They were completely different from the finally formed series. Their distinctive feature is the chrome-plated set. However, over time, it began to be provided as an additional configuration and, accordingly, for separate money. As unique features, we can note the appearance of the “front end” and rear doors, which is not typical for other cars.

Generations (or editions)

Collectors have special designations for different Volga editions. There are three series - 1957, 1959 and 1962. Tuning of the GAZ-M21 of different generations was similar, therefore, by external signs, it is almost impossible to understand which modification this or that car belongs to. First of all, this is due to the fact that a large number of models had “non-native” units installed.

Also, the main difference is the gutters. They represent a small detail that surrounds the roof. These devices are used in order to avoid the ingress of water into the passenger compartment.

Series No. 1

The first series of GAZ-M21, the photo of which is below, was produced for two years, from 1956 to 1958. Popularly, this model is better known under the name "with a star". In the first year of production, only five cars rolled off the assembly line. Large-scale production began in 1957.

Initially, the first series was assembled with a Pobeda engine. Some official sources say that such a model was produced only for a certain period, and the number of cars was limited to a strictly established figure - 1100. However, this information is incorrect. The Volga was produced with such a unit almost until the end of production. Over the entire period, more than 30 thousand copies were produced and purchased.

Series No. 2

Since 1959, the second series of the car began to be produced. Before the implementation, a little work was done on the external and internal characteristics. Basically, the changes affected the interior. In February 59th, the second modification was implemented. This time she touched the lights, the dashboard. Of course, as in all restyled versions, there are those details whose changes cannot be noticed the first time. The GAZ-M21 car is no exception.

The second series was developed with a slightly modified body with American motives. However, this option did not go into production. For all the years of production (from 1959 to 1962) more than 120 thousand cars rolled off the assembly line.

Series No. 3

This modification has become the most popular. The appearance of the previous series became outdated quickly enough, but the manufacturer was not going to carry out restyling of the GAZ-M21 car. "Volga" in the third configuration was presented to a potential buyer with a new bumper and some parts that were attached to the body. Over time, the radiator grill has also changed. After a major modernization, the exterior of the car has noticeably changed - it has become more dynamic, lightweight. The model has often been compared to the infamous Chaika car.

Along with the styling change, we can note small updates in For example, the 75 horsepower engine has become much more powerful. And the version with an automatic transmission is completely removed from production.

Styling modernization

The car was produced in two versions - with a normal interior and an improved one. The last option was distinguished by a set of chrome-plated and corrosion-resistant parts. Such a machine was mainly produced for export, although it was also supplied to the USSR markets. Moreover, the "luxury chrome" could be installed on absolutely any version of the "Volga", so it is impossible to say for sure whether it was produced like that from the assembly line.

There were also options in which additional trim could be basic. First of all, we are talking about a car with a forced unit (for export) and a medium-power engine.

Four-wheel drive car

This version of the GAZ-21 never went into mass production. A car with all-wheel drive was produced in the form of a sedan and a station wagon. According to some versions, the last version even belonged to Brezhnev, he went hunting on it.

According to unofficial information, these copies were a "collab" of several Volga models. The only thing, their uniqueness was that the units that were installed on the equipment were intended for all-terrain vehicles. They were made not in factories, but in maintenance salons, in garages, military units, etc.

"Red East"

An interesting fact is that an analogue of the GAZ-21 was manufactured in China, which was completely identical to the original version in terms of technical characteristics. The interior of the cars was radically different. Krasny Vostok has been supplied to the domestic market for exactly 10 years. The units that were installed on the car were purchased from the USSR, and the bodies were made by hand.

Until now, this car looks luxurious - Volga GAZ 21. Years have passed, even, rather, decades, many car models on our roads have changed, foreign-made cars have actively and firmly entered our life.

Classic Volga GAZ 21

And I must say that it happened quite naturally, because it happens everywhere. But a car many years ago, embodying power, beauty, prosperity and elegance, remained the same graceful, beautiful, and still attracts the attention of passers-by on the street, passing them.

Yes, many cars have appeared that are more powerful, technical characteristics that are significantly superior to this miracle of the Soviet automobile industry. Yes, the fuel consumption of this car does not at all correspond to modern requirements associated with the widespread struggle for energy saving, but few motorists, approaching a GAZ 21 car they see on the street, or even more so, will not catch themselves on the desire to carefully stroke its hood, touch roof or pillars.

auto GAZ М21 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 model range on the Soviet highways.

Many found features of some Chevrolet models or Ford developments as a prototype of the then novelty of the domestic auto industry, but here we can hardly talk about any plagiarism.

At that time, many automakers bought samples of competitors' models, disassembled them almost by cogs, studying the types of material that went into the manufacture of certain parts.

The types of connections of parts, various design solutions, and so on were studied. The corps of Soviet automobile designers followed the same path.

