BACK TO THE USSR!  Text: Vin Karnila  ZAZ-965A Zaporozhets, produced 1962-1969    When people talk about how life was and how society was during the Soviet times, it is not a happy conversation filled with laughter. Yes, there is the laughter and warm conversations about family events during this time. There is also much laughter when talking about some of the absurdities of the Soviet system of government but in general, there is very little to generate smiles and good humor when you talk about how the Soviets imposed their will on the people. With one exception – their automobiles...

 

SO, HOWS YOUR ZHIGULI?

Text: Vin Karnila

This could have been a common question between friends, family and colleagues during the time of Soviet Russia’s occupation of Lithuania and the Baltics. When people talk about how life was and how society was during this time, it is not a happy conversation filled with laughter. Yes, there is the laughter and warm conversations about family events during this time. There is also much laughter when talking about some of the absurdities of the Soviet system of government but in general, there is very little to generate smiles and good humor when you talk about how the Soviets imposed their will on the people. With one exception – their automobiles.

As most of you know, buying an automobile during Soviet times was not a matter of months of visiting one dealership and another, looking at automotive magazines getting advice on what model to buy, asking friends and family what they think is the best model for you. You went to a government office and submitted a written request to buy a car. After a year or so you found out if your request was approved. If it was approved you were TOLD what car the government was ALLOWING you to buy (in some cases you were very lucky and were given two options) and then you submitted your order and waited another two or three years (possibly longer) to actually take delivery.

In spite of all this, when ever the conversation turns to cars, when ever you ask about the car a person had during these times or when ever you mention a car of the Soviet era the reaction is always the same. The response is always smiles, laughter and entertaining stories about their car and their automotive adventures. Because of this I thought it would be entertaining and interesting to look at some of these vehicles of Soviet times just to give you a bit of an idea as to what causes all this good natured reminiscing.

ZAPOROZHETS / ZAZ

The Zaporožietis or Zaporožkė, as the Lithuanians said it (Zaporozhets in Russian) was a series of subcompact cars designed and built from 1958 at the ZAZ factory in Soviet Ukraine ("Zaporizky Avtomobilny Zavod", or Zaporizhian Automobile Factory). Different types of Zaporozhets were produced until 1994.

In Russian, the name Zaporozhets means a Cossack of the Zaporizhian Sich. It can also mean а man from the Zaporizia Oblast.

Zaporozhets are still warmly remembered in the Baltics and many of the other ex Soviet Russian occupied  countries. In fact I must say that if you just mention Zaporožietis, immediately you see big smiles and most often the smiles turn to laughter. The Soviet Zaporozhets was destined to become a "people's car", as it was the cheapest of Soviet cars and so it was affordable to the common workers. In fact the term “peoples car” is not quite accurate in today’s opinion. Most people today consider it the “worker’s car” in that this was the car that lower paid “workers” were allowed to buy. If your status and income was higher than the “common worker” you were allowed to buy a car a bit more desirable. In spite of its small stature it proved to be rather sturdy and well suited for the poor Soviet roads. All Zaporozhets were rear engine and rear wheel drive with an air cooled engine. The looks of this car resulted in several nicknames. One was "Zapor". This was just short for "Zaporozhets" but the problem was that the word “zapor” in Russian also means "constipation". Some called it the “Kuprius” (hunchback) due to the ZAZ-965’s rear shape. ZAZ factory workers supposedly never used these derogatory nicknames, using "Malysh" (in Russian this roughly translates to child) instead. Another translates to "big-eared" since the car had air intake scoops on its sides to cool down the engine in the rear of the vehicle.

ZAZ-965 Zaporozhets model was made between 1960 and 1963. Despite the fact that the design is almost identical to the Fiat 600 and Puch 500, ZAZ representatives say that the car was exclusively Soviet designed and created by Soviet ZAZ engineers jointly with colleagues from Moscow's NAMI and Moskvitch car plant. The first prototypes were actually designated as Moskvitch-444.

