mechanical

Characteristics

Mass-overalls

Dynamic

ZAZ-965. - Soviet small car, produced from to 1963.

ZAZ-965A. - Modification with a motor with a capacity of 27 hp, produced from November to 1969.

The study of the experience of world automotive industry has already made it possible to come to a completely unequivocal conclusion: the microllane cannot be simply a reduced copy of their "big fellow". It is necessary to recall that at that time most cars had an engine in front and rear leading bridge - the so-called "classic layout". However, for a car with a size with the future "Zaporozhets", it was clearly irrational, since it limited the useful space of the cabin, increased the overall height, cost of the cost of the car due to the presence of a cardane shaft passing under the floor. All attempts to release cars "classic" layouts in the "especially small" class inevitably ended with the appearance of high, heavy, minor and quite clumsy externally structures. It was possible to get rid of these shortcomings by saving the engine and transmissions into a single unit and placing it directly from leading wheels - front or rear.

Meanwhile, the Soviet designers approached the design of the Italian prototype quite creative. The body, retaining the fiat structure similar to the "Fiat", in particular - the floor panel lowly located between widely spaced boxes, which increased the capacity of the vehicle while maintaining an acceptable height, - received a more modern external form, becoming a two-point fastback with firewalls on the sidewall imitating individual Wings, three-tier two-door sedan with a flat sidewall, a clearly dedicated volume of the trunk and a large rear glass, unified with a frontal (see also an external car comparison). The doors at the same time remained hung on the rear loops, which provided a more convenient landing in the salon, but reduced security. But the windows of the doors from the sliding have become more conveniently sinks, "Footings" appeared. In the chassis, a more advanced front suspension was applied on two transverse tocions (the so-called Porsche system was used, the same was used at the first sectors of sports cars and Volkswagen- "beetle") - instead of "Fiatovskaya" on the transverse springs, as well as designed for the worst quality roads increased 13-inch wheels that demanded an increase in wheeled niches and change the layout of the car as a whole. The engine and transmission were completely domestic development.

Initially, equipped car engine motorcycle type MD-65 was envisaged. But it turned out to be low-taking place for the car, and in working with overload had a meager resource - no more than 30 thousand km to overhame. Later, two prototypes of power units were created in us, it was supposed to be opposite engines according to the Citroën 2CV scheme. As a temporary solution, the prototype "444-BCR" (1958) was installed engine from the BMW 600 - also the opposite, but two-cylinder.

These developments are interested in the designers of the Army Amphibian TPK's amphibious transportation, just needed in the engine of this type and previously so unsuccessfully experimented (US 049, 1958) with Irbit MD-65. Further works were already taking into account their proposals.

In the end, they came to a compromise version - ZAZ and military amphibia were unified by the power unit, which had a working volume initially 746, later than 877 cubes (with the possibility of further extension) and differed in the military (MEMZ-967) and civilian (MEMZ-965) versions of only separate details.

At the same time, the engine should have been placed on the front of the flywheel back, and Za -aa - behind the flywheel forward. Since the considerations of the army customer turned out to be weighty, the engine was generally calculated precisely on the front location in the sealed volume of amphibian motoes, without cooling the oncoming air flow, therefore it was completed with the exhaust fan. The injection fan was set later, which, according to the developers, should have improved the cooling of the engine located behind. But the problems with overheating of the power unit were to some extent inherent to all the "Zaporozhets" until ZAZ-968M, in which the cooling system was completely recycled (however, the owners of cars themselves were largely involved in this Overload, and regular cleaning of cylinder cooling, which was the key to a good heat exchange with cooling air, neglected). The noise of the motor's motor was also not normalized and, compared to the rest of the Soviet cars that had water cooling engines, was unsatisfactory.

Later, the modification of the same engine and transmission of amphibian was also used on civilian variants of TPK, LUAZ-969, which are often mistakenly described as "Corozhets". "

Price

At the time of his appearance in 1960, "Zaporozhets" cost 18,000 doreform rubles (1,800 rubles after reform). According to the legend, the price was determined as the total cost of 1,000 bottles of vodka (1.80 rubles). With the average salary in the USSR of the early 1960s, this value correlated approximately as 20: 1, that is, "Zaporozhets" could be bought for about 20 average wage in the country.

