The "Volga" that wanted to be a "Seagull"

In the mid-1980s, the so-called "Perestroika" began, which began a complete reorganization of the Soviet political and economic model of governance. This important process in the history of the USSR reflected in all spheres, including the directions for the development of the automotive industry. Thus, in the second half of the 1980s, mass-produced passenger cars of all enterprises were finally replaced by up-to-date models with an attractive two-volume body and front-wheel drive piese auto online.

The "Volga" that wanted to be a "Seagull"

However, in the case of prestigious limousines, it turned out that such a decision could not be implemented so easily. At the same time, only two such cars were being made in the country - the ZIL-4104 and the GAZ-14 "Chaika", the first of which was made by hand in very limited series and was intended for high-ranking officials. The second, however, was targeted in the context of the new political and economic changes, and in 1988, on the personal order of the General Secretary of the CPSU Mikhail Gorbachev, its production was discontinued. Although unanimously supported, this decision turned out to be hasty, and soon the need arose to find an equivalent replacement for the "Chaika".

At the same time, specialists from the Scientific Automobile and Motor Research Institute (NAMI) in Moscow offered an interesting solution to this issue, which did not require significant capital investments, as it was associated with the creation of a government car based on the serial GAZ-3102 "Volga". The first and only working prototype created under this program was shown to the public at the Soviet Automobile Design Exhibition in Moscow in 1988. The appearance of the sedan is still recognizable, although it has been significantly modernized. The front part is distinguished by a more aerodynamic shape, new headlights, a different radiator grille and a plastic bumper. The body has been more seriously changed in the rear, where the roof is slightly extended, and the rear window is located almost vertically. This solution makes the silhouette of the car more impressive and quite similar to some of the current American limousines at the time. The rear bumper has been replaced with a plastic one, the shape of which is similar to the front one, but the rear lights from the serial version have been preserved.

Unfortunately, the project was declared a failure and its further development was suspended. However, in 1995, NAMI made a new attempt to create a similar car, which was also based on the Volga. The basis was the GAZ-31029 with an extended wheelbase and a similar design with a vertical rear window, called the Volga Cortege, of which only a few units were produced. In the same year, NAMI made another even more bizarre modernization called the Volga Prestige, which resembled the British Jaguar X-type.

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However, in the case of prestigious limousines, it turned out that such a decision could not be implemented so easily

At the same time, specialists from the Scientific Automobile and Motor Research Institute (NAMI) in Moscow offered an interesting solution to this issue, which did not require significant capital investments, as it was associated with the creation of a government car based on the serial GAZ-3102 "Volga"