It was powered by a rear-mounted, air cooled OHV 887 cc V4 engine of partially aluminum design. Urban legend had it that the Zaporozhets engine was a starter motor in Soviet tanks. This is completely false. Any one that has knowledge of the Soviet tanks of that era will tell you this.

ZAZ-965A Zaporozhets

The “A” model was manufactured between 1962 and 1969. The most notable visible difference was that the ZAZ-965A had the air-intake "ears" removed. It also had a new engine which created more room in the engine compartment. Since Soviet car owners were expected to do much of the servicing themselves, this layout was more practical especially if you needed to work on the car in harsh winter conditions.

 

ZAZ-965A Zaporozhets

While there are not a lot of ZAZ-965s still driving on the roads of the Baltics, it is surprising how many you still see. As you see one driving down the road it’s interesting to see the reactions of the other drivers. Every one looks, they point, they smile and if there are others in the car you can see that they immediately start talking to each other. When you see one parked on the street you will almost always see a group of people around it, all with big smiles on their faces. They are talking and laughing about the ZAZ that they had or some one they knew had and reminiscing about all the adventures and long trips they took in it. Let’s face it, the 965 is cute as a button and it’s just not possible to not love the little thing.

ZAZ-966 Zaporozhets model was made from 1967 to 1974. It had a restyled body and no longer resembled the Fiat 600 BUT NOW very closely resembling the German NSU Prinz 4 which had been on the roads since 1961. Once again the Soviets said, NO NO NO it’s our design (why do they always do that). In addition to the “new style” body, the engines were slightly updated but the infamous "ears" were back.

ZAZ-968 Zaporozhets was produced from 1972 to 1980. While the outside was about the same as the 966 model. it featured the newer MeMZ-968 engine, which increased the displacement to 1.2L and the power output.

Vladimir Putin with his 1972 ZAZ-968 Zaporozhets

ZAZ-968M Zaporozhets once again had the ears removed and was made from 1979 to 1994. Special versions of this model Zaporozhets were equipped with additional sets of controls that allowed operating the car for driver’s without the use of one leg or with hand controls if they were without the use of both legs. These were given for free to the disabled people that the Soviets felt warranted the use of an automobile.

ZAZ-968M

You still see quite a few ZAZ-968s on the road here. They have proven themselves to be very durable cars over the years and are easy for the owners to repair and maintain themselves and with the higher quality of replacement parts available today they are also quite reliable. While one that has been preserved or restored and is in excellent condition may get a few closer looks they just don’t get the attention the original ZAZ-965s do.

ZHIGULI

Due to exporting and a number of manufacturing plants around the world producing these cars, this is the most internationally recognized car of the Soviet Union. What most of the world knows as the LADA was named the ZHIGULI in the Soviet Union. Actually the name of the first model was VAZ-2101 manufactured by VAZ (Volzhsky Avtomobilny Zavod – Volga Automobile Plant). This time there was no guessing as to the true origin of the design. The VAZ-2101 came about through collaboration with the Soviet Union, Italy and Fiat. The manufacturing plant’s construction was begun in 1966 on the banks of the Volga River in the Samara Oblast of Russia and the first cars left the production line in 1970. The first model produced was the VAZ-2101 sedan. In 1972 the first station wagon was produced the Vaz-2102. A new town, Tolyatti, named after the Italian Communist Party leader Palmiro Togliatti, was built around the factory to accommodate all the workers.

