10 Classic Russian-built fast cars in Soviet Union era (Part-1)

Speed DEMON The automotive industry in the Soviet Union spanned the history of the state from 1929 to 1991. It started with the establishment of large car manufacturing plants and reorganisation of the AMO Factory in Moscow in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

1934 GAZ A-Aero. a unique streamline-bodied concept car built by GAZ (Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod), a Russian automotive manufacturer located in Nizhny Novgorod. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/37XU2de)

And during the first five-year plan, and continued until the Soviet Union’s dissolution in 1991, there were many cars had been built. Below are ten coolest, weirdest and fastest racing, experimental and concept cars which ever built while under the Soviet Union regime.

1. 1934 GAZ A-Aero

This Russian classic fast car designed by Aleksei Osipovich and built only one unit in 1934 by GAZ (Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod), a Russian automotive manufacturer located in Nizhny Novgorod.

1934 GAZ A-Aero uses a standard GAZ-A 4-cylinder 3,285 liters petrol engine with an increased compression ratio and aluminum head. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3hqJWoi)

The car built based of GAZ-A with wooden bodywork and metal plates covered. Its powertrain uses a standard GAZ-A 4-cylinder 3,285 liters petrol engine with an increased compression ratio and aluminum head.

1934 GAZ A-Aero run up to a top speed of 106 kph with the acceleration 0 - 100 kph in 36 second. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/34VJPfn)

The engine able to spew power of 48 hp at 2,300 rpm, that's enough to bring it run up to a top speed of 106 kph with the acceleration 0 - 100 kph in 36 second.

2. 1938 GAZ GL-1

The car is produced in 1938 based of the GAZ-M1. As result, this racing car is touted as the fastest Soviet race car before the war. In order to find the right engine for this car, the GAZ engineers conducted several experiments using different engines such the original GAZ-M1 engine was boosted to 65 hp instead of 50 hp, and while using the GAZ 11's 6 cylinder engine was boasted of 100 hp.

1938 GAZ GL-1 is touted as the fastest Soviet race car before the war with the top speed of speed of 148 kph. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3pA3XMc)

In October 1938, Arkady Nikolaev finally managed to reach a speed of 148 kph with the GAZ GL-1, thus setting a new Soviet Union record.

1940 GAZ GL-1 had a six-cylinder engine that allowed the car to reach a speed of 140 kph. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3pA3XMc)

Just a couple of years later, GAZ unveiled its new 11 model, which had a six-cylinder engine that allowed the car to reach a speed of 140 kph. The only thing that was clear was that the GAZ GL-1 needed a lot of work.

3. 1950 GAZ M-20 'Pobeda' Sport

The unique car is built in the Soviet Union in 1950 and there aren't many pics of this prototype around. When it using the original GAZ-M1 65 hp engine, the car able to run up to a top speed of 148 kph.

1950 GAZ M-20 'Pobeda' Sport uses an inline 6 quoted at 105 hp with some details were redesigned (new wheel caps, dome abouve driver’s head, rounded grill plating) and top speed of 193 kph can be achieved. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3pzOQCa)

But if the car uses an inline 6 quoted at 105 hp with some details were redesigned (new wheel caps, dome abouve driver’s head, rounded grill plating) and top speed 120 mph/193 kph can be achieved. It looks like it might have gone a bit faster if it wasn't a tin can on wheels.

4. 1951 GAZ 'Torpedo'

The SG-2 racing car better known on public as GAZ 'Torpedo' and it was created after 'Victory sports' by designer A.A.Smolin. He refused the 'Victory' body even if remade, then created a bearing aluminum body of a tear-shaped form of completely new design and inspired of aviation technologies.

1951 GAZ 'Torpedo' created a bearing aluminum body of a tear-shaped form of completely new design and inspired of aviation technologies. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2WTq2cj)

Designers of GAZ understood that the created sports cars of SG-1 and SG-2, only transitional stage to more perfect designs with higher dynamic parameters. The idea of construction of superfast model which would become over time a basis for creation of the car, capable to establish new world records of speed was offered.

By using the 1951 GAZ 'Torpedo,' there were two all-Soviet Union records of speed are established. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/3huEcd2)

The GAZ 'Torpedo' uses an four-cylinder 2.4-liter engine that delivers 105 hp of power at 4,000 rpm and could be make the machine run up to the top speed of 191 kph. Its framework with a set from dural profiles, a covering made of aluminum sheet. By using the SG-2 or GAZ 'Torpedo' there were two all-Soviet Union records of speed are established.

5. 1951 Kharkov-3, Kharkov-L1 and Avangard

In 1951 three more speed record cars from the Ukrainian city of Kharkov were announced and devoted exclusively to break speed records. Members of a local car club created these three interesting cars, the Kharkov-3, the Kharkov-L1, and the Avangard independently.

1951 Kharkov-3, the Kharkov-L1, and the Avangard. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/2WWT4aI)

Ukraine was a part of the Soviet Union, and Kharkov was one of the largest engineering centers in the entire country. The local school of casting and metalworking made it possible to create highly complex metal parts of the highest quality, including, completely non-standard automobile engines. The local aviation industry helped enthusiasts with aerodynamic solutions for the bodywork.

1951 Avangard had a mid-engine layout, instead of a front-mounted engine, a platform frame chassis and elongated, streamlined bodies. (Picture from: https://bit.ly/38M22NB)

These three cars were in stark contrast to all Soviet record-breaking racing cars created earlier. They all had a mid-engine layout, instead of a front-mounted engine, a platform frame chassis and elongated, streamlined bodies.

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Wednesday, January 6, 2021

10 Classic Russian-built fast cars in Soviet Union era (Part-1)