Experienced NAMI-0173, which failed to become a front-wheel drive "Volga"

It seems that Soviet officials from the post-war automobile industry had a persistent allergy to front-wheel drive cars. All promising projects of our inventors in this direction were cut down in the bud. The arguments put forward in such cases were, well, so-so. Like pushing is easier than pulling.


However, you can't argue against the facts. When many foreign leading companies produced several successful front-wheel drive projects at once, the bureaucrats were pressed to the wall. There was nowhere for them to retreat, so a specific task was set for design engineers of various organizations: to present a promising project of the first Soviet front-wheel drive passenger car.


This was already happening in the 60s, and many of the leading inventors of automotive technology at that time were concentrated in NAMI. It was this research institute of automotive and automotive technology that was commissioned to become the flagship of a landmark project.

How to cross "Volga" and "Moskvich"?

Of course, I do not think that the question was so specific. Simply, tests have shown that the most optimal option for a power unit for a prototype will not be a “Volgovsky” motor, but a UZAM-412. This decision was preceded by a serious technical and creative process, during which several prototypes appeared. Among them there were both original designs and those created on the basis of already existing serial samples of Soviet technology.


The first one was presented as a layout by NAMI-0132. It is very interesting and dear to us, because without any major modifications in the near future it turned into a serial ZAZ-966. Even the progressive water-cooled power unit (ZOK) at that time migrated to the new Zhuzhik. Well, everything except front-wheel drive and double wishbone suspension.

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Having added the original transmission to the design, the prototype was sent to the Dmitrovsky training ground for testing. Almost immediately, they discovered the "weak link": the movable part of the transmission (CV joint) and outdated drives. And the 1,5-liter engine in a heavy body could hardly show its best side. In general, the prototype used:

✅ 75-strong UZAM
✅ original transmission compatible with the GAZ-24 gearbox
✅ body from the serial "Volga"

The outdated drive system was very disappointing during the tests. In their design, double cardans were used. Unfortunately, the quality of the latter left much to be desired. This fact greatly upset the selection committee, which was already relatively critical of the front-wheel drive. Her conclusions were rather restrained.

Demonstration sample and further development

The shown car remained in the status of a demonstration sample. Well, you know, like, we heard you. Serial production was not planned initially, but everyone could be replayed if they passed the tests with a bang.


That did not happen. Therefore, more than 10 years remained before the first serial front-wheel drive Soviet car. New developments and all technical documentation were forwarded to Zaporozhye. Some of them were later used in the first Tavria. Something was also used in Mokvich-2141. But the first serial sample of such equipment turned out to be not associated with either the Gorky or Zaporozhye plants, or the AZLK. It was made by another leader of the domestic auto industry, which opened a new page in the country's automotive history. We are all very familiar with Sputnik VAZ-2108.