VAZ-2101 Sedan

The origin of the VAZ-2101 comes from the Fiat 124 sedan so all were front engine, rear wheel drive with a straight rear axle. Many modifications were required though so that the car could survive being driven on the terrible roads in the Soviet Union and in extremely harsh winter weather. Some of these modifications were the suspension being strengthened and raised to clear rough Soviet roads and the body shell was made from thicker, heavier steel. The first models were equipped with a starting handle in case the battery went flat in Siberian winter conditions, though this was later dropped. Another feature specifically intended to help out in cold conditions was a manual auxiliary fuel pump. As with most automobile models, there were revisions over the years which resulted in the model numbers being changed to 2103,2105, 2106 and 2107. These revisions were mainly changes to the engine size and some cosmetic changes however they all kept the “boxy” shape and style of the Fiat 124. In the late 80s the ZHIGULI name went away, the company was restructured and became known as LADA. At this point the “boxy” Fiat 124 style went away and the company started producing more modern styled vehicles.

VAZ-2102 Wagon

The VAZ-2101 was also destined to become a “people’s car”. While more expensive than the ZAZ models it was still priced so that the “middle class” (if there ever was such a thing in the Soviet Union) could afford one.

Henry Ford said of his Model – T Ford vehicle:

"I will build a car for the great multitude. It will be large enough for the family, but small enough for the individual to run and care for. It will be constructed of the best materials, by the best men to be hired, after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise. But it will be so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one—and enjoy with his family the blessing of hours of pleasure in God's great open spaces."

This was the intent of the Soviets with the ZHIGULI. It was said that based on the average wage of a worker, it would take about eight years for a person to save up the money to buy a one. The ZHIGULI quickly became a hit with the people and became the car of the Soviet Union. While the ZAZ was surprisingly roomy for a car its size the ZHIGULI was roomier and more comfortable. Keep in mind though that the ZHIGULI was a very basic vehicle and far from anything even remotely close to being luxurious. It also proved to be quite sturdy and reliable and owners could easily perform maintenance and do repairs. Not only was the ZHIGULI the most popular car in the private sector it was also the car most used as taxis and by city, regional and federal governments. They even had special Police models.

ZHIGULI - Police

Now let’s try to clear up the confusion about the name. As I stated before, the actual name of the car is VAZ. The various models are VAZ-2101, VAZ-2102, etc. If a VAZ-2101 was destined for the Soviet Union it would be called a ZHIGULI or more specific ZHIGULI-2101. If the car was destined for outside the Soviet Union it would be called a LADA or more specifically LADA-1200. LADAs were exported not only to the Soviet Block countries but to countries all over the world. In fact there were so many LADAs built in Russia and in other countries that it remains the MOST PRODUCED CAR IN THE WORLD.  Yes you got that right – more than any Ford, GM, Toyota, etc. model.

Now here’s the next question. How do you tell a ZHIGULI from a LADA?

1. If the steering wheel is on the right side it was made for export – It’s a LADA

2. If it has a diesel engine it was made for export – It’s a LADA (there were no diesel ZHIGULIs and no LADAs in the Soviet Union were diesel powered)

So if the steering wheel is on the left and it has a gasoline powered engine the only way to tell is to look at the rear of the car.

Example – Hear is a VAZ-2102 wagon I photographed in Vilnius last week.

Is it a ZHIGULI or a LADA?

VAZ2102

 

If you look at the logo on the front this won’t tell you anything because this is the logo for the VAZ company and will be found on both cars.

VAZ2102-FrontLADA logo

When you look at the back you can see that ZHIGULI is written in Russian. If it was a LADA, the word LADA would be written in the Latin alphabet. From this you can also tell that this wagon is the

VAZ-21021/ZHIGULI-21021 model because it shows that it has a 1300 cc engine. Based on this you would also know that it was manufactured sometime between 1978 - 1986. If it had a 1200 cc engine it would be a VAZ-2102/ZHIGULI-2102 manufactured sometime between 1972 – 1983.

Other than the name on the car, there were no other differences between a ZHIGULI and a LADA.

VAZ2102-Back

Now a moment ago I said that there were no LADAs in the Soviet Union that were diesel powered. I also said that the cars with the LADA name plate on them were for export. So what’s with the LADAs in the Soviet Union???

