Izh Comby
Encyclopedia
Izh 2125 "Comby" is a small family car produced by the Soviet automotive maker IZH
from 1973 to 1997. It was based on an Izhevsk
-modified Moskvitch 412
, with the first prototype released in 1972 to meet small family needs. Although considered by many to be the first Soviet hatchback
(released about a decade before the well-known Lada Samara
), the car actually possessed a station wagon
body. The back did not profit from weight reduction, which would position the model rather in the liftback family. For the same reason, the car was given the "Comby" nickname, which in a way alludes to the Combi coupé
.
The Comby knew a notable success in sales within USSR between 1974 and 1980, however, due to absence of upmarket components, export models were never produced and the car did not sell outside the country. In 1982, when Izh 412 was discontinued, the Comby received a redesigned Moskvitch 2140
body and was then rebranded as 21251. Among notable features, the car borrowed a dashboard
from the 2140, featured improved seats and headrest
s were now installed. Besides the initial hatchback body, the new Comby also took over Izh 2715 panel van
variant that also got facelifted in the same year.
Both versions sold into the 1990s. As the Soviet Union collapsed, IZH was first privatized as "OAO Izhevsk" and slowly started converting their automotive production lines to other kinds of produce, such as firearms. In 1995—96, when AZLK
's revenue decreased drastically, the company was partially reacquired by AutoVAZ and renamed "IzhAuto". Vaz then discontinued all of IZH's previous models and run their own ones into production. A new hatchback version, based on Lada instead, was branded Izh 2126
and ultimately replaced the Comby.
Izh
Izh may refer to one of the following.*Izh River , Udmurt Republic, Russia*Izh motorcycles from IzhMoto*izh, ISO 639-3 code for the Ingrian language...
from 1973 to 1997. It was based on an Izhevsk
Izhevsk
Izhevsk is the capital city of the Udmurt Republic, Russia, situated on the Izh River in the Western Urals. Population: From 1984 to 1987 Izhevsk carried the name Ustinov |Minister of Defense of the USSR]], Marshal of the Soviet Union, Dmitry Ustinov). The city is an important industrial center,...
-modified Moskvitch 412
Moskvitch 412
The Moskvitch 412 , also called 2140 in 1975 prior to discontinuation and 1500 SL outside USSR, is a small family car produced by Soviet manufacturer MZMA/AZLK from 1967 to 1976. It was also built as the Izh 412 by IZH in Izhevsk from 1967 to 1982 and replaced by the spun off Izh Comby series...
, with the first prototype released in 1972 to meet small family needs. Although considered by many to be the first Soviet hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
(released about a decade before the well-known Lada Samara
Lada Samara
The Lada Samara or VAZ-2108 is an economy car produced by Soviet/Russian vehicle manufacturer AvtoVAZ's Lada brand, from 1984 until 2004. The brand name Samara originally was used only for exported models, in Russia the same model was called "Sputnik" , until 1991, when the sedan version of Samara...
), the car actually possessed a station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
body. The back did not profit from weight reduction, which would position the model rather in the liftback family. For the same reason, the car was given the "Comby" nickname, which in a way alludes to the Combi coupé
Combi coupé
Combi coupé is a proprietary marketing term used by Swedish manufacturer Saab for marketing their fastback styled hatchback models.The term denotes a car with a mixture of a "combi" and a coupé...
.
The Comby knew a notable success in sales within USSR between 1974 and 1980, however, due to absence of upmarket components, export models were never produced and the car did not sell outside the country. In 1982, when Izh 412 was discontinued, the Comby received a redesigned Moskvitch 2140
Moskvitch 2140
Moskvitch 2140 series is a small family car produced by the Soviet automotive maker AZLK from 1976 to 1988. It started first as Moskvitch 2138 and Moskvitch 2140 with the modified 408 platform, designed and released for the Soviet market in late 1975...
body and was then rebranded as 21251. Among notable features, the car borrowed a dashboard
Dashboard
A dashboard is a control panel placed in front of the driver of an automobile, housing instrumentation and controls for operation of the vehicle....
from the 2140, featured improved seats and headrest
Headrest
In an automobile, head restraints are attached or integrated into the top of the seats in each seating position to limit the rearward movement of an adult occupant's head relative to his torso in a crash, so as to reduce the danger of whiplash or other injury to the cervical vertebrae...
s were now installed. Besides the initial hatchback body, the new Comby also took over Izh 2715 panel van
Panel van
A panel van is a form of solid van, smaller than a lorry or truck, without rear side windows...
variant that also got facelifted in the same year.
Both versions sold into the 1990s. As the Soviet Union collapsed, IZH was first privatized as "OAO Izhevsk" and slowly started converting their automotive production lines to other kinds of produce, such as firearms. In 1995—96, when AZLK
AZLK
AZLK was a Russian automobile factory , the maker of the Moskvitch brand....
's revenue decreased drastically, the company was partially reacquired by AutoVAZ and renamed "IzhAuto". Vaz then discontinued all of IZH's previous models and run their own ones into production. A new hatchback version, based on Lada instead, was branded Izh 2126
Izh 2126
Izh 2126, nicknamed "Oda" , is a compact hatchback produced by the Soviet automotive maker IZH between 1992 and 2005. The Oda was a practical replacement of the 1982 Izh Comby and the last of Izhevsk-designed vehicles...
and ultimately replaced the Comby.