"Moskvich-2139": characteristics

Along with the serial machines, the AZLK produced pilot models. One of these cars is the minivan "Moskvich-2139". The car is interesting, but in the series it never went. The minivan was created only for experimental purposes. AZLK had a very real chance to create a car capable of competing with similar models from "General Motors" and "Renault", but the economy intervened.

The car was equipped with a front-wheel drive, and development began in the 87th year. The sample could be embodied in metal only in the 91st. The minibus was built on the basis of the units from Moskvich-2141. There is only one copy of the car "Moskvich-2139 Arbat" and it is in the Museum of retro cars.

History of creation

The director general of the Kolomnikov plant decided to create a new type of car for AZLK. He worked for several years in the Ministry of Automotive Industry of the USSR, but then decided to return to AZLK. Further, the designers of the plant introduced their proposals regarding the development. They offered to meet the demand of buyers for cars with the capabilities of increased terrain, and in particular, for family minibuses. In addition, if this novelty was then released in the series, it would be the first passenger-passenger car with increased cross-country capacity, equipped with a front-wheel drive.

The Ministry of Automotive Industry reviewed the project and approved the terms of reference. Developments have received special industry indices. So, the car was officially included in the plant development plan.

Who and how did the design?

To create an appearance, a specialist in the industrial automobile design of Alexander Kulygin was invited. At one time he loudly declared himself. This man created self-made cars. There were two of them. This is an SUV with the name "Ukhta" and a sports car "Pangolina". Since Kulygin worked on the creation of his machines not himself, then together with him on AZLK build "Moskvich-2139" came his partners and assistants.

Model from plastic

Next, the designer is instructed to create all the necessary sketches for this station wagon. Alexander fulfilled the task more than worthy. A plastic model with a scale of 1: 4 was developed and manufactured. Externally, the sketch was very similar to a real car with a salon and glasses.

Kuligin managed to accurately reproduce in plastic the main interior details, as well as all the external optics. This sample acquired an index of 2131. He opened the trunk door, and inside they placed a refrigerator. In the process of construction of the next model, already in full size under the conditional name "Cruise", the design department of Kulygin re-designed the shape and appearance of the body from scratch. Seven-seater car wagon cross-country looked in full accordance with the automotive fashion of 80-ies.

Salon-transformer

Layout, where you can already sit down, created separately. The car fit three rows of seats, which could be removed and arbitrarily rearranged.

The front passenger seat, as well as the driver's seat, can even be deployed. The middle row was folded and easily transformed into comfortable tables. Also, designers and designers have provided in the cabin cushions with the possibility of changing the length. Now would "Moskvich" minivan would be called only as a car with a salon-transformer.

Staff reshuffle

Under unknown circumstances, the work on the development and construction of the minivan stopped. However, in 1987 the work was launched with unprecedented power and enthusiasm.

Delays in work on the project at AZLK were explained by serious personnel reshuffles. So, the main designer AZLK Tkachenko leaves the factory. Sorokin is claimed to be in his place. In addition, Kuligin is also dismissed. But Konstantin Gromadzky remains on the project. He is appointed chief director and head of the design bureau of the plant. Gromadzky always dreamed of working in this position, and now his dream came true.

Start of development

Works on the creation of the car began in the 87th year. An experienced specialist in the field of industrial and automotive design offers his vision of the project, and along with it, his own sketches of the exterior of the future car "Moskvich-2139". Therefore, if you look at the "Cruise", you will clearly see the difference between him and the prototype of the station wagon.

Subordinate and most experienced employees of the Bureau of Art Design AZLK - V. Harutyunyan and M. Elbaev worked on the creation of the plasticine mock-up. The combination of car devices was developed by the artist N. Titov.

The best and most experienced designers worked on the car. Maybe that's why the exterior of the car read modern reflections of fashion trends? Unlike Kuligin's angular projects, Sorokin's design was very prominent. This is a licked body shape, as well as excellent aerodynamic characteristics due to glued glass.

We can say even more: "Moskvich-2139", the year of issue of which formally - 1988, managed to outstrip its time by at least 15 years. Something similar has already been applied, not in the 80's and 90's, but only on some cars from the early 2000's.

"Arbat"

This first prototype was created by the Bureau of Artistic Design. It is interesting that the bureau of bodies and other departments did not participate in the development. It happened because of Kolomnikov's wishes. A well-equipped model area was opened in the department.

Next, a drawing was created behind the layout. Based on the latter, sections of the exterior parts of the body were outlined. Spatial details were glued together from strips of foam frames. Then they made templates of aluminum. The surfaces from the gypsum were stretched from the top of the foam plastic. Then the layout was cut into separate parts - side parts, doors, roof, hood, bumpers. These elements served as matrices for the production of molds in which glass-plastic parts were glued.