Actually, there where many LADAs on the roads of the Soviet Union. What happened was this. At the factory they would put the LADA name plate on a car as it was destined for export. Then they decided that the vehicle was more needed in the home market so they would send it to some where in the Soviet Union instead of exporting it. Another situation was a car with the LADA name tag would be exported. It would be sitting in a Soviet block country waiting delivery to some one then it was decided that it was needed in the home market and it would be sent back to the Soviet Union. This is how so many LADAs ended up being on Soviet Union roads.

My cousin Vytautas in Vilnius had one of these. He got it around 1980 (as he recalls he paid 6,000 Rubles for it) and drove it until about 1995. Even though the name on the car said LADA, never while he drove it and never after he got rid of it did he ever and has never referred to it as a LADA – ALWAYS it is ZHIGULI!!! I can’t speak for our good friends in Estonia and Latvia but I can tell you that in Lithuania the VAZ-2100 series was and still is ALWAYS called ZHIGULI never LADA.

Where did these names Zhiguli and Lada come from?

ZHIGULI  came from the Zhiguli Mountains which are located in the area of the confluence of the Volga and Samara Rivers in Russia. LADA is a little more difficult to pinpoint. It is widely believed that the LADA was named after some ones daughter, wife or grandmother in the shortened version of the female Slavic name of Ladislava. Another theory is that it is the shortened version Ladislava who in Slavic mythology is the goddess of beauty, love and marriage. Dear readers, if you can shed any light on this question of the LADA name please tell us.

As I have mentioned a number of times the ZHIGULI was quite a reliable car. This statement may draw some reactions from some of our readers in countries where the LADA was exported to or produced. In many of these countries the LADA’s reputation was just the opposite. One of the countries LADA was exported to was Canada and I’m sure many of our Canadian friends could describe the car in most uncomplimentary terms. In fact I can recall some of the LADA jokes I would hear while visiting clients, friends and family in Canada.

Q: How do you double the resale value of a Lada?

A: Fill 'er up!

Q: Why do Ladas come as standard equipment with rear window defrosters?

A: So your hands stay warm while you're pushing it.

Jokes aside, here was the situation. The internally lubricated parts of the motor were of amazingly (or even surprisingly) high quality. It was very common that an owner would put over 400,000 kilometers on the engine before a major overhaul was needed. One of my students told me that his father had over 600,000 kilometers on his ZHUGILI before he needed a new motor. The problem was all the other components like fuel and water pumps, ignition system, generator, etc. These parts suffered from quality issues. To compound the matter, in many countries there were also issues with parts availability. So a LADA owner would have a problem with the car. They would take the car to the LADA dealership to find out that they would need to wait a number of days or even weeks for the part to fix it. Now a minor inconvenience turns into a major problem. The other problem was that often the replacement part would have the same quality issues as the original part and sometime in the future the owner would suffer a repeat of the same situation. As I understand it, these days the replacement parts for the ZHIGULI are of very good quality. As a result I have been told that a ZHIGULI/LADA still on the road today is actually a better car than when it was new if it has had many of these new higher quality replacement parts installed on the car.

VOLGA / GAZ

Unlike the smiles and laughter you get when you ask somebody about their Zaporožietis or ZHUGILI, when you mention VOLGA you get a serious look and an answer like – Oh, those were only for important people. I guess if you had a Volga you would be all smiles and giggles but the point is that not many people were allowed to drive a Volga.

The Volga was an automobile that the Soviets produced to replace the outdated GAZ-M20 Pobeda in 1956. Extremely modern in design for its time, it became a symbol of higher status in the Soviet elite. In addition to their role as status symbol, many were also used as taxi cabs, road police interceptors, and ambulances (estate/wagon models).

Manufactured by GAZ  or Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod (Gorkey Automobile Factory), three models series of the Volga were produced during the time of Soviet Russia’s occupation of the Baltics. The GAZ-21, GAZ-24 and GAZ-24-10.

