In the Soviet Union, luxury goods were scarce, and one of them was a private car. Whether it was a black Volga or a simple Zaporozhets, the passenger car itself was the object of the owner's pride and the envy of less fortunate friends and neighbors. Most of the "ordinary" drivers in the USSR did not even know that cars of the same model could differ in something other than color and numbers. But already at that time, elements of luxury were available to the most successful Soviet citizens. What, in addition to wooden inserts and leather upholstery, stood out inside the car of the USSR party elite - further in our review.
Automatic transmission
One of the most useful options in a car is the automatic transmission. Thanks to the "automatic" it is no longer necessary to frequently pull the gearshift lever, and the clutch pedal is removed from the car altogether. In the USSR, automatic transmissions began to be developed in the late 1940s, when our engineers gained access to the developments of Opel and BMW. Experimental "automatic machines" were installed on Moskvichs, M-72 motorcycles, ZIS-155 buses.
But these were one-off vehicles available only to factory drivers. The first Soviet production car with an automatic transmission was the GAZ-12 ZIM. In fact, this executive sedan was not quite a full-fledged "automatic", but a mechanical gearbox with a fluid coupling, which nevertheless provided amazing properties when driving a car. There were only three gears, and it was possible to start by turning on any of them, and the engine would not stall. The resource of such a transmission was practically unlimited, unlike the following models.
A full-fledged Soviet "machine" began to be installed already on the GAZ-21 "Volga". The design of the torque converter and planetary gear was spied on the American counterpart of the Ford Mainline. In this scheme, three gears were provided, with the first lowered, and the third direct. "Volga" on "automatic" began to roll off the assembly line in 1957 in small series. Despite the many advantages of automatic transmission (smooth running, easier engine braking), there were also disadvantages. Firstly, the automatic transmission was much more complicated than the “mechanics” that existed at that time, and secondly, its maintenance required special conditions, as well as a special high-quality oil.
The same automatic transmission was received by "Seagulls" - the GAZ-13 and GAZ-14 models. Government sedans were much better served than the cars of "mere mortals", but even here the main drawbacks were the difficulty in servicing. But the smoothness of the "Seagull" was beyond praise. Cars for the first persons of the USSR, such as the ZIL-111/114/117, were equipped with an automatic transmission, which provided a truly royal smoothness when driving.
Air conditioning
The first air conditioning, like an automatic transmission, appeared in America before the outbreak of World War II. And in the 1950s, this device for maintaining comfort in the car from an expensive exotic turned into a popular option. The car air conditioner came to the Soviet Union thanks to Nikita Khrushchev, who appreciated it while traveling around the States.
Taking into account the tendency to "catch up and overtake America", the Union began to develop its own "condo", but not all drivers could get it. Even the GAZ-13 Seagulls did not have a luxurious option. The cool air in the cabin could be counted on only by the passengers of "members", starting from the ZIL-111A (1959). Cool air was supplied to the passengers in the rear seats, and each of them could regulate their own temperature. Because of these air ducts, the designers of the car had to make very thick rear pillars. The "condo" itself took up most of the trunk and weighed about 150 kg.
The air conditioner took root on all further ZIL models, the interior of which was also equipped with … three "stoves". Thanks to this, the car warmed up normally even at -25, and it was cool in summer, which is often a problem for black cars.
And on the more "simple" "Chaika" GAZ-14, which appeared in 1977, the air conditioner was equipped with two heaters already in the base. Interestingly, the Seagull used Japanese equipment from Nippon Denso.
Other options
In addition to the automatic transmission and air conditioning, cars for the first persons of the USSR received many more options that were not available to mere mortals. In the "Chaika" GAZ-13, for the first time in the USSR, power windows were installed for the first time. Also, all ZILs and "Chaika" were equipped with a power steering. It was difficult even for professional drivers to drive a heavy machine without a power steering.
Continuing the topic: about tuning in the USSR, or How Soviet Drivers Improved Their Cars.