GAZ-M-21 "Volga"

SovAvto Website.

 

Model GAZ-M-21 "Volga"
Seating 5
Curb weight, kg [lb] TOTAL 1,460 [3,608]
front axle 750 [1,650]
rear axle 710 [1,562]
Gross weight, kg [lb] TOTAL 1,885 [4,147]
front axle 905 [1,991]
rear axle 980 [2,156]
Payload [carrying capacity] weight, kg [lb] 50 [110] for sedan models w/ 5 persons; 80 [176] for station wagon models w/ 5 persons; 
Permissible [semi-]trailer weight, kg -
Length, mm [in.] 4770 [15'8"]
Width, mm [in.] 1800 [5'11"]
Height, mm [in.] 1620 [5'4"]
Wheelbase, mm [in.] 2700 [8'10"]
Track width, mm front 1410
rear 1420
Minimal ground clearance, mm [in.] under front axle 200 [7 10/12']
under rear axle 190 [7 1/2']
Minimal radius of turn, m [yards] b/n curbs (outer front wheel) 6.3 [6.9]
b/n walls (extreme exterior dimension 6.8 [7.5]
Maximum speed, km/h 130
Fuel consumption, liters/100km 9.0 (@ 40-50 km/h)
Acceleration time from 0-100 km/h, seconds -
Transmission gearbox 3 speed, steering column gearshift
gearbox ratios 3.115 / 1.772 / 1.000 / R-3.740
main gear ratio 4.55 (41 and 9 teeth)
transfer case ratio -
clutch one disc, dry w/ hydraulic drive
Wheels number 4 + 1
tire size 6,70-15
tire pressure, kg/cm2 1.7 front / 1.7 rear
Suspension front independent, spring suspension w/ wishbone arms; hydraulic telescopic double-acting shock absorbers
rear on longitudinal semi-elliptic springs; hydraulic telescopic double-acting shock absorbers
Steering gear cone worm and 2-ridge roller
gear ratio 18.2
Brakes braking distance, m -
service (foot) drum brakes to all wheels w/ hydraulic drive
parking (hand) drum brake to transmission w/ mechanical drive
Filling capacities, liters fuel tank 60 (A-72)
engine cooling system 11.5 (water or anti-freeze)
engine lubrication system 5.6 [in summer-industrial oil 50 (SU) or ASp-5 and AKp-5 oil; in winter-mix 60% industrial oil 50 (SU) and 40% of spindle oil AU]
gearbox housing  0.8 (transmission oil)
axle housing 0.9 (hypoid gear oil)
steering system cylinder 0.25 (transmission oil)
shock absorbers each front 0.14; each rear 0.23 (spindle oil AU) [0.24 each front and 0.15 each rear for lever-type shock absorbers]
hydraulic brake drive 0.7 (braking fluid)
air filter 0.25 (engine oil)
Carburetor K-22I or K-105 until 1962; K-124 after 1962
Electric equipment 12 volts
Accumulator battery 6STE'54E'M
Generator [alternator] G12B; 12 amps; 225 watts
Relay-regulator RR24
Starter motor ST20-B; 1.7 hp.
Timer-distributor R-3B
Spark plugs A14U
Engine engine type M-21, 4 cylinder, carb., 4-stroke., ohv
cylinder work order 1-2-4-3
maximum horsepower, hp 75.0 @ 4000 rpm
maximum torque, N·m 17.0 @ 2200 rpm
displacement, liters 2.445
compression ratio 6.6:1
bore/stroke, mm 92.0 / 92.0
Years of production 1956-1970
Total units made -
Wheel arrangement 4 X 2
Pictures 29 KB (b/w, side view, 1955 prototype [5])

37 KB (color, front view, 1955 prototype, 3 cars [5])

35 KB (color, front view, w/ our friend Boris in Saint-Petersburg in summer of 1998 [30])

19 KB (color, interior view [4])

27 KB (color, side view [40])

20 KB (color, rear view [111])

14 KB (b/w, front view, w/ tow truck [9])

53 KB (b/w, front view /w technical info [1])

9 KB (b/w, side view, drawing [103])

9 KB (b/w, side view, drawing [105])

17 KB (b/w, front view, 3 different models [B,I,L] [3])

 

* There were numerous modifications of this car and even though they didn't differ by much, I will list them below

** The gear box ratio numbers given are for regular, manual gear shift GAZ-M-21 "Volga". However, there were also made a few series of cars with hydro-mechanical automatic transmission with the following data: hydro-transformer (transformer coefficient 2.1) and planetary gear box w/ automatic shifting. Gearbox ratios: I-2.84/II-1.68/III-1.72/ R-3.78. 