The current value of ZAZ-965 on the secondary market will be very much varied depending on the preservation of the car and the seller, making up a few thousand rubles to several thousand dollars.

Modifications

Design

Salon ZAZ-965

The machine was driven by the air cooling motor of a rare configuration with a working volume of 746 cm³ (MEMZ-965 model) of air cooling with a camshaft in the block collapse between the cylinder heads. Location - behind the rear axle. Aluminum alloy was partially used, Carter was made of magnesium alloy. Power - 23 hp

The original feature of the car was the console posting of the power unit for three points on the transmission crankcase - the engine itself does not have any supports or fastening points to the body.

On the ZAZ-965A model in 1962-1965, the MEMZ-966 engine was installed, with an increased working volume of up to 887 cm³, which developed 27 hp, and in 1966-1969 - Memes-966a with the same working volume, but already in 30 hp

The basic model was manufactured in the period from 1964, and the modernized ZAZ-965A - from 1962 to 1969. At the beginning of sales, the price for the population was 18,000 rubles in the old scale of prices (before the denomination 1:10, held in 1961).

Since it was assumed that the Soviet car owners would have to serve the car independently, the air cooling was estimated positively and seen very practical in the harsh winter conditions (at low temperatures there is no risk of freezing coolant in the parking lot). In addition, the small mass of the power unit, its simplicity and collapsible design (removable cylinders) allowed us to repair the car with almost "in a clean field."

Nevertheless, in general, the general engine turned out to be one of the main drawbacks of the car: its resource was relatively small due to the tense temperature, thin walls of the unit, air cooling and a short silencer led to a significantly elevated level of noise, and the absence of a lack of liquid Cooling systems Separate gasoline heater differed low reliability, with irregular maintenance - even fire hazard (disadvantages, characteristic of many other cars with similar technical solutions).

Humpback antiques! 1965 ZAZ 965 0.9 l / 27 hp - 50 years old one owner

ZAZ-965 "Zaporozhets" - Soviet micro-car vehicle, produced from 1960 to 1963.

ZAZ-965A "Zaporozhets" - Modification with a capacity of 27 hp, produced from November 1962 to 1969.

A total of 322,166 cars of all modifications were released.

PRICE

At the time of his appearance in 1960, "Zaporozhets" cost 18,000 most expensive rubles - however, only a small car party was released in that year, mainly separated by the shower plants, the first commercial cars went on sale already after the monetary reform, at a price of 1,800 rubles. According to the legend, the price was determined as the total cost of 1,000 bottles of vodka (1.80 rubles). With the average salary in the USSR of the early 1960s, this value correlated approximately as 20: 1, that is, "Zaporozhets" could be bought for about 20 average wage in the country.

The current value of ZAZ-965 in the secondary market varies very much depending on the seller and the safety of the car, making up a few thousand rubles to several thousand dollars.

Modifications

• 965 / 965A - Standard Modification
• 965E / 965Aee «Yalta» - export modification, was distinguished by side inclined moldings, improved salon trim, enhanced insulation, as well as an ashtray and an outer rearview mirror on the left side. Also on Yalta's 965E / 965AE cars, dealers independently installed a radio. Import was carried out through the Finnish company Konela (called "Jalta") and the Belgian SCALDIA (called "Yalta").
• 965B / 965AB is a modification intended for the disabled, with damaged legs and healthy hands.
• 965p / 965ar - a modification intended for disabled people with one healthy hand and one healthy leg.
• 965С / 965As - mail van, for collecting letters with the right steering. The car had modified cooling system air intakes. Rear side glasses were replaced with metal fillets.
• Pickup for intrapanent use, did not have its own index. Made from defective bodies of serial cars.

ZAZ-965 people

The early version of ZAZ-965 can be seen in the movie "Queen of the benzokolontka".

Also, the car appears in the cartoon "Winter in Prostokvashino" -

... and "Zaporozhets" old bought, collapsed ...

