1968 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500

Corvette C3 Stingray, 76 Camaro, C2 Stingray Rally, 1968 Dodge Darts, Ch...

Retro motors at a show in Moscow, Metropolis Shopping Mall.


Chevrolet Corvette C3 Stingray

1976 Chevrolet Camaro

Chevrolet Corvette C2 Stingray Rally

1986 Dodge Darts

Chrysler 300C

1966 Lincoln Continental

A 1966 Lincoln Continental at a retro motors installation in Moscow.

This is forth generation (1961-69).


The back doors are rear-hinged i.e. opening backwards.

1953 Citroen 11C Traction Avant

A 1953 Citroen 11C Traction Avant at a retro motors show in Moscow.

The Citroën Traction Avant is an executive car produced by the French manufacturer Citroën from 1934 to 1957.

About 760,000 units were produced.

This Traction Avant pioneered mass production of three revolutionary features still in use today: a unitary body with no separate frame, four-wheel independent suspension, and front-wheel drive.

1939 BMW-327/28 Coupe

A 1939 BMW-327/28 Coupe at a retro motors show, Metropolis Shopping Mall in Moscow.

The BMW-327/28 was a higher-powered version of the BMW-327 Coupe and was offered with the M328 engine. 569 of these high-powered 327/28 cars were built up to 1940.

The base BMW 327 Coupe is a medium-sized touring coupé produced by the Bavarian firm between 1937 and 1941 and again produced after 1945, some were produced into the 1950 in the Soviet zone of occupation and were eventually branded the EMW.

The car was shorter and lower than its sedan counterpart, but shared the famous BMW grill and a streamlined form representative of the more progressive designs of the 1930s.

Mechanically, the car utilised a BMW hydraulic brake control, gear box, clutch and front suspension system, along with a live axle. The BMW M78 straight-6 engine was used. The advertised top speed was 125 km/h (78 mph).

Info sourced from wikipedia.

40th Anniversary Lada 4x4

Two week old news today - Lada launches a special 40th Anniversary Edition of the Lada 4x4 (formerly known as the Niva) here in Russia.

The press-release is here.

The quote is below but here's a recap:

Changes for this edition are cosmetic: 40th anniversary edition badges, special colors and color schemes, carpets, seat upholstery, etc. Basically the same car as 40 years ago.

Also, there's going to be special unique numbering from 0001 to 1977.

Quote:

AVTOVAZ started the production of LADA 4x4 new edition. These cars have unique package dedicated to the off-road vehicle 40th anniversary. LADA 4x4 ''40th anniversary'' edition main features are new color schemes in interior and exterior trim and special labels with anniversary symbol.

A part of anniversary cars will be painted in camouflage. It is the first time for the factory. The spotted surface is created by a combination of three colors, which are light green, dark green and black. The bumpers metal surface of the camouflage cars is painted with black enamel. As for the other LADA 4x4 anniversary cars it has a body color: beige, red, white, terracotta and gray-blue. Camouflage LADA 4x4 cars are equipped with black cast wheels and the rest of the cars have two-color silver-black discs.

Special LADA 4x4 edition is emphasized with such interior elements as a bright red-orange instrument cluster, steering wheel cover made of eco-leather and sills made of stainless steel. Logo series reminds about an anniversary status. They are embroidered on rugs and put on seats upholstery. The seats upholstery is made of eco-leather with a combination of different colors, which are gray, black, beige and brown. The shades of the material are chosen in such a way to harmonize it with the body color. As for the camouflage machines, black seats with contrast stitching are provided.

An indispensable feature of the special edition is the original labels on the front fenders, tailgate and glovebox cover. Also, the unique serial number is displayed on the label from 0001 to 1977. This number means the year of LADA 4x4 production start and the number of cars in a limited series.

It is planned that LADA 4x4 anniversary edition will be available at dealers in June.

Video in Russian:

1909 Opel 4/8 PS Doktorwagen

Here's a 1909 Opel 4/8 PS Doktorwagen at a retro motors show in Moscow.

The Opel 4/8 PS Doktorwagen (doctor's car) is an automobile from the German automaker Opel.