Model Comment Years of prod. Distinguishing features Photos
GAZ-M-21G "Volga" basic model 1956-1957 had a 65 h.p., SV engine -
GAZ-M-21B "Volga" taxi model 1956-1957 had a 65 h.p., SV engine -
GAZ-M-21V "Volga" basic model 1957-1958 had a 65 h.p., OHV engine (29 KB color, front view [111]), (81 KB color, side view [4]), (70 KB color, side view [4]), (20 KB b/w, front view [16])
GAZ-M-21A "Volga" taxi model 1957-1962 had a (1957-1958 65 h.p.) 70 h.p., OHV engine; lacked radio, antenna and cigarette lighter -
GAZ-M-21I "Volga" basic model 1958-1962 had a 70 h.p., OHV engine (17 KB color, front view [7]), (41 KB color, front view [29]), (32 KB color, front/rear view [29]), (28 KB color, side view [29]), (29 KB color, front view [29]), (46 KB color, front view [29]), (11 KB b/w, front view [124])
GAZ-M-21K "Volga" export model 1958-1962 had a 80 h.p., OHVengine -
GAZ-M-21L "Volga" basic model 1962-1965 had a 75 h.p., OHVengine (51 KB color, interior view [31]), (38 KB color, side view [31]), (28 KB color, side view [159]), (65 KB color, front view [111])
GAZ-M-21M "Volga" export model 1962-1965 had a 85 h.p., OHV engine -
GAZ-M-21T "Volga" taxi model 1962-1970 had a 75 h.p., OHV engine; lacked radio, antenna and cigarette lighter -
GAZ-21R "Volga" basic model 1965-1970 had a 75 h.p., OHV engine (16 KB color, side view [106]), (27 KB b/w, interior and side view [159])
GAZ-21S "Volga" export model 1965-1970 had a 80 and 85 h.p., OHV engine, fenders w/ molding w/ "Volga" inscriptions in Cyrillic on them (50 KB color, front view [32]), (46 KB color, rear seat view [111]), (51 KB color, dashboard view [111]), (46 KB color, engine view, air filter and electric windshield-washer are upgrades from later Volgas [111]), (26 KB color, radiator view [111]), (16 KB b/w, front view, racing [111]), (33 KB b/w, rear view [7])
GAZ-21N "Volga" basic model 1965-1970 had a 75 h.p., OHV engine; same as GAZ-21R except that gear shifter located on floor -
GAZ-21P export model 1965-1970 steering mounted on the right side of the car -
GAZ-M-22 "Volga" universal (5 door station wagon) 1962-1965 2nd row of seats can be folded down to increase cargo space (38 KB b/w, side view, prototype utilizing M-21I trim [3])
GAZ-M-22B "Volga" universal (5 door station wagon) ambulance 1962-1965 with red cross light on the roof and search-light on left side -
GAZ-22V "Volga" universal (5 door station wagon)  1965-197? 7,00 x 15 or 7,15 x 15 tires, reinforced suspension; 2 people + 400 kg load, 2nd row of seats can be folded down to increase cargo space (38 KB color, side view [4]), (8 KB color, rear view [7])
GAZ-22D "Volga" universal (5 door station wagon) ambulance 1965-197? 6,70 x 15 tires, regular suspension; 4 people + 1 on stretcher; with red cross light on the roof and search-light on left side -
GAZ-22M "Volga" universal (5 door station wagon) export model 1965-197? -  
GAZ-M-2? "Volga" pickup with 2 doors - - (53 KB b/w, front view [33])
GAZ-23 sedan for KGB, discontinued because of poor handling characteristics 1962-1970 GAZ-21 body but with power steering, automatic transmission and GAZ-M13 "Chaika" engine; 603 cars made -

Interestingly, a few editions of GAZ-M-21 "Volga" were made with automatic transmissions. Overall, 638875 GAZ-M-21 and GAZ-M-22 between 1956 and 15 July 1970 [end of production] were made. The volume of the trunk of the sedan model is 0.48 meters cubed.


