Moskvitch
Encyclopedia
Moskvitch (sometimes also written as Moskvich or Moskwitch) was an automobile
brand
from Russia
produced by AZLK
from 1945 to 1991 and by OAO Moskvitch from 1991 to 2002. The current article incorporates information about both the brand and the joint-stock successor of AZLK for the sake of simplicity.
OAO Moskvitch was a privatized venture name given to the former factory in order to avoid legal issues after the fall of the Soviet Union
in 1991. Since the factory had no assembly branches outside Russia after 1991, its name is largely used today to refer to the building located in Lower Eastern part of Moscow and abandoned since 2006.
The word moskvitch itself translates as "(a) Muscovite" into English. It was used to point out the original location of the cars manufactured outside of Moscow.
and the entire production converted for the manufacture of the military equipment at the dawn of World War II
. After the war, the USSR brought an entire Opel
manufacturing line from Brandenburg in Germany
. A factory called MZMA
(Moskovsky Zavod Malolitrazhnykh Avtomobiley, that is, Moscow Compact Car Factory) started in 1947 to manufacture an automobile
called Moskvitch 400 based on the Opel Kadett
. Further models were developed by Soviet engineers. In 1969, the factory changed name to AZLK
(Avtomobilny Zavod imeni Leninskogo Komsomola, which means Youth Communist League Car Factory).
Moskvitch cars were never meant to be a fashion statement. They were sturdy, reliable on substandard roads and were offered at an affordable price. The 1960s and early 1970s were the glory days, when the cars were exported to many countries throughout the world. Demand always exceeded production, so people had to wait a long time for a new car. Until the 1980s all Moskvitch cars were compact rear-wheel drive saloons and estates with solid rear axles suspended by leaf springs.
The Moskvitch was also produced in Bulgaria (see Moskvitch (Bulgaria)
) between 1966 and 1990 on the basis of complete knock down (CKD) kits.
. It was powered by the VAZ-2106 1.6L in-line four-cylinder engine, which had by then amassed an acceptable track record powering a number of LADA models. Aleko was a front-wheel drive
hatchback
different from any model the factory had made previously. It was larger and more luxurious, made with comfort, safety and aerodynamics in mind. The body was built on the basis of Simca 1307
, while longitudinal engine
placement and torsion-crank rear suspension and McPherson strut front suspension was inspired by Audi 80
/100
family, while taking into account the larger size of the Moskvitch and Lada
engines . The 1.8 liter gasoline engine for the new car was planned, but never materialized, as was also the case with a diesel version. The car was a major improvement over previous generations, but the fall of the centralised economy, below-par quality and inadequate management ultimately brought the factory to bankruptcy.
The factory, which had been renamed to OAO Moskvitch (Moskvitch Joint Stock Company) in the early 1990s, filed for bankruptcy in 2002 and ceased production. The factory remains idle and abandoned, everything left as it was in 2002. Unfinished bodyshells remain on the production line in various stages of completion, while furniture, computers, office supplies, and documents remain in the plant's administration building. Several attempts to restart production have been made over the next 3 years, but none were successful.
Recently, a portion of the abandoned plant was acquired by OAO Avtoframos, a 38%-62% joint venture between the City of Moscow
and French
automaker Renault
SA. In 2005, Avtoframos commenced assembly of Renault Logan sedans from imported complete knock-down kits (CKDs). The presence of Avtoframos brought new life to a small part of the facility, but the majority of the sprawling plant remains abandoned, apparently still owned by the dormant Moskvitch company.
The bankruptcy of OAO Moskvitch was officially announced in 2006 and the company was liquidated the following year.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
produced by AZLK
AZLK
AZLK was a Russian automobile factory , the maker of the Moskvitch brand....
from 1945 to 1991 and by OAO Moskvitch from 1991 to 2002. The current article incorporates information about both the brand and the joint-stock successor of AZLK for the sake of simplicity.
OAO Moskvitch was a privatized venture name given to the former factory in order to avoid legal issues after the fall of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in 1991. Since the factory had no assembly branches outside Russia after 1991, its name is largely used today to refer to the building located in Lower Eastern part of Moscow and abandoned since 2006.
The word moskvitch itself translates as "(a) Muscovite" into English. It was used to point out the original location of the cars manufactured outside of Moscow.
Early history
In 1929 the construction of Moscow Automotive Plant began with initial production of 24,000 vehicles. In 1941 the plant was evacuated to UralUral (region)
Ural is a geographical region located around the Ural Mountains, between the East European and West Siberian plains. It extends approximately from north to south, from the Arctic Ocean to the bend of Ural River near Orsk city. The boundary between Europe and Asia runs along the eastern side of...
and the entire production converted for the manufacture of the military equipment at the dawn of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war, the USSR brought an entire Opel
Opel
Adam Opel AG, generally shortened to Opel, is a German automobile company founded by Adam Opel in 1862. Opel has been building automobiles since 1899, and became an Aktiengesellschaft in 1929...
manufacturing line from Brandenburg in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. A factory called MZMA
AZLK
AZLK was a Russian automobile factory , the maker of the Moskvitch brand....
