Historie GAZ-fabriek

The GAZ-24 "Volga" passenger car was developed in the same period and launched into mass production in 1970. The new Volga was characterized by improved aerodynamics, more spacious saloon and boot, a safer structure and better drivability. The "24" had simple, even austere, forms, looked grand and was an embodiment of high quality, prestige and dignity. Its strong body and durable running gear made this vehicle indispensable as a taxi. It was fitted with a 98 h. p. engine and could run at the speed of up to 140 km/h, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 23 seconds (as compared to 34 seconds with GAZ-21). A. D. Prosvirnin, N. A. Yumashev, N. G. Mozohin, V. I. Borisov, G. V. Evart were among those who "guided the first steps" of GAZ-24 in its long and successful life. The vehicle received highest awards at many auto shows, e.g. the International Exhibition in Plovdiv, Bolgaria in 1969 and in Leipzig, Germany in 1970. It took only three years to develop and start the production of GAZ-24-01 taxi, a cargo-passenger vehicle and an ambulance, all built on GAZ-24 platform.

The late 1970-s saw the start of production of the third-generation limousine car GAZ-14 "Chaika" designed by the team consisting of N. A. Yushmanov, V. N. Nosakov, S. V. Volkov, Yu. I. Dokukin and headed by A. D. Prosvirnin. This beautiful high-class seven-seater was famous for its advanced technological decisions and was as comfortable as any of the American juggernauts. It was powered by a 220 h. p. V-8 and reached the speed of 175 km/h. GAZ-14 was the most compact and light among the family of limousines. At the same time, it turned out to be some kind of a test bench for innovative materials, structures and technological processes that were used in mass production of other GAZ models.

A wide-scale reconstruction was carried out at the Plant in the 60-s -70-s. It started with retooling of the foundry shops. The facilities of gray and malleable cast iron were expanded and equipped with new machinery, foundry shop ?6 was the first precision model casting shop to be built in the country in 1962, a new transfer line of mould casting was put into operation that was also the first one of this type in the country. New plants were built, such as: press-dies and press-forms plant in 1967, gearbox plant in 1968, truck axles in 1972.
Industrial group "AvtoGAZ" was formed on the basis of affiliated plants and divisions of the existing enterprise on August 24, 1971. It was renamed as PO (Industrial Group) "GAZ" in 1973, comprising 11 plants. In 1971, the GAZ plant was awarded with Lenin order for successful production of new trucks and passenger cars for the purposes of the country's economy. The reconstruction and technical re-equipment, begun in the 60-70-s, were intensively continued in the 1980-s. The reconstruction of the 80-s is the greatest of its type throughout the entire history of the GAZ plant. The first stage project of expanding envisaged construction of new production buildings with the total area of 700,000 m2, out of which the production facility of diesel power plants was 250,000 m2. The construction works started in 1984 and was over with the launch of the engine plant in 1993. Development and production of diesel engines for GAZ trucks became the main direction of the technological strategy of the plant in the 1980-s.

In 1984, the first GAZ-4301 truck with a diesel air-cooled engine was assembled. Later, the designers developed a 9-ton dump-truck train GAZ-6008. This vehicle was the first one to be powered by the diesel power plant, designed in-house by the GAZ specialists.
Simultaneously with the production of GAZ-24 model, GAZ-3102 Volga was launched into serial production, too.
It had an updated front end and rear end that made the car look still more solid. The interior and the instrument panel were restyled, too. Its seats had headrests and the braking system was considerably modernized. The initial batches of GAZ-3102 were equipped with antechamber torch ignition, and so the vehicle was very popular with state and Communist Party leaders as an office car.

Private citizens were able to buy GAZ-24-10, an updated version of GAZ-24, specifically developed for that purpose. Its engine was more powerful, its suspension had been improved, its ignition was of contactless electronic type and its tires were the size of 202 mm. It had an uplifted radiator grill and a more modern interior. In the late 1980-s the Government set the task of developing a new executive car GAZ-3105 that later went into small-series production.

In 1980, PO "GAZ" was awarded the prestigious international award "Golden Mercury", for its considerable contribution into auto industry and international trade.

In March 1981, the 10,000,000-th GAZ vehicle rolled off the production lines of the plant and in December 1995 - the 15,000,000-th one.
In November 1992 the Gorky automobile plant was transformed into an open joint-stock company and N. A. Pugin was elected President of OAO "GAZ".

More recently GAZ produced mini vans which are very popular in Russia at this moment. GAZ also designed new cars and a new 4x4 jeep. Hopefully this new designs will actually lead to production cars. Here you will find a gallery of cars that actually were produced by the GAZ factories until today.

	GAZ 14 1977-1988
	GAZ 3102 "Volga" 1982
	GAZ 1405 1982-1988
	GAZ 2410 "Volga" 1985-1992
	GAZ 31029 "Volga" 1992-1997
	GAZ 3105 "Volga" 1994-1996
	GAZ 3110 "Volga"
	GAZ 3111 "Volga"

	GAZ M24 "Volga" 1970-1992
	GAZ 2402 "Volga" 1972-1992