AZLK Moskvitch Moskvitch 2141 "Aleko" (diecast 1:43, Saratov)

This is Moskvitch 2141 "Aleko". The model is made in The Soviet Union by Saratov in scale 1:43. On the model the hood and both doors open.

In the late 1960s through to the early 1970s the AZLK‘s Moscow plant was at it’s peak. New models came out with a regularity which was not common in the Soviet car industry. The 412 model sold well at home and in export markets. But as time went by the need to create a successor became urgent. That successor was the 2141 which had a complicated birth.

In 1970 a prototype was created with a code name of 3-5-2. This car was larger than the 412 and was designed to fill the gap between the 412 and the Volga. To cope with the increase in size the car was fitted with a 1,700 cc engine which produced 96hp.

This was followed by a 3-5-3 wagon and an improved 3-5-4 sedan. But all these developments were quite old-fashioned and not deemed suitable for serial production. The creation of the Moskvich-2141 was still a way off.

In 1972, a new 3-5-5 prototype was released as shown in the photograph above. This was a more modern three box saloon said to be influenced by BMW but looking a little like the contemporary Hillman Minx/Hunter. In 1975 it was again improved to create the 3-5-6, shown above, which did not gain favour as it was perceived as falling well behind the developments in overseas car design, and in particular the widespread adoption of front wheel drive. Abandoning Soviet technology the designers based the new prototype on the Simca 1308/Chrysler Alpine with modifications to cater for Soviet road conditions. The existing Moskvitch engine did not fit into the engine compartment so a modified front end was produced as well as new clutch housing and gearbox. VAZ engine units were also tried out. Although the intention was to design and build a new engine it did not happen due to the companies financial issues and the UZAM engines were modernised with size stretched to 1.7, 1.8 and then 2.0 litres. Other engines fitted included imported Ford diesels and then later on Renault F3R engines as fitted to the Laguna..

Once the 2141 was in production the plant developed a wider model range based on it. This included: the base car Moskvich-2141, the Moskvich-2142 sedan, the Moskvich-2335 pickup, the Moskvich-2901 station wagon. In 1997, the base model was modernized and the Moskvich Svyatogor model (code 214145) was released with a modified front end, interior trim, imported components and engine. Production in Moscow ended in 2001 and in Kiev in 2002.

Some small production variants were built based on the 2141: an elongated hatchback Moskvitch Yuri Dolgoruky, a stretch sedan Moskvitch Prince Vladimir, a luxury sedan Moskvitch Ivan Kalita, a coupe Moskvitch Duet and Moskvitch Duet-2.