subject: Zaporozhets Ukrainian Car [print this page] Auto ZAZ brand has never been a luxuryAuto ZAZ brand has never been a luxury. Ukrainian cars were for the folk. In addition to the popular model "Moskvich-401", it was decided to create Zaporozhets - Ukrainian car. There were offered several projects, but MZMA offered the best one.
Several famous European car producers were the basis for creating Zaporozhets - Ukrainian national car. The basis of the first "Zaporozhets" was formed by design features and form of the Italian Fiat 600. ZAZ-965 had two-door 4-seater body, rear V-type engine air-cooled, independent suspension of all wheels, crankcase and gearbox cast of magnesium alloy.
Despite the small dimensions, Ukrainian car had four-cylinder, 4-seater cabin, 13-inch wheels and non traditional form of body. Rear located and air-cooled engine, independent suspension of all wheels, typical for the European small cars,were the new thing in Sovie machine building. The first model of ZAZ was modernized several times. The engine became more powerful engine, there changed the engine compartment ventilation and electrical equipment, rear hood and front end panel.
Designers of ZAZ spent about 20 years to create a front-wheel compact car. Formed in 1988, "Tavria", despite many shortcomings, arranged many lower-income motorists. Tavria was the next "baby" of Car Company in Zaporozhye, but not as famous as Zaporozhets. Still it was popular among population of former Soviet Union countries. Tavria had several models up to nowadays - Dana, Nova, Slavuta. These cars were characterized with low fuel consumption and simplicity in construction that was in demand in countryside, but the flow of foreign models shifted the production of native Ukrainian cars aside.
Nowadays Zaporozhets is considered to be the national pride of Ukraine, it embodies the history of car industry. The city of Zaporozhye can be compared with the US Detroit. Unfortunately the production of Zaporozhets was stopped in the past and now the plants in Zaporozhye produce cars in collaboration with Chevrolet. The production of such duet ZAZ-Chevrolet is world known not only in Ukraine and is famous among different people from different countries.
