AZLK-2139 "Arbat" - a unique minivan that never became serial

Cars of the Moskvich brand were once among the most famous in the USSR. With the advent of VAZ models, the glory of AZLK began to fade - people dreamed of buying an almost Italian car.


The main problem of the Moscow plant was the lack of funding - the state invested money in an enterprise located in the city of Togliatti. In such conditions, it is difficult to develop new car models.

But they could have done it - the AZLK design bureau was one of the best in the country. The variety of prototypes or piece batches of new cars is amazing even now. Today we will talk about one such car - AZLK-2139 Arbat.



It was a minivan project, and not a simple one, but a seven-seater. The manufacturer was well aware of the prospects for such developments, but this car did not become serial.

Prerequisites for the appearance of the model

Since 1967, the USSR government has relied on the construction and development of the Volga Automobile Plant. This enterprise was supposed to produce modern cars of the European level.

This decision deprived the AZLK plant of financing in the field of creating new models. Why, if there are ready-made Italian cars that only need to be finalized and put into large-scale production?



Despite the difficulties, the design bureau continued to produce prototypes. In the first half of the 1980s, at the initiative of the general director, the company began work on minivans. Cars in such a body would be the first in the USSR.

The work was carried out in several ways:

✅ Family
✅ Freight
✅ Combined

The project was approved by the USSR Ministry of Automobile Industry. Models even received indices in advance - 2139 and 3733.

The first stage of work on the promising Moskvich continued until 1987. Designer Alexander Kulygin was invited to implement the project. The main task was to make models that were not even life-size.

The first resulting samples corresponded to the terms of reference, but were rejected due to improper appearance relative to modern fashion trends. The next layout was called "Cruise" and it was made in a ratio of 1 to 1. Externally, the car turned out to be stylish.

It is noteworthy that the cabin was developed separately in order to work out the layout and transformation of the driver and passenger seats. The car received three rows of seats - any of them could be removed or moved. The front seats swiveled 180 degrees.



The middle ones easily folded into a camping table. It turns out that the interior of the car was originally developed with an eye on family tourism.

The government of the USSR did not appreciate such an unusual concept of Soviet personal transport. The implementation of the layout into a full-fledged running model was delayed due to lack of funding and lack of interest from the "top". "Cruise" was not destined even to become a prototype.

The appearance of AZLK-2139 "Arbat"

In 1987, when AZLK went through a series of personnel changes, work on the minivan was resumed. It was decided to make a new model, both externally and technically.

The prototype AZLK-2139 "Arbat" was created by designers, who until then were engaged only in layouts. This became possible after the opening of a full-fledged model section in the bureau and the involvement of bodywork specialists.



The work was in full swing - a team of enthusiasts was so passionate about the creative process that they literally moved to the modeling site. Folding beds were placed right in the room, where work did not stop 24 hours a day.

Such haste is associated with fears that "from above" an order will come to stop the development of a promising minivan. There were fears of another plan - the government could demand that all the developments be given to the Volga Automobile Plant. This has already happened with ZIL, which was forced to transfer documentation for a promising cabover truck to KAMAZ.

The first to appear was the AZLK-2139 Arbat model, made on a scale of 1 to 5. The next sample was already in full size. The car was made of foam, fiberglass and plaster.

The most difficult thing was to assemble a full-fledged running prototype. In order for the model to be immediately recognized as viable, it was necessary to do all the design documentation, from technical issues to body panels. This work took about a year and a half.

Model construction

The car turned out to be unusual both for AZLK and for the AvtoVAZ Volga plant. Language did not turn to call this "Moskvich" outdated - on the contrary, it surpassed all Soviet and even most foreign models.



The body is made using frame-panel technology. The base is made of high-strength steel. The outer panels were made of plastic. Does this design remind you of anything? It is possible that the idea was taken from the first generation Renault Espace, which have been produced since 1984.

Many questions were raised by the search for the engine. After much deliberation, it was decided that a large minivan needed an appropriate engine. The power unit from GAZ Volga would be best suited.

It was not worth waiting for the Gorky Plant to share this engine. "Volga" was already considered a deficit and it was impossible to buy them for an ordinary person in the USSR. No queues worked here, except perhaps a lottery, a double or triple overpayment, or the corresponding position.

I had to manage on my own. As a result, the AZLK-2139 engine turned out to be under the hood of the AZLK-21414 Arbat. This is the most modern and promising power unit in the history of the AZLK plant. The motor was equipped with a carburetor made under license from Pierburg.



By the way, the AZLK-21414 engine was produced in only 30 copies and several series that differ from each other in nuances. There were even modifications with fuel injection, but Arbat did not get them.

All other technical components and assemblies were taken to the maximum from the serial Moskvich 2141. The designers understood that they would not be allocated money to launch a model that was fundamentally different from the one that is mass-produced.

The finished running prototype AZLK-2139 "Arbat" was shown at the end of 1987. This model was still far from serial production - it was planned to test and refine it.

"Ressa"

The AZLK-2139 Arbat project had not even been shown yet, as it became clear that the chance that the government would “slaughter” it was high. To secure the plant management has established a constructive dialogue with the Italian design company Garnero.



It seemed that things were getting better - everyone liked the new minivan, and they planned to start its production at the plant in Sukhinichi, which had just become part of AZLK. The start was scheduled for 1989.



The model was taken to Soviet exhibitions, everywhere it caused delight, received medals at the VDNKh of the USSR. But the collapse of the Soviet Union put an end to this development, and the Moskvich Ressa was later returned to the Italians.

The pre-production AZLK-2139 Arbat was ready in 1991, but its fate was already sealed. The conveyor production of the minivan never started - AZLK had too many economic problems.

But the car could take the plant to a new level, as Gazelle did for GAZ.