"ZAZ-965" is shifted in the Soviet cartoon "Well, wait!" In the fifth issue, when the wolf tries to force the hare to leave the telephone booth. When he squeezes a lot of cigarettes, he begins to swing and he goes on the road, where he almost knocks on a green Zaporozhets. Similar to ZAZ-965 car can be seen in the 20th series "Well, wait!"

ZAZ-965 also starred in the films "Three Plus Two" (1962), "While the Thunder is not born" (1967), "One day twenty years later", "Detech" (1979), "Careset Mary Medici" (1980) , Golden Eye (1995), "Patriotic Comedy" (1992), "Lopuhi. Episode 1 "(2009); Georgian short films "Saturday evening" (1975) and "Three rubles" (1976). The export version of ZAZ-965AE can be seen in the film "Acceratka" (1987), and the homemade cabriolet based on ZAZ-965 - in the film "Be My Husband" (1981). In the series "Adult" animated series "Barboskina" The large-scale model "ZAZ-965" with a body of a convertible is present as a man's machine.

Also ZAZ-965 is one of the heroes of the clip on the song "Hey, the guy" of Chris Kielmi and the Rock-Atelier group.

• Folk nicknames: "Zhuzhik", "constipation", "Zazik", "Baby", etc. But despite the ridicule and anecdotic, the car was a folk favorite, until the 80s of the last century, and in the 21st century meet Lovers of this model.
• Blinds of air intakes, the so-called "Zhabra", have another name that has an interesting story. In the process of development, among the main problems of the car, the motor overheating. The decision was found one constructors of the "Communar" plant (ZAZ), by the name Wasserman. After testing, the idea was approved and after, for this item, the nickname "Tirka Wasserman" was entrenched.
• Since, thanks to the design, the car was distinguished by high passionability, they were joking in the people: "Where a foreign car brakes," constipation "will crack on the belly!".
• Among the modifications "Zhuzhik" was a model for disabled with one hand and one foot ZAZ-965ar. The main feature was automatic electromagnetic clutch - only two pedals and gear lever were used to control the car. Subsequently, it was recognized as sufficiently reliable - ferromagnetic powder over time lost its properties, in addition, due to the increased moment of inertia, the anchor was not provided to quickly switching the gear for intensive overclocking of the car, and the synchronizers of the gearbox were significantly overwhelmed and wear out more. Therefore, over time (already on models on the basis of ZAZ-968), adhesion with vacuum drive was introduced instead.
• ZAZ-965 became the last Soviet car with a turn signal toggle switch (in fact, the early ZAZ-966 also had a turn signal toggle switch in the middle of the instrument panel) and with doors opening against the movement of the car.

1965 ZAZ 965 "Zaporozhets"

ZAZ-965 "Zaporozhets" - Soviet micro-car vehicle, produced from 1960 to 1963.

ZAZ-965A "Zaporozhets" - Modification with a capacity of 27 hp, produced from November 1962 to 1969.

A total of 322,166 cars of all modifications were released.

PRICE

At the time of his appearance in 1960, "Zaporozhets" cost 18,000 most expensive rubles - however, only a small car party was released in that year, mainly separated by the shower plants, the first commercial cars went on sale already after the monetary reform, at a price of 1,800 rubles. According to the legend, the price was determined as the total cost of 1,000 bottles of vodka (1.80 rubles).

With the average salary in the USSR of the early 1960s, this value correlated approximately as 20: 1, that is, "Zaporozhets" could be bought for about 20 average wage in the country.

The current value of ZAZ-965 in the secondary market varies very much depending on the seller and the safety of the car, making up a few thousand rubles to several thousand dollars.

Modifications

• 965 / 965A - Standard Modification

• 965E / 965Aee «Yalta» - export modification, was distinguished by side inclined moldings, improved salon trim, enhanced insulation, as well as an ashtray and an outer rearview mirror on the left side. Also on Yalta's 965E / 965AE cars, dealers independently installed a radio. Import was carried out through the Finnish company Konela (called "Jalta") and the Belgian SCALDIA (called "Yalta").

• 965B / 965AB is a modification intended for the disabled, with damaged legs and healthy hands.

• 965p / 965ar - a modification intended for disabled people with one healthy hand and one healthy leg.

