IZH, Izhevsk Automobile Plant IZH 1500 Kombi (diecast 1:43, Agat)

This is IZH 1500 Kombi. The model is made by Agat in scale 1:43 after the fall of The Soviet Union. The model has suspention, opening doors and trunk. The cover for the the spare wheel compartment can be opened as well.

The IZH-2125 “Combi” was a 5-seater passenger car produced in the Soviet Union with a hatchback body, or more correctly, a lift back. It was produced at the Izhevsk Automobile Plant in 1973 – 1997. The IZH-2125 was adapted from the Moskvich-412 which was also made at the Izhevsk plant as a IZH-412. Izhmash, the producers of Izh cars, is a military industrial complex dating back to the days of the Czars. It has producing weaponry of many kinds and was a major producer of the Kalashnikov rifle for many years. It is now a producer of advanced weapons systems. It still produced cars based on designs by Kia and Lada until March when AvtoVaz stopped the production of Lada cars at the Izhevsk plant due to the effect of sanctions on the Russian economy.

In 1965, the Renault-16 car with its hatchback was presented to the European public. In 1966, this model of the car was awarded the title of ‘European Car of the Year‘. In the same year, Izhevsk designers at a design exhibition in Moscow gave their “answer to the French”, demonstrating the model of the IZH-Combi car – a cross between the Moskvich-408 and the Moskvich-426. The roof of this car was slightly longer than that of the saloon, and the tailgate to the luggage compartment was at an angle close to 45 degrees.

The body type of the car was designated as combi or cargo-passenger five-door. The name combi, short for combi-limousine comes from German terminology, and in the original means any car with a door in the rear wall of the body. Calling this car a hatchback is not correct because a hatchback is usually a shortened version of the base car with an opening reaching down to the bumper line. The IZH-2125 was the same length as the Moskvich-412 and its rear opening only reached as far a the substantial rear panel above the bumpers. It is more correct to call it a liftback.

The appearance of the IZH-Combi was unique with the unusual combination of the sloping tailgate with the conventional Moskvitch derived front end with a full width chrome front panel containing the lights and grille. Against the uniform background of saloons and estates produced by domestic car factories, this IZH gave an impression of foreignness.

The main difference between the IZH-Kombi and the classic third generation Moskvitch was the design of the rear part of the body. The separate trunk of the Moskvitch was replaced with a cargo compartment combined with the passenger compartment with a fifth door opening upwards. The car received reinforced springs to increase carrying capacity and a rear row of seats which could be lowered to give a larger load area. The glazed fifth door was lifted and held open by telescopic arms. The large slope of the door, as conceived by the designers, not only gave the car a unique look, but also improved the aerodynamics of the body, which reduced the normal issues associated with station wagons: dirty rear windows and the ingress of dust, moisture and exhaust gases into the cabin. The car was more convenient for car touring, trips to the countryside , and other recreational use than a conventional saloon car.

The space behind the rear axle was arranged rationally. A fuel tank was attached underneath the metal floor pan in which the spare wheel and a set of tools were laid horizontally. The lid of this compartment served as the floor of the main luggage compartment, designed to carry 50 kg of cargo. With the rear seat folded down, a long and flat cargo area was obtained, suitable to carry up to 200 kg.

The rigidity of the body had to be increased due to the large rear opening and to support the rear door struts. The rear suspension was also strengthened with additional springs. The IZH-Kombi had a folding shelf behind the rear seats covering the load area and to support 10-15 kg of luggage. Completely new taillights were made for the Combi, simlarly styled to the headlights. A reversing lamp was placed on the rear panel by the left rear light cluster.

Mechanically a few improvements were included including as sealed cooling system with an expansion tank suitable for use with antifreeze. The axles also saw improvements to the axle bearings and the improved preparation of the gears.

The prototypes had radiator grilles from production saloons, but the Combi series went with its original design of the front end with lamps, which included side lights and vertical turn signals on the sides of the headlights, which were originally rectangular on all cars. These were produced in the GDR.

The first version of the Combi was replaced after 66,489 were produced by a restyled second generation in 1982. After restyling the car was called the IZH-21251 and a further 347,701 were made before it was withdrawn from production in 1997. The upgraded car had a black grille, recessed door handles, and gained disk brakes as well as the upgrade of the interior to include soft padded surfaces to meet safety standards. Over the years the roof panel was thinned and ribs included for stiffening and the brake system uprated.

The IZH-2125 and 21251 were popular with USSR buyers and it continued to be popular even after the decline of the Soviet Union and emergence of private enterprise. Now survivors are a rare sight on Russian roads.