GAZ-3105
The GAZ-3105, often referred as a Volga, is an automobile manufactured by the Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod (GAZ, Gorky Automobile Plant) from 1992 to 1996.
| GAZ-3105 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | GAZ |
| Production | 1992–1996 |
| Assembly | Russia: Nizhny Novgorod |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size luxury car |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Related | Audi 100 |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,870 mm (113 in) |
| Length | 5,050 mm (198.8 in) |
| Width | 1,980 mm (78 in) |
| Height | 1,430 mm (56.3 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,635 kg (3604 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | GAZ-3102 GAZ-14 |
| Successor | GAZ-3111 |
History
In the 1980s, GAZ was looking for a new and modern vehicle to replace the aging executive car GAZ-3102, but also the larger GAZ-14 Chaika limousine. For this reason, GAZ began to develop a new family of vehicles with front, rear and all-wheel drive, the models were named GAZ-3103, GAZ-3104 and GAZ-3105 depending on the version.
The design was partly derived from the third-generation Audi 100/200, from which the cross-section of the body along the B-pillar, the transmission arrangement, and some other mechanical designs were used.[1][2] However, since it was much smaller and slightly less powerful than the GAZ-14, it was placed between the GAZ-3102 and the GAZ-14 in GAZ's product lineup. Compared to the Volga series vehicles derived from the GAZ-24 (GAZ-3102, GAZ-31029, GAZ-3110 and GAZ-31105), the GAZ-3105 had a completely new body and few internal components in common with them. The vehicles featured MacPherson strut suspension, V8 engine with fuel injection, and CV front and rear axles. The GAZ-3103 was the base model with front-wheel drive and a 4-cylinder 2.3 liter engine from the GAZ-3102, while the GAZ-3104 had rear-wheel drive, and the GAZ-3105 was the luxury variant. The GAZ-3103 and GAZ-3104 were intended to replace the GAZ-3102, while the GAZ-3105 was intended to replace the Chaika. The first prototypes were on the road in 1987. The GAZ-3103, 3104, and 3105 was slightly larger than the older Volgas and due to the Audi-derived chassis it had it was much more modern, safe, and had a more robust structure, as proven in a crash test.
Due to many economic problems at GAZ, development was stopped several times, and finally in 1992 only production of the GAZ-3105 began, while the other cheaper variants were abandoned. Even after the start of production, the economic situation in post-Soviet Russia made sales difficult, and in the end only 55 vehicles were produced. Nevertheless, GAZ tried to produce a second generation of the GAZ-3105 and presented a modernized prototype at the 1996 Moscow Motor Show. The project was eventually abandoned in favor of the GAZ-3111 Volga, which was equally unsuccessful.
References
- ^ "ГАЗ-3105 «Волга»: легковой автомобиль представительского класса". Fishki.net. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
- ^ "ГАЗ-3105: "Капиталистическата" кола на Съветския съюз". Russia Beyond. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
External links
Media related to GAZ-3105 at Wikimedia Commons- Призрак перестройки: история разработки и небытия ГАЗ-3105
