Porsche for the poor Bashny.Net

In Togliatti such delegation met infrequently - Minavtoproma representatives, Ministry of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Trade, the State Planning Commission, US and AZLK. It is the principal designer of the Volga car Mirzoev George introduces the concept of a new front wheel drive car. Several variants of bodies (including convertible and pickup), the original layout and, of course, appearance. For the first time, Soviet designers have created a "tracksuit" instead of "eternally fashionable double-breasted jacket." Revolution! Breakthrough! But a spokesman AZLK one phrase destroyed a powerful effect on the presentation Mirzoeva: "Why is a country other car in its class?" - In the capital in full swing in full swing work on the project of Meridian, who would later become Moskvich-2141. In the days of the planned economy of this argument was enough to hack to death a promising machine: two conceptually identical project neizbalovannyh road abundance of Soviet citizens - it's overkill. And in January 1978, when was held presentation of the future "eights" capital guests knew that Meridian will be on the conveyor belt - is understood to vazovtsy transparent hints and condescending smirk Muscovites. On the sidelines of whispering that the decision has already been made, and the new model will VAZ VAZ-2141. But ... They say that the ambitious project "chisel", as will be called the VAZ-2108 for specific forms of chopped, approved personally Leonid Brezhnev - to the domestic auto industry innovations Secretary General had a special weakness.

For these forms designers fought desperately. Reduce the width of the door 200 mm? Never! In the long doors - all the charm of sports image. Move back mirrors? You just see how they fit harmoniously into the window opening! And such disputes - for each line for each item. It is then the creators vosmёrochnogo exterior condescendingly called his creation "lantern", reluctantly recognizing that the lines of the body came too "hard". And while this seems to be another confirmation of stiffness relevance: in 1974, went deliberately "square» Volkswagen Golf by Giugiaro in 1978, appeared quite ethereal and too "square» Fiat Ritmo by Bertone.





On the way from design to production car look "Eight" almost unchanged. Most disputes caused by the thickness of door frames and location gutter. With great difficulty, engineers, technologists and designers managed to hear each other and reach a compromise
But the future of "eight" is not only a modern look. She was so. Front-wheel drive, transverse engine, McPherson strut front and semi-independent "rocking" behind - from the beginning of the 80s, this recipe will be the most popular (and then - and at only) for a batch of compact cars. A sort of fast food car that tried to spice up a good sauce. On the first prototype front fenders, hood, doors and trunk lid are made of aluminum! Of the "winged" alloys also cast hinges, amplifiers, security bars and other details. Even the wheels were planning to use unusual - polypropylene and polycarbonate, and gas tanks - "blow" of polyethylene.



On aerodynamics VAZ-2108 worked well. For example, a tiny vyshtampovki above the rear door specialists suggested Porsche, so that the air flow "reload" rear wheels and improve manageability. At high speeds, the car really has become more stable, but there was another problem: now the third glass door instantly pollute ... I had to put the wiper. A little later there will be cooperative "wings" - strips of metal is attached to the water drain - which will solve the problem of purity rear window

But for the mass production of lightweight "eight" was not suitable: the testers found that parts of the precious metal cracked, economists felt that the cost of the car goes unreasonably high. Weighed as such a machine is only 50 kg less than the usual ... As a result, from advanced materials have decided to refuse. And without enough questions that engineers could not find the answers.

In vazovtsev certainly have thoughts acquire a ready platform abroad, but Fiat sell any new car refused, and other foreign cars simply failed the test - basically, the failure of the elements of the front of the drive. To do everything yourself? So take a chance and did not accept a compromise solution: the development is carried by the vehicle, but invited two foreign companies - consultants design and technology. In 1979, when the first prototypes already wound test kilometers finally managed to find such partners.



Initially, the Germans were confident that their landfill will be sufficient for extensive testing of prototypes. But where to find so many and such a variety of off-road? Therefore, in Togliatti and Dmitrov were held 4 hard run on the cobbles and 12 000 km, add to this the three resource run 80 000 km at the landfill us near Moscow, as well as three mountain trials (two of them - in the Caucasus, and one - in Mont Ventoux in France), three flight tests in Algeria, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and extensive winter program
Test the first prototypes of VAZ-2108 took place in an atmosphere of unprecedented secrecy until now - from prying eyes hid cars, shroud and camouflaged. Once camouflaged car was sent to Ufa highway. Wanting to consider more closely the future novelty Soviet automobile industry, one of the neighbors downstream decided to overtake an unusual car, but lost control and flew into a ditch
For the elaboration of the technology came from the company UTS («Daughter" concern Fiat), but to help designers come from Porsche. With the latest vazovtsy already work on smaller projects and were very pleased. So the nickname "Russian Porsche" and "Porsche for the poor" VAZ "eight" was no accident: the engineers from Stuttgart really worked on the first vazovskim peredneprivodnik. Germans helped to carefully consider the bodywork to create a new family of engines and transmissions. How porshevtsy taught Soviet car ride and pass irregularities ...

Even by modern standards, a timetable for the VAZ-2108 looks very rapid. In 1978, the first prototype, and the curtain of 1984, released batch of 2000 types of trucks. By the standards of sluggishness Soviet automobile industry - unscientific fantasy. Especially considering the following fact: from 3500 units and parts from classic Lada "eight" was only one - the engine piston pin. And then shortened. Thanks to the Germans, who were able to prove the Soviet colleagues obvious: no need to reinvent the wheel when there are ready-tested solutions.



