Volga (automobile)

Volga is a brand name of various passenger cars from GAZ.

Models

GAZ-21

The GAZ-21 Volga, the first car to carry the Volga name, was developed in the early to mid 1950's. The GAZ-21 was the first Soviet car to equal, or even exceed Western manufacturers in technology and build quality. Volgas were built to last in the harsh climate and rough roads of the Soviet Union, with high ground clearance, rugged suspension, a bullet-proof engine, and rustproofing on a scale unheard of in the 1950's.

The Volga was stylistically right in line with the major American manufacturers of the period, and incorporated many luxury features that moved GAZ back upmarket. The Volga GAZ-21 was the most luxurious car that any Soviet citizen was permitted to own (though only about 2% could afford to buy one).

The car's size and construction made it popular in the police and taxi trades, and V8-engined versions were produced for the KGB. An automatic transmission was briefly offered in the early 1960's when GAZ was contemplating entering the US market. The Volga M21 was produced in sedan form from 1956-1970 and station wagon form (GAZ-22 Universal) from 1962-1970. Today, it is considered a motoring icon with fans all over the world, including at least a handful in the USA.

Popular as it was, the M21 was quite outdated by the 1960's, leading GAZ to develop a boxier, more modern replacement.

GAZ-24

The GAZ-24 Volga (looking similiar to 1960's era Chevrolets or Fords) entered limited production in 1968, and full-scale manufacturing in 1970. The station wagon form (GAZ-24-05 Universal) arrived in 1972. GAZ-24 production continued in original form until 1992. This Volga enjoyed moderate success in export markets, and is the best-selling model in GAZ history with over 600,000 made.

Almost all GAZ passenger cars introduced since the 1970's are based off of the venerable GAZ-24 platform, right down to the central body shell.

The 24-10 (basically an GAZ-24 with a more modern plastic grille) was produced from 1985-1992. A station wagon, the 24-12 Universal, was produced as well.

GAZ-3102

An updated and more luxurious version of the M24, the Volga 3102, arrived in 1982 and continues in production to this day.

The Volga 31029, featuring more aerodynamic front bodywork, was produced from 1992-1997.

GAZ-3110

A yet still more modern derivative of the GAZ-24, the Volvo-inspired Volga 3110, arrived in 1997 and remained until 2003. The station wagon version of the 3110, the Volga 310221 Universal, remains in production as of 2005. The sedan recieved a minor front restyle for the final year of production, while the wagon continued with the 1997 front styling, with everyting from the A pillar back dating to 1972.

The 3110's replacement, the Volga 31105, entered production in early 2004 and represents the most heavily restyled and modernized version of the GAZ-24 yet. Additional, even more heavy restyled GAZ-24 versions in both sedan and wagon form are planned for the near future - not bad for a car design that dates back some 36 years.

GAZ-3105

Besides the GAZ-24 derivatives, GAZ has also produced two truly modern Volga models in recent years. The front-wheel drive Volga 3105 luxury sedan was produced in limited quantities (primarily for experimental use) from 1994-1997, when production ceased after less then a few hundred had been built.

GAZ-3111

The 3105 was succeeded by the rear-wheel drive Volga 3111 produced from 1998-2003. The 3111 was a modern luxury sedan targeted against used Jaguars on the Russian market. It featured GAZ-21-influenced retro styling cues and was developed in collaboration with US-based Venture Industries. Sadly, 3111 production ceased after a rather short (by Russian standards) run due to high production costs, and lackluster sales due to the cars $8,800 base price (luxury-car territory for Russian automakers).

Recent developments

GAZ is currently developing a spiritual successor to the 3111, the Volga 3115, slated for production in 2006 or 2007 with a base price of $9,000-$9,500. The 3115 will be targeted against pre-owned Audi A4s. Though production seems a likely possibility, the 3115 currently exists in prototype form only.

The current three-model Volga range is all based off of the 1968 GAZ-24, and consists of the top-range 3102 (since 1982), the 310221 station wagon (since 1997), and the most modern, yet lowest-priced 31105 (since 2004). Volga 31105 pricing starts at around $7,000.

Production

Volga production peaked at over 100,000 units per year during the early-to-mid 1990's, then fell sharply due to Russia's worsening economic crises, reaching just 56,000 cars in 2000. With build quality far above other Eastern automakers, and a rapidly re-building export network, Volga has made great progress on the road to recovery, with nearly 70,000 cars produced in 2004, and on track exceed 70,000 for 2005.

See also

• Pobeda
• Chaika
• GAZ

External links

• Autosoviet (excellent information on all Eastern cars)
• German Volga importer
• Russian Volga owners/enthusiats database