The GAZ-21 "Volga" is a mid-size passenger car built by the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1956 to 1970. The first car rolled off the assembly line on 10 October 1956; total production of all modifications came to 638,798 units.[1][2] It replaced the GAZ-M20 Pobeda" on the assembly line and became one of the symbols of its era.
Two projects
Work on a successor to the aging "Pobeda" began in 1952 and proceeded along two parallel tracks: the "Zvezda" (Star) project was led by John Williams, and the "Volga" project by designer Lev Yeremeyev. By 1953 mock-ups of both cars were ready; Yeremeyev's design was chosen as better matching mid-1950s world trends.[1]
Three series
The first series (1956-1959) is known as the "star" version: a radiator grille with vertical slots and a five-pointed star, and a deer figurine on the hood. Just over 30,000 of these cars were produced.[1]
The second series (1959-1962) received a front end with horizontal slots, earning it the nickname "shark mouth"; its production run was around 140,000 units.[1]
The third series (1962-1970), the "whale mustache," was distinguished by thin horizontal bars on the radiator grille.[1]
Special versions
A limited run of the high-performance GAZ-23 modification was produced, fitted with the powertrain from the GAZ-13 Chaika: an eight-cylinder engine rated at 160, later 195 horsepower, and an automatic transmission. These cars were intended for security agencies, chiefly the KGB; 608 units were built.[1]
Generation change
In July 1970 production of the GAZ-21 ceased: it was replaced on the assembly line by the GAZ-24 "Volga".[3]
Sources
- avtoclassika.com — Avtoclassika — History of the GAZ-21 "Volga": series and stages of production
- autonews.ru — GAZ-21 "Volga": photos, specifications, history of the first "Volga" (archive)
- 5koleso.ru — 5 Koleso — Gorky Automobile Plant (archive)