The two-seater Opel 4/8 PS was small and agile compared to other cars of this time and was used by many doctors for house calls whereby the vehicle quickly got the nickname "doctor's car".

The low price of 3,950 Mark made it a very successful model.

The doctor's car was the first car from Opel, which bore the Opel lettering on the radiator.

Opel campaigned for the Type 4/8 PS (hp) with statements, such as "Simple mechanism", "Incredibly easy to use", and most of all: "Without using a chauffeur" aka "drive yourself".

Ford Model T

A Ford Model T seen at a retro motors installation in Metropolis Shopping Mall, northern Moscow.

The Ford Model T (aka the Tin Lizzie, Leaping Lena, or flivver) is an automobile that was produced by Ford Motor Company from October 1, 1908, to May 26, 1927.

It is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, the car that opened travel to the unwashed masses.


Ford's Model T was successful not only because it provided inexpensive transportation on a massive scale, but also because the car signified innovation for the rising middle class and became a powerful symbol of the age of modernization.

With 16.5 million sold it stands eighth on the top ten list of most sold cars of all time as of 2012. Still the humble Lada VAZ-2101-07 beat it.

Although automobiles had already existed for decades, they were still mostly scarce and expensive at the Model T's introduction in 1908. Positioned as reliable, easily maintained mass market transportation, it was a runaway success.

In a matter of days after the release, 15,000 orders were placed.

Info sourced from wikipedia.

1970 Mercedes-Benz W111 280SE 2-Door Coupe

A 1970 Mercedes-Benz W111 280SE Coupe at a retro motors show.

The car was given a front styling based on the work of French engineer Paul Bracq. 

The rear featured small tailfins, subtle compared to the fintails' and evocative of the later squarish styling of the W108/W109.

The 280 SE was powered by the new 2778 cc M130 engine, which produced 160 hp (120 kW) at 5500 rpm. Top speed was hardly affected, but acceleration improved to 10.5 seconds (13 with automatic). Inside the car received a wood veneer option on the dashboard and other minor changes, including door lock buttons and different heater levers.

Despite its smaller engine, the 280 SE could outperform the early 1950s M189 powered 300 SE, resulting in the more expensive model's retirement.

1965 Jaguar S-Type 3.8 Litre

1965 Jaguar S-Type 3.8 Litre.

A 1965 Jaguar S-Type 3.8 Litre at a retro motors show in Moscow, April 2017. 

The Jaguar S-Type is a saloon car produced by Jaguar Cars in the United Kingdom from 1963 to 1968. 

The styling of the S-Type was regarded by many of those who worked on it as being not altogether successful.

The mismatch between the horizontal lines of its rear styling and the rounded front was least flattering when viewing the car from the front quarter. 

Even some of those who worked on the car considered her an ugly looking car. 

1972 Opel Kadett B 2-Door Limousine

1972 Opel Kadett B 2-Door Limousine

Limousine is not used here to denote a full-size (seating 7) luxury automobile but is rather Opel's curious way of referring to a saloon/sedan car.

Other Opel body varia per wikipedia

1975 Chrysler Newport Police Car Orange County, Calif.

Hey, I shot the Sheriff... 's car!

A 1975 Chrysler Newport Police car from Orange County, Calif., seen at a retro motors show in Moscow, Metropolis Mall.

This is a sixth generation which shed the sweeping "fuselage" styling, in favor of more crisper, slab-sided styling.

Despite losing several inches in length, 1974–1978 Newports were some of the heaviest cars ever produced by Chrysler.

Retro Motors in Moscow at Metropolis Mall Timelapse

This a little taste of what will soon be on this blog as I have separate short vids for each of the cars in the video below.

ZAZ-965 Zaporozhets

Here is a ZAZ 965 Zaporozhets seen recently at a retro motors show.

This is the first of the ZAZ models which were city super-mini cars, rear-wheel drive, air-cooled with motor in the back.

GAZ M-20 Pobeda

Here's a GAZ M-20 Pobeda at a retro-motors show in Moscow.



This one is a Second Series Pobeda as follows from the look of the grille.