Body

The process of creating a set of bodywork original elements and assembling the running sample took about a year and a half. "Moskvich-2139" received a frame-panel body. At the heart of the design was a steel platform and a space frame of a bearing type. All the body elements on the outside are made of plastic.

Engine

"Moskvich-2139" AZLK was equipped with one of the modifications of the power unit series AZLK-21414 with a volume of 1.8 liters and a capacity of 95 horsepower. The motor was provided by the design bureau of the plant. In the 80s, active work was carried out on the motors of this series, experimental and working samples were created and tested actively. The remaining units, namely drives for driving wheels, gearbox, steering system, front and rear suspension, were taken from the production model "Moskvich-2141".

Suspension and interior

To increase the load capacity, the designers had to create a completely original design of the rear suspension. All internal interior details seven-seater also received from "Moskvich-2141".

In the car there was a salon with the possibility of transformation. The front seats could be turned and adjusted the length of the pillows. Along with the mass of elements from 410 "Moskvich", the interior was also full of original solutions.

Among them - a completely electronic instrument panel, multi-wheel, which is now in good foreign cars. There was a regular audio system, but this is a simple, domestic "Moskvich 2139". The description confirms that there was even an onboard computer and an air conditioner.

Birthday

The finished "Moskvich-2139" (prototype, embodied in metal and plastic) was handed over on December 31, 1987. But this copy was not the last and final. It was necessary to test and evaluate what the new car is capable of, what advantages and disadvantages it has, and also to find out how to further develop the new car.

Alternative minivans on AZLK decided to develop with the assistance and active participation of Italian designers from the firm Garnero. The plant gave Italian designers a very clear conditions and terms of reference. The designers of the project "Arbat" went to Italy to create a landing model there.

Further, a body and exterior model of plastic was sent to Moscow. Outwardly, he had practically no differences from the real machine. They made the layout exactly in the agreed time frame, as if the project simply lay with the designer firm in reserve. Efforts of Italian specialists and designers from the AZLK created a landing model. However, in the USSR he never got. The first layout also had to be returned to the authors.

This project was created only as a concept car. But there were plans to launch minivans in the government. He was to begin in the Kaluga region, in the town of Sukhinichi. There was a plant of automatic lines, which in the beginning of the year 89 entered the production complex "Moskvich".

In the early 90's the car was widely covered in the entire automobile and near the automobile press. October 26, 88-year "Muscovite" even awarded one gold and eight silver medals at the exhibition VDNH USSR.

Ressa

"Ress" is, perhaps, the rarest and least known prototype of the AZLK production. The machine was designed and created in cooperation with Italians. "Ress" is the result of the development of "Arbat". It was this version that was to be launched with a series at the plant in Sukhinichi. The car in the serial assembly did not hit, and the only mock-back was returned to the Italians.

"Moskvich-2139": characteristics

The assembly of mock-ups and prototype was carried out by specialists of the "Moskvich" software in the town of Sukhinichi, Kaluga region. The car is a representative of the D-class (it's a family minivan). The name of the car was very unusual - "Arbat". The design is made in step with the times. The body had five doors and seven seats.

The car received a front-wheel drive and a front-engine layout. Among the engines - AZLK-21414 from "Moskvich 2141" and power unit from Renault F3R. Transmission is also from the 41st "Moskvich", a five-speed manual. The engine capacity of 1.8 liters developed power of 95 liters. C., and the maximum speed was 175 km / h.

Dimensions

We continue to study "Moskvich-2139". The minivan's dimensions were 4600 millimeters in length, 1800 millimeters in width, 1640 millimeters in height. The size of the wheelbase is 273 centimeters. The equipped weight of the minivan was only 1,300 kilograms. The car turned out to be very easy for its class.

A machine that did not exist

The machine, as already mentioned, was to be produced not in Moscow, but in the Kaluga region. After all, the AZLK plant was loaded with work. Therefore, the assembly was planned at a subsidiary enterprise. But in the beginning it was necessary to finish in Moscow the construction of a plant for the production of engines, where they planned to produce engines for all new models.

And, unfortunately, these plans have not come true, but for quite good reasons. After the Soviet Union ceased to exist, the AZLP became not until the creation of new promising models. Already in 1992 it became clear that the main thing for the plant now is to survive in the new conditions.

And at the same time, the plant by some miracle continued to work. But the project "Arbat" and was just a minivan-perspective - a machine that never was. A car built in a country that has ceased to exist.

Although recently AZLK started talking about the possibility of recovering old abandoned projects from the ashes. Perhaps, the minivan will be released in the third millennium. Perhaps, the same "Reno" will launch production under the brand "Moskvich", which bought out the brand. But while the car remains only on paper and as a prototype in one of the museums of the car factory.

Conclusion

So, we found out what features, design and interior the domestic minivan "Moskvich Arbat" has. As you can see, this is a car with a long history, which is not destined to be realized.