(Moskovsky Zavod Malolitrazhnykh Avtomobiley, that is, Moscow Compact Car Factory) started in 1947 to manufacture an automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
called Moskvitch 400 based on the Opel Kadett
Opel Kadett
The Opel Kadett is a small family car produced by the German automobile manufacturer Opel between 1937 and 1940, and then again from 1962 until 1991 , when it was replaced by the Opel Astra.-Original model :...
. Further models were developed by Soviet engineers. In 1969, the factory changed name to AZLK
AZLK
AZLK was a Russian automobile factory , the maker of the Moskvitch brand....
(Avtomobilny Zavod imeni Leninskogo Komsomola, which means Youth Communist League Car Factory).
Moskvitch cars were never meant to be a fashion statement. They were sturdy, reliable on substandard roads and were offered at an affordable price. The 1960s and early 1970s were the glory days, when the cars were exported to many countries throughout the world. Demand always exceeded production, so people had to wait a long time for a new car. Until the 1980s all Moskvitch cars were compact rear-wheel drive saloons and estates with solid rear axles suspended by leaf springs.
The Moskvitch was also produced in Bulgaria (see Moskvitch (Bulgaria)
Moskvitch (Bulgaria)
The Moskvitch was a 20th-century Soviet/Bulgarian passenger car.Between 1966 and 1990, the Balkan factory in Lovech, Bulgaria, assembled the Soviet-designed Moskvitch 408 from complete knock down kits....
) between 1966 and 1990 on the basis of complete knock down (CKD) kits.
Introduction of the Aleko
1986 saw the unveiling of a radically new (by Soviet standards) model, known as the Aleko-141Aleko
The Moskvitch 2141, commonly referred to as simply Aleko , is a Russian small class, third group hatchback car that was first announced in 1985 and...
. It was powered by the VAZ-2106 1.6L in-line four-cylinder engine, which had by then amassed an acceptable track record powering a number of LADA models. Aleko was a front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive
Front-wheel drive is a form of engine/transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longitudinal engine arrangement generally found in rear-wheel drive and...
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...
different from any model the factory had made previously. It was larger and more luxurious, made with comfort, safety and aerodynamics in mind. The body was built on the basis of Simca 1307
Simca 1307
The Simca 1307 was the name under which Chrysler Europe launched its new large family car in July 1975.A modern, front-wheel drive hatchback, it was one of the first such cars in that class, along with the Volkswagen Passat, and became the 1976 European Car of the Year...
, while longitudinal engine
Longitudinal engine
In automotive engineering, a longitudinal engine is an internal combustion engine in which the crankshaft is oriented along the long axis of the vehicle, front to back....
placement and torsion-crank rear suspension and McPherson strut front suspension was inspired by Audi 80
Audi 80
The Audi 80 is a compact executive car produced by the German car manufacturer Audi, from 1966 to 1996. It shared its platform with the Volkswagen Passat from 1973 to 1986 and was available as a saloon car/sedan, and an Avant...
/100
Audi 100
The restyled C2 Audi 100 was launched in 1976, with an in-line five-cylinder engine...
family, while taking into account the larger size of the Moskvitch and Lada
Lada
Lada is a trademark of AvtoVAZ, a Russian car manufacturer in Tolyatti, Samara Oblast. All AvtoVAZ vehicles are currently sold under the Lada brand, though this was not always so; Lada was originally AvtoVAZ's export brand for models it sold under the Zhiguli name in the domestic Soviet market...
engines . The 1.8 liter gasoline engine for the new car was planned, but never materialized, as was also the case with a diesel version. The car was a major improvement over previous generations, but the fall of the centralised economy, below-par quality and inadequate management ultimately brought the factory to bankruptcy.
The factory, which had been renamed to OAO Moskvitch (Moskvitch Joint Stock Company) in the early 1990s, filed for bankruptcy in 2002 and ceased production. The factory remains idle and abandoned, everything left as it was in 2002. Unfinished bodyshells remain on the production line in various stages of completion, while furniture, computers, office supplies, and documents remain in the plant's administration building. Several attempts to restart production have been made over the next 3 years, but none were successful.
Recently, a portion of the abandoned plant was acquired by OAO Avtoframos, a 38%-62% joint venture between the City of Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
automaker Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
SA. In 2005, Avtoframos commenced assembly of Renault Logan sedans from imported complete knock-down kits (CKDs). The presence of Avtoframos brought new life to a small part of the facility, but the majority of the sprawling plant remains abandoned, apparently still owned by the dormant Moskvitch company.
