GAZ Volga M 21 (diecast 1:43, Kherson Model)

The model is made by Kherson Model in Ukraine in the 90´s in scale 1:43.

In general GAZ-21 "Volga" is a Soviet middle class car, mass produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1956 (1957) to 1970 . The factory model index was originally M-21, later (from 1965) - GAZ-21. A total of 639,478 copies of all modifications were produced at GAZ (including car kits for assembling abroad, but without taking into account cars produced by auto repair plants). It was developed in the early 1950s. Volgas were built with high ground clearance (which gives it a specific "high" look, contrary to "low-long-sleek" look of Western cars of similar design), rugged suspension, strong and forgiving engine, and rustproofing on a scale unheard of in the 1950s.

Volga cars were also traditionally used as taxi cabs, road police interceptors, and ambulances. In the course of development, the experience of foreign manufacturers was used extensively, for the study of which, according to the tradition of those years, natural specimens of modern foreign cars, such as the two Ford Mainlines of the 1954 model year - with six- and eight-cylinder engines (USA), Chevrolet 210 (in a number sources - Styleline DeLuxe) 1953 model year (USA), Plymouth Savoy 1953 (USA), Kaiser Henry J 1952 (USA), Standard Vanguard 1952 release (Great Britain) and Opel Kapitän (Germany), possibly, others. The first two were purchased for the study of automatic transmissions, as representatives of many polar schools of their design.

Subsequently, these cars were also used for comparative tests, along with the M-21 chassis. The USSR auto factories constantly bought foreign analogues of their products for research, which is normal practice by world standards and was not always tied to the development of any of its own designs. In this case, foreign models were involved precisely as the development and refinement of its car design, and not investigated in the previous period for the purpose of copying. For example, Ford Mainline, which in a number of sources was announced almost the prototype of the M-21, actually appeared at the plant not earlier than the summer-autumn of 1954 , that is, when the trials of the Volga prototype were already in full swing , and its own trials began only in November. The automatic transmission was generally developed on the basis of the Ford-O-Matic transmission of Ford vehicles, which, in turn, was developed for Ford by Borg-Warner .

At the same time, the mechanical part of the Volga as a whole was of an original Soviet design, and relied heavily on already existing in the serial production models - mainly it was created on the basis of solutions already found use in a large car "ZIM" GAZ- 12, and even was with it to a certain extent unified. This applies primarily to the construction of transmission and chassis assemblies. In Europe, the models of this class in those years were quite rare and produced by a relatively small number of manufacturers, many of whom were themselves influenced by the American automobile industry - for example, Opel, Vauxhall, German and English Fords were affiliates of American companies, and in those years used the American approach; adhered to the orientation toward American stylistic tendencies and many other European auto-building companies, and also in those years - all Australian ones. According to many sources, the Volga received the Grand Prix at the Expo'58 exhibition in Brussels, but a more detailed study of the facts shows that the Grand Prix was awarded not only to the Volga, but to the entire Soviet stand. The names of Soviet cars are imprinted in the original in Russian later on, and only GAZ-52, Volga and Chaika are indicated on the stand of models (the ZIL-111 and Moskvich-402 cars were also part of the Soviet exposition).

The specific role of the Volga itself in obtaining this award by the Soviet exposition still remains unclear, which did not prevent AutoExport from actively and successfully using this fact to promote the Volga and other Soviet models in Western markets. The Volga GAZ-21 (M-21) was one of the first mass exported Soviet cars. Export cars had improved design, set of the kit - according to the year of manufacture.

GAZ Volga M 21, First Generation

At the end of 1953, Alexander Mikhailovich Nevzorov was appointed the designer of the new model, and the design was entrusted to Lev Eremeev. From the very beginning to the end of the development of the GAZ 21 car, many samples of the latest American cars (Plymouth Savoy, Ford Mainline and Chevrolet Styline Deluxe) were actively taken into account and some of their details are really felt, both in the design and in the design of the Volga ... Only 2 years have passed since the start of the design, and already 3 samples were ready for state testing. The updated GAZ had a power of 70 horsepower, and each sample was equipped with an overhead valve engine. But this type of engine had a hemispherical combustion chamber and was only experimental, so it suffered many failures and, in the end, was not approved for serious production. One version of the Volga had a manual transmission, and the other two had an automatic transmission (which at that time became a real sensation for the citizens of the Soviet Union). These automatic transmissions were three-speed, and the main gear had a tapered shape (only a few years later, it began to be produced as a hypoid).

Also, the first GAZ-21 had an independent front suspension with hydraulic shock absorbers; rear independent suspension with springs; large radiator with 10 holes; rear lights, consisting of side lights, diffusers, brake and cornering lights; and also - a rear-view lamp. The salon was equipped with a three-band radio, and a corporate logo appeared on the hood - a figurine of a deer. The test route was the Moscow-Crimea route (there and back). As shown by the results that the mechanical, that the automatic transmission cope with difficulties on the road (mountains, sand, bumps. Stones, etc.) in the same way. And as a result, in 1957, the first Volgas went on sale. But due to the poor economic situation in the USSR, as well as the lack of high-quality car oils and highly qualified service centers, the GAZ 21 with an automatic transmission was limited to only 700 copies, the emphasis was on the mechanical gearbox. The total number of all issued copies over the next 2 years was more than 30 thousand, the price of which was 17,500 rubles.