The GAZ-21 Volga was produced in three series from 1956 to 1970. It was offered in a sedan and estate/wagon (GAZ-22). While designed by Lev Yeremeev it still copied automotive designs of western countries (so what else is new). The Volga was everything that the ZHUGILI was not. It was very well styled and comfortable for it’s time. With a 2.4 Liter engine it had some get-up-and-go.

  

GAZ-21 1^st Series                                 GAZ-21 2^nd Series                      GAZ-21 3^rd Series

 

GAZ-24 Volga

The GAZ-24 Volga was produced in two series. First series 1968 to 1977 and the second series from 1968 to 1985. It was produced in a sedan and an estate/wagon model and was powered by a 2.4 Liter engine. In addition to wanting to offer a more modern style body, the reason for the GAZ-24 was to correct design faults in the GAZ-21. Among the improvements were changes to the leaf spring suspension, new ignition and boot locks. One unique feature that the early series featured was a belt driven speedometer, which proved too complicated and was replaced with a cable drive. In 1977 the car saw the first serious modernization, this introduced "teeth" on the bumpers, retractable seat belts, front fog lights and new dashboard. The interior of the car saw the front bench seat replaced by two individual adjustable seats.

GAZ-24 Volga                                GAZ-24 Volga – side view       GAZ-24 Volga – Police

 

The GAZ-24-01 Volga was introduced in 1971 was built to serve as a taxi. Changes included an artificial leather interior as well as slightly modified engine as well as the usual taxi equipment.

GAZ-24-01 Taxi

The GAZ-24-02 Volga was the estate/wagon version and it was introduced in 1972. The production of this model lasted right up to 1987. An ambulance version, the GAZ-24-03 was built on the estate's version.

 

GAZ-24-02 Estate                                   GAZ-24-03 Ambulance

 

There was actually a third series the GAZ-24-24 Volga which was powered by a 5.53 litre, 195 hp V8 engine. This car was never available for private ownership and was used by the KGB.

 GAZ-24-24 – KGB

 

The GAZ-24-10 Volga was the third model. This model had, in addition to cosmetic and styling changes, quite a lot technical upgrades to the power train, braking system, suspension and carburetor and cooling mechanism. Its production began in 1982 with a sedan model and in 1987 they began producing a wagon model. Even with all these upgrades, the model was way behind in regards to styling and technology compared to western vehicles and production stopped in 1992.

GAZ-24-10

 

As I stated before, the Volga was not a “peoples” car. It was a car that the Soviets only gave the “elite” permission to own. There are surprisingly still quite a few being driven on the roads of the Baltics and it is very interesting to see the reaction of people when they see a Volga these days. For the most part the reaction is – so what. If one is parked on the street it may, at the most, receive a quick cursory glance. Only if the car has been maintained or restored to pristine condition will it get any real attention and then the attention is more to condition of the car. The reaction is not big smiles and laughter reminiscing about good times they and their family in the family car. It is more like many are thinking – Oh, so this is the car THEY said I could not have.

While I have shared some information on the more common cars that the people of the Baltics were “allowed” to drive during Soviet Times I think I should also point out some of the other vehicles that were on the roads of the Baltics during this period.

MOSKVITCH

The Moskvitch 400 series is another smiles and giggles car produced from 1956 to 1965. Since it was never produced in numbers like the Zaporožietis and ZHIGULI it did not achieve the “people’s car” status but still it was designed to be affordable for the average person. I honestly do not know any one that owned a Moskvitch but I know that whenever you talk about the car or when people see one the response is always light hearted. This is quite understandable. I mean just look at it. It’s a cute little thing and you can’t help but fall in love with it. It’s kind of like the reaction westerners have when you mention Morris Minor.

  

Moskvich 407                             Moskvich Estate 423                      Moskvich 408

 

According to my research, there was never an automobile manufacturing plant in the Baltics during the time of the Soviet occupation. In Latvia and in Lithuania though there were factories producing busses and trucks.

