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Why in “Zaporozhets” was provided this mysterious hatch, which so struck Jeremy Clarkson
Bashny.Net
For thirty seasons of the TV show Top Gear, its hosts were behind the wheel of recognized masterpieces of the world automotive industry. But Jaguar, Porsche, Aston Martin and Lamborghini could not surprise Jeremy Clarkson in the way that the usual old Zaporozhets did. What is the secret of the most recognizable Soviet car?
In the 50s of the XX century, the concept of a practical and affordable small national car became widely popular in Europe. In Germany, the Volkswagen Beetle became such a model, in Italy - the Fiat-500.
At the same time, the car industry of the USSR could offer motorists only larger "Moskvich" and "Volga". At a considerable price, these vehicles remained an unattainable dream for many Soviet citizens.
Journalists inspect the new economy-class car Fiat 500, July 29, 1957 / GettyImages Therefore, it was decided to launch a car that will be available to the masses of workers. Khrushchev chose the Italian Fiat-600 as its prototype. And the release of new items was entrusted to the Zaporozhye plant of agricultural machinery.
Export version ZAZ-965 / GettyImages Already on October 1, 1960, the first car "Zaporozhets" - ZAZ-965 came off the assembly line. It was produced from 1960 to 1969 and for the unusual shape of the body received the popular love nickname “humpback”.
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Publication from WOC - For motorists (@worldofcars_ru)
In 1966, a radically revised ZAZ-966 was released in the series, in which the designers took into account the experience of the predecessor and eliminated its most significant shortcomings. And in 1971, it was replaced by a more modern ZAZ-968 with new turn signals and an instrument model.
Their interest in the release of “Zaporozhets”, oddly enough, had the military. The fact is that all variants of the Zaporizhzhian were unified as much as possible by nodes and assemblies with the army all-terrain vehicle TPK (LuAZ-967). From here originate the unique generic features of Zaporozhye small cars - air cooling of the engine, smooth bottom, impressive permeability and maintainability.
The origins of popular love for Zaporozhets Perhaps there is no other Soviet car, the reviews of which would be so diametrically opposed. Some swear overheating of the engine in summer and poor start in winter, recall the high noise level, dissatisfied with the cramped cabin and capricious stove.
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Posted by Oldcar (@oldcar77)
Others believe that for trips to the country, fishing or hunting, you simply cannot find a better car. Funny weight allowed you to manually push the “baby” out of the dirt, and independent suspension and the location of the engine above the driving wheels ensured “Zaporozhets” passability like a tractor.
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Posted by RetroAutoBelarus Retrauto (@retroautobelarus)
To this it is worth adding an affordable price and the possibility of repair literally “on the knee”. Old-timers remember how they single-handedly removed the engine along with the gearbox and after repair they put them in place.
Why did ZAZ-968 hit Jeremy Clarkson so hard? “With the engine located at the rear, it is an exact replica of the Porsche 911,” concludes Jeremy Clarkson’s test drive, “except for one thing: under the mat in the legs, the passenger has a small rectangular hatch.” Not even in Maybach!
about:blank
According to Clarkson, this secret trump card "Zaporozhets" is intended for... winter fishing. You stop, for example, on a frozen lake, make a hole in the ice, lower a fishing rod there directly from the cabin, turn on an autonomous stove and fish in warmth and comfort without leaving the car.
Well, Jeremy's a joker. But here's the thing: no one can accurately determine the purpose of this intrigued Englishman artifact. On the Internet, as usual, a carriage of opinions. According to one version, this mysterious hole is designed to drain water. Like, took off the seats, washed the floor from the hose, and the water with dirt calmly glass into the hatch.
On the other hand, it is a technological hole for draining soil at the plant. A close theory suggests that a traction lever was inserted into it to move the car body along the conveyor. There are also comic versions like the one that through the hole "Zaporozhets" with failed brakes can be stopped with scrap. Do you have a theory about that?
The article and the preview used photos.
In the 50s of the XX century, the concept of a practical and affordable small national car became widely popular in Europe. In Germany, the Volkswagen Beetle became such a model, in Italy - the Fiat-500.
At the same time, the car industry of the USSR could offer motorists only larger "Moskvich" and "Volga". At a considerable price, these vehicles remained an unattainable dream for many Soviet citizens.
Journalists inspect the new economy-class car Fiat 500, July 29, 1957 / GettyImages Therefore, it was decided to launch a car that will be available to the masses of workers. Khrushchev chose the Italian Fiat-600 as its prototype. And the release of new items was entrusted to the Zaporozhye plant of agricultural machinery.
Export version ZAZ-965 / GettyImages Already on October 1, 1960, the first car "Zaporozhets" - ZAZ-965 came off the assembly line. It was produced from 1960 to 1969 and for the unusual shape of the body received the popular love nickname “humpback”.
View this post on Instagram
Publication from WOC - For motorists (@worldofcars_ru)
In 1966, a radically revised ZAZ-966 was released in the series, in which the designers took into account the experience of the predecessor and eliminated its most significant shortcomings. And in 1971, it was replaced by a more modern ZAZ-968 with new turn signals and an instrument model.
Their interest in the release of “Zaporozhets”, oddly enough, had the military. The fact is that all variants of the Zaporizhzhian were unified as much as possible by nodes and assemblies with the army all-terrain vehicle TPK (LuAZ-967). From here originate the unique generic features of Zaporozhye small cars - air cooling of the engine, smooth bottom, impressive permeability and maintainability.
The origins of popular love for Zaporozhets Perhaps there is no other Soviet car, the reviews of which would be so diametrically opposed. Some swear overheating of the engine in summer and poor start in winter, recall the high noise level, dissatisfied with the cramped cabin and capricious stove.
View this post on Instagram
Posted by Oldcar (@oldcar77)
Others believe that for trips to the country, fishing or hunting, you simply cannot find a better car. Funny weight allowed you to manually push the “baby” out of the dirt, and independent suspension and the location of the engine above the driving wheels ensured “Zaporozhets” passability like a tractor.
View this post on Instagram
Posted by RetroAutoBelarus Retrauto (@retroautobelarus)
To this it is worth adding an affordable price and the possibility of repair literally “on the knee”. Old-timers remember how they single-handedly removed the engine along with the gearbox and after repair they put them in place.
Why did ZAZ-968 hit Jeremy Clarkson so hard? “With the engine located at the rear, it is an exact replica of the Porsche 911,” concludes Jeremy Clarkson’s test drive, “except for one thing: under the mat in the legs, the passenger has a small rectangular hatch.” Not even in Maybach!
about:blank
According to Clarkson, this secret trump card "Zaporozhets" is intended for... winter fishing. You stop, for example, on a frozen lake, make a hole in the ice, lower a fishing rod there directly from the cabin, turn on an autonomous stove and fish in warmth and comfort without leaving the car.
Well, Jeremy's a joker. But here's the thing: no one can accurately determine the purpose of this intrigued Englishman artifact. On the Internet, as usual, a carriage of opinions. According to one version, this mysterious hole is designed to drain water. Like, took off the seats, washed the floor from the hose, and the water with dirt calmly glass into the hatch.
On the other hand, it is a technological hole for draining soil at the plant. A close theory suggests that a traction lever was inserted into it to move the car body along the conveyor. There are also comic versions like the one that through the hole "Zaporozhets" with failed brakes can be stopped with scrap. Do you have a theory about that?
The article and the preview used photos.
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