• 965С / 965As - mail van, for collecting letters with the right steering. The car had modified cooling system air intakes. Rear side glasses were replaced with metal fillets.

• Pickup for intrapanent use, did not have its own index. Made from defective bodies of serial cars.

ZAZ-965 people

The early version of ZAZ-965 can be seen in the movie "Queen of the benzokolontka".

Also, the car appears in the cartoon "Winter in Prostokvashino" -

... and "Zaporozhets" old bought, collapsed ...

"ZAZ-965" is shifted in the Soviet cartoon "Well, wait!" In the fifth issue, when the wolf tries to force the hare to leave the telephone booth. When he squeezes a lot of cigarettes, he begins to swing and he goes on the road, where he almost knocks on a green Zaporozhets. Similar to ZAZ-965 car can be seen in the 20th series "Well, wait!"

ZAZ-965 also starred in the films "Three Plus Two" (1962), "While the Thunder is not born" (1967), "One day twenty years later", "Detech" (1979), "Careset Mary Medici" (1980) , Golden Eye (1995), "Patriotic Comedy" (1992), "Lopuhi. Episode 1 "(2009); Georgian short films "Saturday evening" (1975) and "Three rubles" (1976). The export version of ZAZ-965AE can be seen in the film "Acceratka" (1987), and the homemade cabriolet based on ZAZ-965 - in the film "Be My Husband" (1981). In the series "Adult" animated series "Barboskina" The large-scale model "ZAZ-965" with a body of a convertible is present as a man's machine.

Also ZAZ-965 is one of the heroes of the clip on the song "Hey, the guy" of Chris Kielmi and the Rock-Atelier group.

• Folk nicknames: "Zhuzhik", "constipation", "Zazik", "Baby", etc. But despite the ridicule and anecdotic, the car was a folk favorite, until the 80s of the last century, and in the 21st century meet Lovers of this model.

• Blinds of air intakes, the so-called "Zhabra", have another name that has an interesting story. In the process of development, among the main problems of the car, the motor overheating. The decision was found one constructors of the "Communar" plant (ZAZ), by the name Wasserman. After testing, the idea was approved and after, for this item, the nickname "Tirka Wasserman" was entrenched.
• Since, thanks to the design, the car was distinguished by high passionability, they were joking in the people: "Where a foreign car brakes," constipation "will crack on the belly!".

• Among the modifications "Zhuzhik" was a model for disabled with one hand and one foot ZAZ-965ar. The main feature was automatic electromagnetic clutch - only two pedals and gear lever were used to control the car. Subsequently, it was recognized as sufficiently reliable - ferromagnetic powder over time lost its properties, in addition, due to the increased moment of inertia, the anchor was not provided to quickly switching the gear for intensive overclocking of the car, and the synchronizers of the gearbox were significantly overwhelmed and wear out more. Therefore, over time (already on models on the basis of ZAZ-968), adhesion with vacuum drive was introduced instead.

• ZAZ-965 became the last Soviet car with a turn signal toggle switch (in fact, the early ZAZ-966 also had a turn signal toggle switch in the middle of the instrument panel) and with doors opening against the movement of the car.

The main parameters of the comparison participants:

Brand and model: FIAT 600.
Years of production: 1955-1969
Body type: 2-door fastbeck
Engines: 0.6; 0.8; Both - I4.
Length: 3215 mm
Width: 1380 mm
Height: 1405 mm

Brand and model: ZAZ-965 "Zaporozhets"
Years of production: 1960-1969
Body type: 2-door sedan (coupe)
Engines: 0.9; V4.
Length: 3330 mm
Width: 1395 mm
Height: 1450 mm