The bankruptcy of OAO Moskvitch was officially announced in 2006 and the company was liquidated the following year.
First (1945—1956)
- Moskvitch 400/420Moskvitch 400/420The Moskvitch 400-420 was a car from Soviet manufacturer Moskvitch introduced in 1947.People in Rüsselsheim remember dismanteling the Kadett production tooling after World War II, to go into a large number of freight cars on their way to Moscow...
Flathead engine 23 hp(1946) - Moskvitch 400/422 ("woodieWoodieA woodie is a car body style, especially a station wagon, where the rear bodywork is constructed of wood framework with infill panels of wood or painted metal....
" station wagonStation wagonA 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...
version of 400) (1949) - Moskvitch 401/420Moskvitch 401Moskvitch 401 was a car from Moskvitch introduced in 1954. It is a modified copy of the Opel Kadett K38 ....
Flathead engine 26 hp(1954) - Moskvitch 401/422 ("woodie" station wagon version of 401) (1954)
- Moskvitch 400/420Moskvitch 400/420The Moskvitch 400-420 was a car from Soviet manufacturer Moskvitch introduced in 1947.People in Rüsselsheim remember dismanteling the Kadett production tooling after World War II, to go into a large number of freight cars on their way to Moscow...
(4-door convertible, was priced below closed models, but anyway was not popular) (1949–52)
Second (1956—1965)
- Moskvitch 402Moskvitch 402The Moskvitch 402 is a small family car manufactured by the former Soviet maker MZMA, first time introduced in 1956 as a second generation of the Moskvitch#Generations series...
(with modified Opel flathead engine 35 hp)(1956) - Moskvitch 410Moskvitch 410The Moskvitch 410 is a car which was made by Soviet manufacturer Moskvitch from 1957. The 410 was conceived as a four wheel drive version of the Moskvitch 402....
(four wheel driveFour Wheel DriveThe Four Wheel Drive Auto Company, more often known as Four Wheel Drive or just FWD, was founded in 1909 in Clintonville, Wisconsin, as the Badger Four-Wheel Drive Auto Company by Otto Zachow and William Besserdich.-History:...
version of 402 and 407) (1957) - Moskvitch 411Moskvitch 410The Moskvitch 410 is a car which was made by Soviet manufacturer Moskvitch from 1957. The 410 was conceived as a four wheel drive version of the Moskvitch 402....
(station wagon version of 410) (1958) - Moskvitch 423 (M-402 station wagon form) (1957)
- Moskvitch 423 N (M - 407 station wagon form) (1958)
- Moskvitch 424 (M-403 station wagon form)
- Moskvitch 407 (45 hp OHV engine) (1958)
- Moskvitch 403 (45 hp OHV engine) (1962)
Third (1965—1986)
- Moskvitch 408Moskvitch 408The Moskvitch-408 series is a small family car produced by the Soviet car manufacturer MZMA/AZLK between 1964 and 1976....
OHV 50 PS , modified 1360 cc 407-engine(1964) - Moskvitch 426 (station wagon version of 408) (1966)
- Moskvitch 412Moskvitch 412The 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...
(1967) (latterly known as a Moskvitch 1500 for the Western export market) - Moskvitch 427 (station wagon version of 412) (1967)
- Moskvitch 1360 (1970)
- Moskvitch 1500 (1970)
- Moskvitch 2136 (station wagon version of 2140, but with 408 engine) (1976)
- Moskvitch 2137 (station wagon version of 2140) (1976)
- Moskvitch 2138 (1976)
- Moskvitch 2140Moskvitch 2140Moskvitch 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...
(1976) (carried on the scheme of using the Moskvitch 1500 name for Western exports) - Moskvitch 2140SL (1981) (Improved 2140, Super Lux was made for foreign markets)
Fourth (1986-2002)
- Moskvitch 2141 AlekoAlekoThe Moskvitch 2141, commonly referred to as simply Aleko , is a Russian small class, third group hatchback car that was first announced in 1985 and...
(1986) - Moskvitch 2142Moskvitch 2142The Moskvitch 2142 was a line of cars produced by AZLK's Moskvitch division from 1998-2002.Three versions of the 2142 were marketed: the Knjaz Vladimir, Ivan Kalita, and the Duet, which was introduced several years later. The Knjaz Vladimir was less-expensive than the more upscale Ivan Kalita, both...
(1997) - Moskvitch SvjatogorAlekoThe Moskvitch 2141, commonly referred to as simply Aleko , is a Russian small class, third group hatchback car that was first announced in 1985 and...