Diagram of the device 21 Volga

Many cars produced at that time had bulging headlights, a predatory-aggressive hood profile, or a radiator grill pattern. I could repeat something, something.

Produced "twenty-first", but in fact, the first model of "Volga" for fourteen years, having gone through many tests, upgrades, design changes, body types ("sedan", "station wagon"). Let's start with history.

The history of the creation of a truly legendary Soviet car began back in 1953, when it was decided to start developing such a car model, which in many respects repeats the lines and general outline of the American design school of that time, but still, it managed to give certain authentic features.

Volga gaz 21 1953 release

Features that allow us to talk about originality, about the dissimilarity of the design characteristics, design features that so distinguished our "Volga". It is known that in the next 1954, the first appeared, not yet serial, but experimental, but already fully operational samples.

They were equipped with then also experimental engines with overhead valves and a combustion chamber in the form of a hemisphere, and their characteristic feature was the presence of a camshaft chain drive. Experiments with such a design gave negative results and it was decided not to send them into serial production.

At first, two projects were developed, one was called GAZ M21 "Volga", the other - GAZ M21 "Zvezda". By the way, the star located on the radiator grill of a single-beam structure has long been a distinctive sign and the car model itself was named after it.

Radiator grill GAZ 21 of the third series

"Volga" with this type of lattice was called by the people "Marshal", or "Zhukovsky". The first years of its existence, the car was doomed to constant comparison with the no less legendary car "Pobeda".

But the "Volga" even on tests showed itself much better, it surpassed the "Pobeda" in most technical characteristics, it was more dynamic, more maneuverable and surpassed in fuel economy.

Production in those years was still quite imperfect, although progress in the automotive industry was, of course, evident, but the path from testing a new car model to its entering the series, that is, in serial production, took years.

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

Start of serial production

But the result obtained is worth spending some time on describing the design of a new (then still, new) car. First, two were developed, automatic and mechanical. Both gearboxes had three stages. At the same time, which is typical, the main gear on this model of the car had a cone-shaped structure, it was already later models that had a hypoid main gear.

The then GAZ M 21 car had an independent rear suspension and hydraulic shock absorbers of a lever structure. The rear suspension was also independent, supported by springs in a shape resembling a semi-ellipse.

Well, as for the appearance, it is still, as many motorists like to joke, the main one, billowing in front of the hood.
And from this "main part" to the front glass there was a molding. A new radiator grill appeared instead of the old "marshal", the so-called "shark teeth", where vertical wide racks were interspersed with holes. That added a special flavor to the overall design.

The car interior deserves special attention. With all the then Soviet penchant for gigantism, the salon, even at that time, seemed huge. The spaciousness of the entire car still gives rise to legends. By the way, the large size of, say, the trunk is an absolute plus, because a modern owner of a GAZ 21 or those who still have a GAZ M 21 can consider themselves happy owners, if you will, of a semi-truck model of a car. The weight of the cargo that the Volga can carry is not comparable to any other passenger car.

semi-cargo volga gaz 21

However, let's return to the salon of our car. Nobody calls the back seat in it a seat, because it is, rather, a sofa. At the same time, the front sofa had to be divided in half, otherwise there simply would be nowhere to place the gear lever.

So, the year 1957 is officially considered the beginning of serial production.

But although serial production began, the engine that equipped the GAZ M 21, the predecessor of the GAZ 21, was borrowed from earlier cars, such as the Pobeda or ZIM. The Volga nevertheless received its engine, but a little later, and, in the same year, it was also a new ZMZ-21 engine, produced at the Zavolzhsky Motor Plant built specifically for this purpose. As for the technical characteristics of this engine, it had a volume of 2.4 liters and a power of seventy horsepower.
It was an aluminum engine, overhead valve design, quite innovative for its time.

Operational data and technical characteristics of the Volga GAZ-21

The GAZ 21 car became a worthy successor to the "Pobeda M-20" and held out on the assembly line for almost 14 years. During this time, the car was twice modernized, but even the first production cars were very popular and some success.

An example of a Volga GAZ 21 black

The unpretentiousness of the car and excellent technical characteristics contributed to the popularity. The Volga was successfully used in taxis and as a company car, and the model was also available for private use. It is worth focusing on the technical and operational characteristics of the legendary car.

Dimensions GAZ 21

It cannot be said that by the standards of passenger cars "Volga" GAZ 21 was compact. Although the car belonged to the middle class, its dimensions are quite 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 cabin to be quite spacious and comfortable, it could easily accommodate five people, including the driver. The distance between the axles (wheelbase) of the Volga is 2.7 m. The body has 4 doors.

The production also includes the GAZ 22 - a version of a passenger car in a station wagon type.

It looks like a classic Volga Gaz-22 with a station wagon

This modification appeared in mass production later, it was produced since 1962 (GAZ 21 since 1956). In terms of dimensions, the GAZ 22 is slightly longer (4.81 m), a fifth door (tailgate) is provided on the rear of the body.