Contemporaries VAZ-2108: Volkswagen Golf, Ford Escort, Hyundai Pony and Peugeot 309. Against the background of the Soviet hatchback completely lost. We note in particular that the design of Porsche specialists do not touch - the authors and V. V. Pasko logs, which led M. Demidovtsev
These solutions are actively buying up all over Europe. Here are just a few examples. Lucas - disc brakes and brake booster, ZF - rack and pinion steering and transmission synchronizers, Automotiv Prodax - clutch, Wayassauto - strut front suspension, Hardy Spicer - constant velocity joints ... C Volkswagen Group vazovskie experts have concluded an agreement on the rear axle. Tires, door locks, radiator, carburetor, headlights and lights - the secrets of these components also had to look abroad.

Of course, take many technologies Soviet factories were not ready. Bor Glassworks refused to make the concave side windows - too hard. Just got a call from Moscow glaziers started. Switches the ignition system had to buy imported - our industry failed to create reliable radioelements ... enough problems on the line. Collectors smashed windscreen good third - did not have enough skills and accuracy during installation. Only when the workers raised wages, the problem disappeared. Plastic bumpers come defective: Syzran, where Italian companies establish their production, could not manage to work out the technical process.



The first impact test demanded serious changes in the power of the body shell, which the factory had never done! So that the entire process of creating a new vehicle accompanied by numerous crash tests, which were carried out in Stuttgart, and Togliatti.
For vazovtsev was the discovery that the course of testing the Germans shoot speed cameras. Here's how it recalls the designer Leo Vihko: "I first saw the film after film rewind back and it was funny to see how the spilled oil and water rises quickly, the engine crankcase" overgrown ", the radiator is reduced and undamaged car rolled back».
Funny been times! How the body behaves when behind another car crash, vazovtsy did not know, and the Germans from Porsche urgently required results of such a crash test. The problem was solved: on poligonovsky GAZ-66 hung a massive slab broke up and ... Results unusual crash tests Germans unconditionally accepted.
For the buyer of a new "Group of Eight" there was a mandatory program. First, replace the oil in the engine and gearbox. Secondly, to make "anti-corrosive" and put the wheel arches. Third, set up the protection of the engine compartment. What is here? And the fact that the protection of non-genuine and very noticeable negative effect on passive safety, what the owners of cars, of course, did not think.
Another aspect concerning security. Unlike Lada and Moskvitch, the driver of VAZ-2108 did not see the front edge of the hood, why initially even tidy drivers "peen" ridiculous in front of the machine crashes. Factory even explained through the magazine Behind the wheel, that with proper planting the lower edge of the glass - this is exactly the front edge of the machine
The appearance of the front of the drive were not ready and drivers. However, the Soviet Union is already one passage: "My friend, experienced driver fifteen years went on to win without incident. And when I bought Lada, then a few days later got into a serious accident. Why produce such machines? "- A journal for driving such letters poured in batches, when started production of" penny ". History repeated itself when on the roads of the country ran the first "Group of Eight". By rideable habits front wheel drive car had to get used to, and almost every room of the main automobile magazine USSR told how to manage the "wrong" machine. However, over time the novelty tasted, and the volume of output grew only hatchback.



In the photo - the first classic version of eights. It is usually called "short wing, low panel».
For those who have never owned a car, explain: in front of the body between the wing and the spotlight, becoming a plastic "beak" (clearly visible in the photo). In 1994, the fenders and hood lengthened to fix this "spacer". So "short wing" was replaced by "long».
At the same time experienced interior renovation "Eight". The front panel was replaced with a massive "high". Look interior of such a machine less elegant, more noise delivered (set of elements of rigid plastic mercilessly rattled the irregularities), but hatchbacks are valued higher than "low panel» ...
On the VAZ-2108 were placed in-line engines in volume 1, 1, 1, 3 and 1, 5 liters. Under the contract, Porsche engineers were to advise the creation of only 1, 3-liter engine, but with the support of the German vazovtsam specialists able to work on the entire family of powertrains
Satellite name for the new George Mirzoev, chief designer of the plant, approved person, without the consent of the top. Alas, the name did not stick, and later the machine came to be called Samaria. In folk memory as the first VAZ peredneprivodnik forever remain "eights" and "nines»
In the West, the Soviet automobile industry took a novelty cool. In 1987, the British magazine Motor car found mediocre, and journalists have made a conclusion and does damning: "Samara would be a step backwards for any Western company, but it is a huge leap forward for the brand Lada." At the end of the material to readers were advised to pay attention to the 2-year European manufacturers of machines, because only serious advantage Soviet machine is a 2-year warranty for 50,000 miles.

Soviet motorists British magazines have not read, but as soon as the era of market economy, rushed to buy used cars. They were painted qualitatively, not annoyed creaks and generally proved to be much more sophisticated and reliable. And even the appearance of new modifications (in 1987 began to produce 5-door hatchback VAZ-2109, in 1990 - a sedan VAZ-21099) did not save Samaria used golf and Escorts began to meet on the road more domestic cars.



Above elementary seemingly thing - rear-window wiper - VAZ designers struggled for a long time, so that the sale of the first machines went without him. This caused great dissatisfaction on the part of buyers who piled complaint letter to all authorities, as well as newspapers and magazines.
In the photo - pre-production machine. On konveyrnyh copies are other taillights, just another form of the fuel tank flap, and even plastic overlay will appear in front of the rear wing: during road tests revealed that part of the wing from the road "sandblasting" peeling off to the metal and needs to be protected
Platform "Eight" is alive and now Priora and Kalina - are direct descendants of the first VAZ hatchback. Moreover, many of the shortcomings grandparent was able to get rid of just now! For example, from the terrible wheel drive and "long" rack disposed only at Kalina-2, we tested six months ago. But it is - another time and other cars.



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