Cars are large, ordinary and small. And they are tiny. Such is the Fiat 600 - the car weighing only 585 kg, and this is already in the exacculent form. Such a car, several men, if necessary, could pull out with their hands from any pit. And another indisputable advantage of this funny means of movement was the price, enthusiasts considered that if this machine would sell today, its cost would be about € 6500. Cheaper than any other European car. It is such machines like Fiat 600 and Fiat 500 who were able to make a car country from post-war Italy. From 1955 to 1969, two and a half million Fiat 600 were released, after stopping production in Italy, the car was continued to do in South America; It is necessary to add the Spanish SEAT 600 to the total number, and the Yugoslav "Zavverowa" 750, all these were copies of the famous microlo.
If it was necessary to choose an illustration for the expression "car is not a luxury, but a means of movement", then the Italian microllery would come as it should not be better. This is really a "vehicle" - four wheels, motor and steering wheel. Close salon, seats like a grandmother's chair (from adjustments only "forward-back"), the trunk size is less than another suitcase; What a luxury here!
Meanwhile, it was the machines that were popular in an inhaled post-war Europe. In an even less spoiled winner country - the USSR - the need for an extremely simple and inexpensive car was just huge! And there is nothing surprising that the Fiat 600 was taken for the design of such a car. We must pay the tribute to the MSM team (the future AZLK), they did not limit to simple copying. The ideas laid down in Fiat, the Soviet designers were rethought, the cars received a different suspension and a little more spacious body. The crumbling wheels of the prototype changed to larger, for the Soviet roads they approached better. The result was a car with the name Moskvich-444. But in the series he never went, the capacity of the Moscow plant was fully loaded. I had to urgently reorient the agricultural machinery plant "Kommunar" in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhia to release a new car. So it appeared ZAZ-965, the legendary "humpback" ...

Fiat 600 - prototype of the first "Zaporozhets"

"Zaporozhets" is a bit larger than its progenitor. And the main difference - Fiat has no "Pesba"

A little lyrical retreat: who could think then, in the middle of the twentieth century, in the middle of the twenty-first century, in a new, twenty-first, a century, the former plant of combines, having survived the country that made it car, will continue to exist, becoming the only major automobile plant of Ukraine and the release of Korean cars. Assuming this in the 1960s could not even be the most brave science fiction. But it is even interesting not even this, it is curious to know what will become with the country and the factory after another half a century, which zigzags will write down the story - this is really interesting. It remains only to wait for these very half a century :-)

Let's go back to Fiat. I managed such a car on the streets of Helsinki last summer. Interestingly, the car was simply parked on one of the streets of the city center. I don't know, uses her owner as a casual car, but I have failed to meet in the cities of the former USSR ZAZ-965 for many years. We are not talking, of course, about exhibition machines during a variety of retro events. There are often there, the collectors "humpback" - one of the most beloved toys. And so, just walking, see this car on the street in our time is almost impossible.

Fiat 600 on Helsinki Street in the summer of 2011

Let's see what these automobile users were represented. Photos today will be a little more than usual.

Doors, hung on the rear loops - one of the bright signs of Fiat 600 and its Soviet fellow. You should not talk about the spacious salon, but if you wish, five people could squeeze into the car, if, of course, they did not possess the dimensions of Nikolai Valuev

Despite the chimneyminiature, the place for the legs on the front seats was enough due to the rear position of the engine. The interior of the car causes lunizing - take a look at at least the door handles

The trunk, and without that small, horror to the sizes of the children's cradle with a spare wheel and a gas tank. Next to the gathering you can see and jack. Although Nikolai Valuev, I think, would have cost without him, to raise such a car for Russian giant - not a problem :-)

The front panel was metallic and stained in the body color. Abundance of instruments of the driver also did not pour

All photos of the blue car from MicroCar Museum

Zaporizhia 965th left his prototype not far. The same laconism of the cabin. Take a look:

Stained metal, sticking out there and sumps and niche under the panel instead of "glove". But on these machines, people managed to travel throughout the USSR!

The current motorist as an example :-) What are there climate controls and onboard computers! Speedometer, oil temperature pointer, fuel counter and two checklists - on headlights and turn signals. It's all.

Gorbatoy was a sign machine for the country of tips. Perhaps he symbolizes the best thing in it. This is the era of the sixties and sixties, the time of hopes and optimism. That was the time when the cosmos seemed close and affordable: That's, after Gagarin and other cosmonauts, hundreds of new ships would fly to the stars, soon open the base on the moon, and there it is not far from the cities in Mars. It was the time of kindness and self-confidence: no one is planted, and the times of the Gulag are publicly convicted. Strange, but it is a small funny machine that causes the most warm feelings among the residents of the former Soviet state. And probably it is not good.
So thanks to the Italian designers created by Fiat 600 and inspired Soviet engineers at ZAZ-965. These were small cars, but big eras.