LATVIJA

The Riga Autobus Factory (RAF), (Rīgas Autobusu Fabrika in Latvian) was a factory Latvia, making vans and minibuses under the brand name Latvija. The factory first opened in Riga in 1949 then in 1976 the construction of the new factory in Jelgava was completed. Their vans and minibuses were widely used throughout the USSR as circuit taxis (the Marshrutkas), ambulances and as a special services vehicles. These were not intended for private use. In fact the only time an private individual would get permission to have one of these was if they had more than five children.

Since the vehicle itself was referred to as a “Latvija”, this vehicle brought about a new expression to the Lithuanian language. For example, say you were standing on the sidewalk waiting for a circuit taxi and a friend passing by stopped to talk with you. Your friend could ask “what are you doing” and your response would be “aš laukiu Latvijos” which translates to – I wait Latvija. Or you and spouse are talking about the birthday celebration you will be attending tomorrow and the question comes up of how will we get there. The answer would be “mes važiuosime su Latvija” which roughly translates to - we will take the Latvija.

 

Latvija-977                                                      Latvija-2203

 

UAZ Bus

I just needed to throw this in. Made by UAZ, Ulyanovsk Automobile Factory (Ulyanovsky Avtomobilny Zavod in Russian), you still see a surprising number of these. Where you most often see them is at the open air fruit and vegetable markets that are so common here. Obviously from looking at the photo you can see that these were made for military and service use but since they are practically indestructible people have found that they are great for hauling produce from the villages to the city.

UAZ Bus

 

These next two vehicles must be mentioned when talking about cars of the Soviet era. Not because they were popular because they were not. They were not for sale. They were only allotted to the absolute upper echelon of the Soviet government. These two cars were the symbol of absolute Soviet power. They were also the symbol of the contradiction of the Soviet’s form of communism. In a form of government that was supposedly for the people and for the workers, the common people were only allowed to drive Zaporozhets and ZHIGULIs while the leaders of this government of the people rode around in ultimate luxury.

CHAIKA

The Chaika, which means gull, is a luxury automobile from the Soviet Union made by GAZ.

Chaikas were one step down from the more prestigious ZIL limousines, and were issued to top professionals, party officials, scientists, academics, and other VIPs. For their larger size and more powerful V8 engines, Chaikas were also ordered in some quantity by the KGB. Nikita Khrushchev, although entitled to a ZIL, was known to prefer Chaikas, and kept one at his summer dacha. If you notice the front grills of the cars they display a very distinct emblem which represents the wings of a gull.

  

GAZ – Chaika convertible               GAZ-Chaika limo                             GAZ-Chaika

 

ZIL

ZIL (Zavod Imeni Lihacheva - Lihachev Industrial Plant ) built the cars that where the ultimate symbols of Soviet power, used to transport high level politburo members. The ZiL limousine was the favored mode of transport for a succession of leaders. Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev and Gorbachev all had one. After communism collapsed, however, Boris Yeltsin got himself a Mercedes. It is reported though that President Medvedev now wants to replace his Mercedes with a Russian produced limo.

Joseph Stalin’s ZIL limo

 

The version probably most recognizable is the ZIL-115 which is an armor-platted limousine, produced in the early 1970s. It was used by the top members of the Politburo, Soviet dignitaries on foreign visits and army officers, but it was also used for weddings, which was the only opportunity for civilians to use them. It was very well armored to protect the occupants from small arms fire and the floor was also bomb and booby-trap proof . The interior of the car was quite well made and very well suited to heads of state.

  

ZIL-115 limo                              ZIL limo convertible

 

So dear readers, these are the vehicles that generate the light hearted responses from so many people here in the Baltics. Maybe there are some other models that you could add to this list? Perhaps you have some stories or “adventures” you could share with us about these automobiles? The information I have shared with you, I must admit, just scratches the surface of what the personal transportation situation was like during these times so we would very much like to hear from you to give all our readers around the world more insight to the cars of the Soviet time.

 

Su pagarbe

Vin Karnila

Associate Editor