GAZ
GAZ is an acronym for the Russian automobile manufacturer Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod.
GAZ: Five-Year Plans to Success
This firm was founded in 1932 as a joint venture between the United States and the Soviet Union involving the five-year plans created by Joseph Stalin. It was originally termed NAZ; the first letter changed to a "G" after an homage to Maxim Gorky. Early models included the GAZ M1 (similar to the Ford Model B) and the GAZ A. While these were in collaboration with Ford, it was not long before GAZ developed their own proprietary vehicle. This was known as the GAZ 11 and other models produced during the postwar era included the GAZ-M20 Pobeda ("Victory" in Russian). While many luxury cars were built during the 1950s and 1960s, the much-lauded Volga-21 was seen to represent the resurgence of Soviet power during the Cold War years. The production milestone of 10 million vehicles was reached in 1981. Located in Nizhny Novgorod, GAZ is currently the largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles within the entire country. Due to the effects of the recent global recession, GAZ was forced to abandon several projects; including a proposal to acquire Birmingham-based LDV. When DaimlerChrysler went through their production transition in 2006, many of their tools and production lines were sold to GAZ. This increased automation and currently, the GAZ facility is used to produce cars for General Motors and Volkswagen. When General Motors Vice President Bo Andersson was awarded the presidency of the GAZ group, many viewed this as a turning point for the company; indicating a resurgence from the crippling global economic crisis.
Notable GAZ Classics
The GAZ M1 was built between 1936 and 1943. Due to the collaboration with American automaker Ford, the M1 closely mirrored the style and design of the Ford B Series. Painted black with a red stripe on each side, the M1 was quite a popular vehicle and it enjoyed prominence within many Soviet films and the media. A subsequent passenger car version was produced until 1946. The GAZ-M20 is perhaps one of the most iconic vehicles produced. During the postwar period. Billed as an executive car, the "Pobeda" became a hallmark of Soviet culture and an international icon during its production between 1949 and 1958. It was also a successful export; being shipped to both Poland and North Korea. The GAZ Volga was another icon during Soviet times. Manufactured between 1956 and 2010, classic models boasted a streamlined design. Although commonly used as taxis, the Volga was seen to be a status symbol of the elite within society. No less than four different generations were produced until the eventual retirement of this series.