It is worth noting that, as I mentioned on this blog before, similarities were noted between the Pobeda and certain Western cars, both American and British. For example, Standard Vanguard was mentioned in this connection.

Some even deduced that there was a bit of copying going on. Well, they deduced wrong. If there was any copying, it was likely going in the other direction, certainly, as far as the Standard Vanguard is concerned.

The Pobeda was developed throughout 1945 and entered production in 1946 whereas the aforementioned Standard Vanguard thingy was announced in 1947. 

The same can be said about other Western Pobeda look-a-likes -- the Pobeda predates them all, so the reverse engineering (if any) was likely going in the other direction.  

Here's specs and description in Russian.

Moskvitch 407 Taxi

A Moskvitch 407 Taxi version at a retro motors show in Moscow.

Surprisingly, this is the first Moskvitch 407 on this blog.

The Moskvitch-407 was a new series of the Moskvitch-402 and was a compact car manufactured by the Moscow-based automobile maker MZMA, first time introduced in 1956 as a second generation of the Moskvitch series. 

The model had such features as independent suspension with double wishbones, telescopic shock absorbers, 12-volt electrics, more solid and comfortable car body, more modern trunk, heater, standard car radio, wider viewing range for the driver, a demister, etc.

Starting in 1958, production ended in October 1963 (with 359,980 built, 120,903 for export).

The Moskvitch-407 was truly successful in the West. Up to half of all Moskvitch-407 production was exported for a number of years, mainly to the Eastern Bloc countries, Norway, Finland, and France. 

In parts of Western Europe, it was rebranded the Elite, to avoid conflict with Peugeot, which had trademarked names with middle "0"s.

407s were also used as taxis, as is this specimen, mainly in Moscow but not in significant numbers as usually larger cars were used as taxis, like Volgas.

Some info sourced from wikipedia

ZIM GAZ-12 Limousine Walkaround

A ZIM GAZ-12 limousine at some retro motors show which I passed through.

Also known as GAZ-12, GAZ-12 ZiM, ZiM-12 or just ZiM, the ZiM GAZ-12 was a Soviet limousine produced by the Gorky Automotive Plant from 1948 till 1960.

It was neither a copy of, nor based on, any other contemporary car, contrary to what dumb wikipedia claims, although certain exterior design elements characteristic of the large American passenger cars of the period may be observed here but such similarities are superficial and the 1948 ZiM GAZ-12 may actually predate some of the cars "appointed" to be its inspiration or even source for copying.

Also, in some ways, the ZiM GAZ-12 was a pioneer, in particular, it was the world's first unibody (aka frameless) limousine with three rows of seats.

The ZiM GAZ-12 was meant not only to serve government officials but in keeping with proletarian ideals served the people as a taxi and ambulance and was offered and sold for private ownership too, although only successful writers, scientists or actors could really afford one at the time.

Later as ZiM GAZ-12 government cars were retired and/or replaced with Chaika or ZiL limousines, some of them eventually trickled into private ownership that way.

In all 21,527 ZiM cars were built.

Other cars from this series (this event): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW1zVfab6zEcEvd9tx6WHBvTYIFYryJ02

Volga GAZ-21 Traffic Police Version

A Traffic Police Volga GAZ-21 seen at a retro motors show.

The car is a Third-Series Volga; differences from the second-series being: the Baleen grille, bumper without guards, chrome plated only on top while the bottom is painted and color matched to the body, no Deer figurine on the hood.

New Land Rover Discovery 2017

Discovery 5 I believe, sighted today at some promo event here in Moscow



My verdict: looks good on the outside but not so much inside but maybe an entry-level trim.

10-Gen Toyota Crown Hardtop

Winter is over but winter car sightings remain to be catalogued on this blog - here is a Toyota Crown sighted this past winter 2017.

By the look of things this one could be a 10-Generation Toyota Crown S-150, Hardop (frameless door window).

They were once very popular here in Russia (not necessary in Moscow) as full-size luxury automobiles which could be had pretty cheaply second-hand off Japan, especially the farther east you went (closer to Japan).