The trunk door consisted of two halves - upper and lower. The salon was already able to transport 7 people, and it accommodated three rows of seats. The last row was folded, and the volume of the luggage compartment increased markedly. There were no other fundamental differences between GAZ 22 and GAZ 21.

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

Original painted Volga 21

Performance data

According to the vehicle manual, GAZ 21 has the following characteristics:

The safety of the car was not at the highest level. The reason for this was the complete absence of seat belts. In addition, the tie rods were located in such a way that with any serious impact, the hard steering in the cabin shifted back, and the driver's chance of survival was not very great.

Engine specifications

In the sixties of the last century, structurally ZMZ 21 was considered a perfect engine, not only by Soviet standards, but also globally.

Graphs showing the characteristics of the gas engine 21

Not all engines of those years had an upper valve arrangement and an aluminum block with a cylinder head.

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

Transmission and Clutch Specifications

The GAZ 21 car model has a rear wheel drive (wheel arrangement 4x2). The first Volga models were produced in two versions - with a three-speed manual gearbox and with an automatic three-speed gearbox.

The Volga automatic transmission was not produced for long, in the Soviet Union there were not enough skilled craftsmen to service the automatic transmission, there was no special oil in the required amount. In addition, a weak acceleration of the car was obtained on a 4-cylinder engine, the maximum speed was less than with a manual gearbox.

GAZ put into mass production about 1500-1700 vehicles with automatic gearboxes, with a total number of about 640 thousand copies of Volga 21. There is an opinion that only 700 cars were produced with automatic transmission, but this is not the case.

Clutch diagram of the twenty-first Volga

About 700 units were produced in 1957, and about the same in 1959. In 1958, about a hundred cars with an automatic transmission rolled off the assembly line.

The mechanical gearbox was inherited from the GAZ M 20, it only differed in the presence of a hand brake, which was installed on the rear of the box (drum type).

Since the manual transmission was originally developed for the ZIM 12 car, it had a sufficient margin of safety.

The design flaws include unsynchronized first gear and manual gearbox control. There is an opinion that a 4-speed "mechanics" was installed on the GAZ 21. But the plant did not release cars in this configuration from the assembly line, except that the craftsmen made changes to the design with their own hands.

The gear selector, located on the steering wheel, had long rods.

Diagram of a gearshift device in the Volga

The new rods behaved normally, but as the mileage increased, the connections in them wore out, and various defects appeared. Two gears could turn on at once, the gear could “fly out”. When turning on two gears, I had to climb under the hood and move the levers to the desired position. The links often required adjustment and lubrication.

The clutch on the "Volga" also inherited from the "Victory", but it already had a hydraulic drive, on the GAZ M 20 there was a mechanical switch. The new clutch had advantages:

It became easier to squeeze the pedal;
Dirt and water ceased to fly into the passenger compartment, since the slot around the pedal, which was necessary for a mechanical drive, was eliminated.

Technical data of transmission and clutch:

Fuel system

The fuel system for GAZ 21 is a carburetor type.

This is how the fuel pump of the twenty-first Volga looks like

The fuel tank was located at the rear under the floor of the body and had a capacity of 60 liters. Fuel was pumped through pipes by a gasoline pump into the carburetor, and from the carburetor it was sprayed into the engine intake manifold. Mechanical fuel pump with glass top. The transparent lid had its own conveniences - it was clear whether gas was being supplied to the pump or not. In the future, such a cover was abandoned, they often cracked.

The carburetor on the Volga had three modifications, the brand changed depending on the year of manufacture. The first batch includes cars produced in 1956–58, the second series of GAZ 21 includes cars up to 1962. The third generation was produced from 1962 to 1970. Initially, "Volgas" were equipped with a K-22I carburetor, they were installed mainly on the models of the first and second series.

An example of a carburetor for the Volga

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

After the termination of the serial production of the car, a modification of the K-129 was carried out in spare parts, not much different from the K-124. All carburetors were then still single-chamber, and the manifold seat for them was unified. That is, the interchangeability of devices was complete.

Suspension characteristics

The front suspension of the "Volga" 21 spring, independent. The steering knuckles have a pivot connection. On the first models of the car, the upper suspension arms also served as shock absorbers - shock absorber fluid was supplied to them through rubber hoses. But such a scheme was very inconvenient, and later telescopic shock absorbers, more familiar for our times, 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 it;
Levers - two lower and two upper. All levers are composite, each of two parts. The lower platform for the spring is attached to the lower levers, the upper platform is the beam itself;
Springs. They provide a smooth ride when the vehicle is moving;
Pivot rack. Connects the suspension arms. A steering knuckle is attached to it. There are only two racks, one for each wheel;
Rounded fist. There are also two of them - right and left, and they are not interchangeable with each other;
Front hub. One from each wheel, front hubs are the same, replaceable with each other. Studs are pressed into the hubs, and the wheels are screwed on with nuts.