Not only moms with children were not rushed to ride on a microlitron fiat, but also quite adult men.

ZAZ-965. Little big country machine

Probably there was not a single yard where "Zaporozhets" would not meet. There was such a car and in the yard of my childhood. Holded her a meal taxi driver. I wonder what it wasoshad that he was transplanted from the working "Volga" on the personal "constipation"? :-) For the car the owner watched well. Not a single weekend was noted that the round bald taxi driver did not dig with his car. Every summer in a dirty day, he trampled it into the air and painted with a vacuum cleaner always in the same pale blue color.
So it lasted before the beginning of the nineties. One day the taxi driver appeared in the courtyard on the creams "Zhigul" "Kopeyka". Honored "hill" was expelled from the garage and settled under the windows of the house for several years. The grandson of the taxi driver periodically drove around the surroundings on the elderly "Zaporozhet". It was stopped painting it and on the uneven sides of the old workers began to appear rust.
And then they disappeared: both the old taxi driver, and his grandson, and "Zaporozhets". Apparently, we moved to another address. Garages several years later demolished, and now nothing resembles the former cars and about their owners.

In real life, see ZAZ-965 and Fiat 600 near the exhibition only. Never these cars worked side by side, too far there were car italy and automotive USSR

Text, Photos - PhantomSerge

& Copy Iron Ghosts of the Past - 2012

Additions or amendments to

Rovno 55 years ago, in November 1960, the serial release of the microlitron ZAZ-965 was launched at the Zaporizhia in Zaporizhia - the famous "humpback", which became the hero of many films and jokes in the USSR

The history of the creation of this model began in the mid-50s. Then the USSR restored the national economy after the Great Patriotic War, which left the country not only to destroy, but also hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities, which became those during the fighting. Many of them needed vehicles because they could not move independently. True, since 1952, the production of motocoles were established in Serpukhov for disabled people in Serpukhov for disabled people, but they differed in an extremely non-psychic design, low level of comfort and rightfully considered a parody of a car and a mockery over the disabled of war.

At the same time, Soviet leaders, including Nikita Khrushchev, understood that people who had given their health had to ride their good cars. And in general, the Soviet citizens would not prevent such cars, because the level of their welfare grew. Required small, reliable, easy-controlled, cheap in production, affordable and infant eye car. And soon it was decided to issue such a microlo.

Takery passions

The development was instructed by the specialists of the Moscow plant of small cars (MZS, subsequently an AZLK), whose chief designer at the time was Alexander Fedorovich Andronov. This is what he wrote about it in his memoirs: "The call from the Deputy Chairman of the USSR N.I. Row:

Come to me today at seven, you need to talk about one task.

Appeared. I listen.

I here joined the decision about the Zaporizhia factory. It assigns a car on it to you. Dates there are short, so have it in mind. Characteristic of the self-compliance, agree with us and give me a statement. I have to say I like Fiat-600. It is technological, so an indispensable condition in the task should be exactly the same body membership and methods for connecting its panels. But Fiat, we do not have to "rip off", this is a prerequisite ...

Nikolay Ivanovich! But we started the design of the model 408, people are missing, there are no premises, no one wants to develop the engineering service - neither the plant nor Sovvarhoz. Maybe someone else designs. That's at least us!

Well, here's another! I said that the ruling dictionaryded. It is for you just right, and your people know small cars ... This question is resolved, proceed to fulfillment. In us, I instructed Lipgartu to prepare with you task and characteristics. So hurry in this business ...

But then there were difficulties. Lipgart represented by us in a desire to copy the front suspension of the Volkswagen car. It would not be time to "skip". They argued ... But when approving the technical task and characteristics of Lokkin, we adopted the wording by us. There was a question with the engine. At first, a two-cylinder, V-shaped, air cooling was recorded. And I must say that the design solution of the entire rear-engine unit depends on the engine design, including transmission and suspension, and, in addition, the structure of the power unit to a large extent affects the design of the entire back of the machine.