 

These pictures are of GAZ-21R that belongs to Maxime Bujakov in Boston, usa.
68 KB (color, side view, when it belonged to previous owner in Latvia [29])
31 KB (color, front view, from now on it is in the US [29])
35 KB (color, "Volga", Maxime and his son [29])
36 KB (color, side view [29])
36 KB (color, interior view, dashboard [30])
28 KB (color, rear view [30])
21 KB (color, front view, myself next to Maxime's 'new' 1968 "Volga" [29])
28 KB (color, front view, "Volga" and its owner [30])
31 KB (color, front view, outside Maxime's office building [30])
22 KB (color, rear view, with Maxime [29])

This [Maxime's] Volga was imported from Latvia to Massachusetts, USA in March 1999. It is the first GAZ registered in the state of MA. Maxime's Volga is one of the models which have the gear-shifting lever located on the steering column.


 

These pictures are of GAZ-21R that belongs to Dmitry Kuznetsov near Novosibirsk, Russia [122]. Dmitry's Volga was one made in April of 1966 and was one of about a dozen special edition cars for his Siberian Department of the Academy of Sciences [this edition had fully chromed bumpers, 21-A engine adopted for A-80 fuel with 88 h.p., and self-adjusting braking cylinders]
30 KB (color, side view)
28 KB (color, rear view, winter scenery)
25 KB (color, front view, winter scenery)
28 KB (color, side view)
24 KB (color, left side rear view)
33 KB (color, rear view)
22 KB (color, GAZ logo on Volga's hood)
35 KB (color, interior view and steering wheel through open driver's door)
33 KB (color, interior view through rear right passenger door)
32 KB (color, engine view in exceptional condition w/ GAZ-24 relay-regulator)
27 KB (color, engine view in exceptional condition w/ GAZ-24 relay-regulator)
29 KB (color, side view of headlights and radiator grill)
32 KB (color, radio view)
23 KB (color, view of a sticker with directions on how to clean engine oil filter)
42 KB (color, view of a sticker with a warning to let out water from radiator to prevent freezing up)

 


 

These pictures are of GAZ-M-21I that belongs to Jan Volgovodov in Sweden [121]
38 KB (color, side view, in front of McDonald's)

 

These pictures are of GAZ-M-21R that belongs to Claes Norr in Sweden [158]
41 KB (color, side view, with his son)

Below are a few photos from 14 November 1999. [the date on photo is different because Maxime must have forgotten to change the time after he came back from Russia]. In it you can see Maxime's 1968 GAZ-M-21R Volga and Tim's 1959 GAZ-12 ZIM.

Tim's GAZ-12 ZIM w/ some views of Maxime's GAZ-21R "Volga" [pics are taken by me [30], unless otherwise noted]
53 KB color, front view, Maxime and his son next to the Volga, Tim next to his ZIM, and myself in the "elegant British" cap in the middle [29]
55 KB color, front view Maxime's wife and son on Volga, Tim on ZIM, and myself in the middle again [29]
37 KB color, front view of Volga and ZIM
52 KB color, side view of Volga and Tim on his ZIM
52 KB color, rear view of Volga and ZIM
39 KB color, front view of Volga and ZIM with city streets lights after dark
31 KB color, "what do we see when looking out the ZIM windshield?" rear view of Volga

Special "Thank You" to Maxime Bujakov for many of the photos on this page. Here is a list of them: [its quite long]

These are photos of Maxime's "new" Volga that has forsaken its mother Russia and now resides in Boston 34 KB, 31 KB, 35 KB, 36 KB, 36 KB[30], 28 KB[30], 21 KB, 28 KB[30], 31 KB[30], 22 KB[30]

These are photos of Bujakovs' Volga in Russia 41 KB, 32 KB, 28 KB, 29 KB (here Volga is in front of MGU - the most recognizable university in Russia - Moscow State University), 42 KB (here Maxime is pictured with his cousin Vova)

I believe that the Bujakovs' family undying love and commitment of being proud GAZ-M-21 "Volga" owner deserves a round of applause from all of us. (yes, that includes you -- the visitors). Take a look at Maxime's other favorite wheeled friend: it is the legendary "Kwas" (Russian malt drink) cistern. This is an "undercover" shot taken in summer of 1999 to expose Maxime's secret passion for Kwas in Moscow :-) 20 KB

On a more personal note, my grandfather used to own a GAZ-M-21 "Volga" in the mid-1960's through mid 1970's.

 

Page created on Thursday, September 24, 1998. Page last updated on Tuesday, June 04, 2002 08:04:57 PM EST.