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"Moskvich-423": auto legend of the Soviet Union

"Moskvich-423": auto legend of the Soviet Union
Somewhere in the outback, in old garages with frightening meter-long inscriptions on the fences “Do not throw garbage!”, You can still find this station wagon, lively and on the go. You can also listen to the inimitable sound of a 4-cylinder carburetor (wiring!), shaking under the hood, watching how kilograms of this ... how is it falling from the exhaust pipe with a bluish haze? But who then thought and knew about benzapyrene, aldehydes and other filth!


They are already 60+, they are on the “deserved”, pensioners, but their “youth” haunts many connoisseurs of vintage cars and just patriots of the motherland. Therefore, today we recall the first station wagon car in the USSR - Moskvich-423.

Station wagon: a bit of history


Two-volume body types appeared in America back in the 20s of the last century, but were produced singly at semi-handicraft manufactories, they were not in demand by a wide audience. The purpose of cars with a saloon and luggage compartment combined into one space was not clear. Carry cargo, for work on the ranch - please, trucks and farm pickups. And for a comfortable trip, serve sedans.

«Москвич-423»: автолегенда Советского Союза In the old city garages, you can find "Moskvich-423" on the go. Photo: YouTube.com

Then people lived more modestly: there was no fashion (and opportunities) for long-distance travel with family and pets. What to transport in a spacious cabin? We threw picnic baskets into the sedan and into nature. Well, except that taxi drivers needed bigger trunks to deliver travelers with their suitcases to hotels.

Perhaps in connection with this requirement, the Ford A Station Wagon appeared in 1929 with a standard passenger car front and a van rear. It turned out that under one roof you can accommodate both passengers and a lot of luggage - two birds with one stone. Here engineering brains were connected: the advantages of producing all-metal bodies in the 40s were faster than all automakers by Wyllis and Plymouth. But to call them, as well as Ford, the founders of a new body type, automotive historians do not dare.

Continued development of the station wagon


Before the Second World War, Europe, although it got into the taste of automobilization, also did not travel far in its own cars with huge trunks. But gradually, users began to understand the versatility of a car: it looks like a passenger car, but it carries a lot of large things, passengers, it is used both in business and for family rides. You can go on a multi-day vacation with tents, sports equipment, camping utensils for arranging life far outside the city.

Nameplate "Moskvich-423". Photo: YouTube.com

After the war, from the 50s to the end of the 70s, a real boom of station wagons began on both sides of the Atlantic. Almost half of the production of the global automotive industry was made up of these bodies. True, in different languages, two-volume cars were called differently: "hunting halt", "car for the economy" or simply Wagon. And then crossovers, SUVs, SUVs came. Practical station wagons have given way to new trends, but have not lost ground.

But what about in the USSR? The people were not deprived of brains: another thing, the country was raised from devastation - there was no time for fat. The auto industry worked on the production of trucks and special equipment, but its time has come - the first Soviet station wagon.

Moskvich-423: model overview


First there was a sedan under the index "402", which was produced by the Moscow plant of small cars - MZMA. Then, in 1957, the Moskvich-423, the first station wagon in the country of the Soviets, was created using the technology for unifying existing parts. By this historical moment, the population began to live quite freely and relatively richly. Citizens received separate apartments, bought TVs, carpets, refrigerators, and the car was already asking for a family: something had to be driven to the "south"!

Model "Moskvich-423N". Photo: YouTube.com

The factory workers did this: they adapted the base 402 body to the new model and installed a number of original panels. The roof was cut, built up with an insert - a common practice of the entire global automotive industry. First, they tried to make the back, fifth, door open up, but it fell under its own weight. Then we decided to open it to the left. Here we say “refrigerator” again - this is exactly what the back gate came out with, if anyone remembers the handles of the Baki and ZIL refrigeration units. Although they appeared later than Moskvich-423, the standards for loop handles were old.

Radiator "Moskvich-423" dripped. Years... Photo: YouTube.com

So, outwardly, the car came out unusual, attractive, impressive, and the versatility of the destination was beyond doubt. The front end is textured, with clear and large details, a powerful bumper, and unique round convex headlights. Now the Soviet worker could load a tent and deck chairs into the cargo-passenger compartment and go to rest in Sochi or dig potatoes in the country. The size of the trunk with the rear sofa folded allowed: length - 1473 mm, width - 1220 mm.

Loaded 250 kg plus two people were placed in front. Not bad, given the curb weight of the car - 1015 kg (pull it out of the mud - there's nothing to do). Loading luggage was a little difficult: the height of the luggage compartment door was 76 cm, since the spare wheel was located under the floor, and the clearance under the rear axle was 20 cm.

The length of the Moskvich-423N is 4 mm. Photo: YouTube.com

Machine dimensions:

✅ Length - 4 055 mm
✅ Width - 1 mm
✅ Height - 1 mm

Wheel formula 4x2 with a base of 2 mm, rear-wheel drive. Tires are high, narrow with the size of tires and wheels - 370-5.60 / 15 Kx4.5.

The front seat of the Moskvich-423 is not separated by armrests with cup holders. Photo: YouTube.com

At that time, they spoke about interior decoration and comfort “corresponds to foreign analogues” (export, by the way, was). What is worth only the radio receiver "Speedola" installed in 1960 and a good interior heater. An interesting solution: in order for the car to warm up better in winter, it was necessary to pull the cable in the cabin, and the vertical blinds covered the radiator.

Behind the wheel of the Moskvich-423, the gearshift lever sticks out. Photo: YouTube.com

On such a not pompous and not overdressed car, Soviet people went to rest, scrolling the radio tuning knob along the way. Perhaps, with secret hope and fear, they dreamed of catching “enemy voices” through ether interference, but they listened to Maya Kristalinskaya, Mark Bernes and other Soviet pop stars. However, a small handful of lucky people used the station wagon: a total of 1 copies were produced, some of which went abroad, some worked for state needs, and the remaining few units went to the working people.

"Moskvich-423" on a test drive. Photo: YouTube.com

But the statistics were corrected by Moskvich-423N (1958), created on the basis of the 407th model. There were more of these wagons. Outwardly, they differed from the 423rd Moskvich in beautiful large moldings, a slightly different body shape, angular at the back, and horsepower was added under the hood.

Specifications "Moskvich-423"


Suspension front independent spring, rear - dependent spring. Drum brakes, steering - globoid worm. The gearbox was first 3-speed manual, then another step was added. The speed control lever was located behind the wheel, and so convenient that you can manipulate it without removing your hands from the steering wheel.

In the trunk of the old "Moskvich-423" driver's "wealth". Photo: YouTube.com

Data on the gasoline cast-iron engine M-402:

✅ Volume - 1,2 l
✅ Power - 35 "horses"
✅ Torque - 71 Nm at 2 rpm

The fuel tank held 35 liters, the recommended fuel is AI-80. The speedometer is limited to 140 km / h, but, in fact, no one accelerated more than 105 km / h.

Motor "Moskvich-423". Photo: YouTube.com

Fuel consumption (l/100 km):

✅ City - 11
✅ Track - 7,5
✅ Mixed mode - 9

Such was the unpretentious and tenacious legendary Soviet station wagon. Few copies have survived to this day, and even in the "native" paintwork. After all, then, in 1960, the bodies were treated against corrosion with a solution of phosphoric acid salts, and the lower part was primed by dipping. On the market for a car they ask from 50 to 75 thousand rubles. Cheap for a legend...

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Photos used: youtube.com

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