After placing a car, body and a good air cooling engine, we have already foresee the final end of the work, but there were changes in the engine job, and all are approved by the line. Lipgart suggested a bmw two-cylinder opposite engine with subsequent procurement of the license. And this was also approved. We re-released the entire back of the car. And after some time another engine was proposed. Another option is a four-cylinder, V-shaped, with air-cooled. We took up his design ... In the sixth time the back of the car was redone ... Finally, the project was ready. The body shape was based on a flat layout, and in the scheme of membership and connecting body panels - the principle applied by the Fiat-600 car was laid. For the first time in the body of a passenger car, the same in size and shaped front and rear glasses were used. Front suspension - torsion, similar to such a Volkswagen company. The car diagram is vitally strong, the parameters of both suspensions are wicked successfully for all types of roads. Big clearance provided riding on the villagers. Low weight with relatively great strength and reasonable equalization with the "Moskvich" distinguished this car. "

Go!

The newcomer should have been released at the Zaporizhia plant in Zaporizhia, and the engines were supplied from the Melitopol Motor Plant. Actually, the "Communar" plant became under Soviet power, and it was founded back in 1863 by the Dutch entrepreneur by Abraham Coop.

Home Products at all times - agricultural machinery. It is not surprising, therefore, that neither equipment nor specialists for automotive production in Zaporizhia turned out to be. Everything had to organize from scratch. The big merit belongs to the then Director of the enterprise Evgeny Gobelko, who personally traveled all the automatic union auto plants and got acquainted with the experience gained there.

Gobelko first of all started the creation of design and technological services, which, in addition to the main responsibilities, took over the training of workers, debugging technology, the production of experienced parties, an experienced assembly of machines ... They also helped to establish quality control.

When the plant was able to produce cars, Gobelko was transferred to another place of work, and the ZAZ-965 model is the famous "humpback" "Zaporozhets" - in the late 1960s went into production. At the same time, the designers have long reworked it for a long time, without ceasing to fight with ordinary in such cases "children's diseases", so that the car was slightly different from the MZS developed.

It cost "Zaporozhets" of 1800 rubles - only 20 average monthly salaries of a simple Soviet man, which was much smaller than the price of passenger cars of other auto plants. This ensured his success. Although to buy a microllet, it was required not only to accumulate money, but also to defend several years in the queue. For disabled cars, the car was provided according to special lists, but then the queues were not avoided. Nevertheless, people received a quadruple car, which could ride at a speed of up to 80 km / h, spending in the most economical mode of only 5.5 liters of fuel per 100 km of way. And nothing that this regime came at a speed of 40 km per hour!

There was export

The plant simultaneously produced the machine for general use and modifications for people with disabilities - ZAZ 965B; 965AB; 965ar. In addition, pickups were collected for intra-water supply - 965P. There was also a version of 965C with the right steering wheel and plugs instead of the rear windows.

A special case is the export modification of 965E / 965AE, it is "Yalta". From machines intended for operation in the USSR, it was distinguished by an improved furniture of the cabin, reinforced by noise insulation, the presence of an ashtray and an external mirror from the driver, side moldings. Such cars shipped through the Finnish company Konela and Belgian SCALDIA. Some of their dealers even installed a receiver in the car.

True, in Europe, even in the improved version of "Zaporozhets" did not come to the yard. But in the USSR "965th" dismissed with a bang and became not just an integral part of the Soviet reality, the cheapest car of domestic production, but also that today it is customary to call a cult machine. "Humpback" loved, it was forgotten by constructive flaws, and a shortage of comfort, and disgusting even at that time the dynamics.

A few years after the appearance, the car became a "movie star". One of her first removed Henry Oganesyan in the Comedy "Three Plus Two", released on the screens in 1963. But folk love sometimes took and very unexpected forms. So, it is unlikely that some of the domestic cars can be a "humpback" competition in a part of the jokes, the hero of which he managed to become.

In 1963, the model was upgraded, and a few years later removed from production. A more modern ZAZ-966 came to replace it.