(1997) (a name taken from Russian mythology) - DolgorukijMoskvitch 2142The Moskvitch 2142 was a line of cars produced by AZLK's Moskvitch division from 1998-2002.Three versions of the 2142 were marketed: the Knjaz Vladimir, Ivan Kalita, and the Duet, which was introduced several years later. The Knjaz Vladimir was less-expensive than the more upscale Ivan Kalita, both...
(1997) (named after Yuri DolgorukiYuri DolgorukiPrince Yuri I Dolgorukiy , also known as George I of Rus, was the founder of Moscow and a key figure in the transition of political power from Kiev to Vladimir-Suzdal following the death of his elder brother Mstislav the Great...
, founder of Moscow) - KalitaMoskvitch 2142The Moskvitch 2142 was a line of cars produced by AZLK's Moskvitch division from 1998-2002.Three versions of the 2142 were marketed: the Knjaz Vladimir, Ivan Kalita, and the Duet, which was introduced several years later. The Knjaz Vladimir was less-expensive than the more upscale Ivan Kalita, both...
(1998) (named after Ivan Kalita, a 14th century Russian prince) - Knjaz VladimirMoskvitch 2142The Moskvitch 2142 was a line of cars produced by AZLK's Moskvitch division from 1998-2002.Three versions of the 2142 were marketed: the Knjaz Vladimir, Ivan Kalita, and the Duet, which was introduced several years later. The Knjaz Vladimir was less-expensive than the more upscale Ivan Kalita, both...
(1998) (named after Prince VladimirVladimir I of KievVladimir Sviatoslavich the Great Old East Slavic: Володимѣръ Свѧтославичь Old Norse as Valdamarr Sveinaldsson, , Vladimir, , Volodymyr, was a grand prince of Kiev, ruler of Kievan Rus' in .Vladimir's father was the prince Sviatoslav of the Rurik dynasty...
) - DuetMoskvitch 2142The Moskvitch 2142 was a line of cars produced by AZLK's Moskvitch division from 1998-2002.Three versions of the 2142 were marketed: the Knjaz Vladimir, Ivan Kalita, and the Duet, which was introduced several years later. The Knjaz Vladimir was less-expensive than the more upscale Ivan Kalita, both...
(1999)
Sport and racing cars
- Moskvitch 404 SportMoskvitch 404 SportMoskvitch 404 Sport was a sports car from Moskvitch produced in the 1950s. It was based in the Moskvitch 400/420 and even use the same engine, but fitted with four carburettors. The car was quite successful in racing and won three Russian Championships....
(1950s) - Moskvitch G1Moskvitch G1Moskvitch G1 was a sports car from Moskvitch produced in 1951 by the engineer I. Gladilin. It was the first Moskvitch specially developed for racing. It had aluminium coachwork and was powered by a 1100 cc engine giving and a top speed of...
(1951) - Moskvitch G2Moskvitch G2Moskvitch G2 was a sports car from Moskvitch based on the earlier Moskvitch G1. Instead of an open wheel car it was now fitted with an aerodynamic body and was capable of a top speed of . The G2 car broke several speed records in the USSR....
- Moskvitch G3Moskvitch G3Moskvitch G3 was a sports car from Moskvitch released in 1961 and designed by L. Shugorov. Unlike the earlier G1 and G2 it was more based on the standard models. It used a standard FR layout with independent front suspension. The engine was derived from the Moskvitch 407 engine, but fitted with...
(1961) - Moskvitch G4Moskvitch G4The Moskvitch G4 was a sports car from Moskvitch released in 1963. It used the same engine as the Moskvitch 403, but was fitted with Weber carburettors giving . This was boosted to when the car was fitted with the Moskvitch 412 engine. It had independent suspension, both front and rear, and was...
(1963) - Moskvitch G5Moskvitch G5The Moskvitch G5 was a Formula One car from Moskvitch released in 1965. It was to be fitted with an engine called GD-1, an eight cylinder 1500 cc DOHC engine giving at 10,500 rpm. Already during the first test the engine produced at 6000 rpm. The engine was fitted with four dual Weber...
(1965)
See also
- List of automobile manufacturers
- Automobile model numbering system in USSR and RussiaAutomobile model numbering system in USSR and RussiaA standardized automobile model numbering system has been used in the USSR and Russia. Using the modern version of the system it is possible to determine a vehicle's type and engine capacity. The modern version of the numbering system was introduced in the mid-1970s...
External links
- http://www.azlk.ru (in Russian, official factory website)
- http://alekohistory.narod.ru (in Russian, dedicated to Aleko-141)
- http://www.moskvich.de
- http://mzma.chat.ru/head.htm
- http://www.moskvichtuning.ru (tuning fan site)
- http://paxon.ru (Moskvitch 400-420 - plaster model cars)