GAZ-2424 Overview: Features, Specifications and Feedback

The GAZ-2424 was not intended for civilian use. This is a Soviet machine for the special services. In closed papers it was called simply - a high-speed car or an escort vehicle. Unofficially, the employees of the plant called it "catch-up". This is the most powerful version of the basic GAZ-24. Today, intelligence agencies are using very different cars, and therefore it is no longer a secret what GAZ-2424 is, and one can tell about it.

General description of the car

This is a Soviet mid-range car, which was produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1968 to 1985. The release was launched in 1973. The basis for "catch-up" is the ordinary serial GAZ-24. On the technical side, this is a modernized standard GAZ-24. But here the suspension is considerably strengthened, the steering is equipped with a hydraulic booster, another gearbox is used. In the design there was even an automatic three-speed transmission. And most importantly in this car - V8 ZMZ-503 with a four-chamber carburetor or ZMZ-505, equipped with two synchronized carburettors. At the same time, the machine should look the same as the civil version, but the technical capabilities should be maximized.

Short story

As early as the 1930s, high-speed cars of the middle class for siloviki and special services were produced in small series at the Gorky plant. The issue was established on the basis of GAZ-M1, Pobedy and GAZ-21.

The main task performed by Volga GAZ-2424 was the operation in the 9th Department of the KGB of the USSR. The car was intended for escorting ZILs and "Seagulls", in which were the highest government officials. To do this, we needed a machine that could move along with them. The most simple and relatively inexpensive way to make such a car was the installation of the engine and the transmission system from the "Seagull" to the GAZ-24 serial body.

The peculiarity of these cars is that all assembly work was carried out only with the use of manual labor. The painting was done according to the old technologies - the "Seagulls" were still painted on them. The factory made a high-quality corrosion protection. In some cases, a special order made a non-standard plush or velor interior, which was then a real luxury. Also, the car could be equipped with air conditioning. But for ordinary KGB men, the salon was ordinary, fabric.

Appearance

Outside, the GAZ-2424 did not differ from the serial civil twenty-fours. Did not change and landing, even if we consider that the "Volga" can sit differently. Also, the car is distinguished by one exhaust pipe. You could distinguish the KGB car by the salon. If you look there, you can see a slightly different gear selector lever. It is bent at the base. The box is switched according to the adopted scheme for automatic transmissions.

As for coloring, often these machines were painted in ordinary, soft colors. The car should have been easily lost in the flow. The most popular color for "catch-up", of course, is black. But gray cars were produced very little. Black "Volga" differed more improved interior trim and high-quality painting.

Body

Many people think that this machine makes its engine and characteristics unique. But no, the body is unique here. With completely indistinguishable from the civil design version, the chassis is completely original. The body is equipped with special reinforced spars. Otherwise, the heavy GAZ-2424 engine would simply fall out of the compartment at the moment of braking. The weight of the power unit was about 200 kg. Plus it is worth adding here the mass of the torque converter, the mass of the cooling system, as well as the rest of the trivialities. It should be borne in mind that the chassis was brewed by the method of a continuous seam along the entire perimeter. But that was not enough. When the car was shaken on Soviet roads in a power frame, cracks formed along this seam. These cars are not designed for bad roads. Pits are the enemy for a heavy body. At the factory they wanted to switch to using local amplification, but this also helped a little.

There were rumors that the bodies were galvanized - this is incorrect information. The bodies could be tinned, but even this is a great rarity. Nevertheless, many "catch-ups" survived to our times in the original paint, without rot.

Interior

The only visible detail inside this car is the selector of the automatic transmission. The shape of the lever was different from the standard switch. He was slightly bent at his base. In some versions there was only a brake pedal. Also on some models were installed twin pedals, and they worked as a brake. Also in the cabin there were cables controlling the bonnet and luggage compartment locks. To distinguish "catch-up" from civil "Volga" it was possible and on other larva of locks. There are two pedals installed here - it was gas and brake. At the same time the braking could be wider, as it is popular in cars with automatic transmission. Still there were models with three standard pedals. But here the clutch worked like a brake.

As for the overall interior trim, it is much better than on civil versions. There is even information that some GAZ-2424 models were equipped with electric window regulators.

Engines

The power units used in this car are the fruits of the development of ZMZ-13/23. On the "catch-up" was put ZMZ-2424 with a volume of 5.53 liters and one carburetor for four chambers. The power of this engine was 195 liters. from. At a torque of 420 Nm. For the GAZ-2424, the maximum speed characteristics with this engine are 170 kilometers per hour. ZMZ-503 is actually the same, but the unit is slightly upgraded. Its power is also 195 forces, but it is much wider. ZMZ-505 is a more powerful version, there were two four-chamber carburetors. Power was already 220 liters. from. With a torque of 460 Nm. Also there is information that there was also an injector unit ZMZ-504. Its power makes 250 forces at a twisting moment in 520 Nanometers. Previously, such engines were placed only on trucks. That's what's interesting about these engines: all cars used the same unit. Only its marking changed. Especially tuning this motor will not work. If the GAZ-2424 does not go, then repair of such an engine can only be performed by a person who understands these units. And they are almost gone.

Transmission

These cars were equipped with an automatic transmission from the "Seagull". But the GAZ-2424 5.5 switching mechanics was different. The carton of the box remained the same, an extension cable appeared in the construction. It is interesting that it was developed under license based on the American machine from Ford for GAZ-21. Secret of this was not done. The box had three gears for driving forward, as well as one rear. All the speeds were long, so there were no special problems with the use. Naturally, this design did not help at least some savings. But the "catch-up" was not created for these purposes. Reviews say that a hundred machine spends under 30 liters of fuel. Installing a mechanical box on these machines is an impossible task. The connecting dimensions are only for the torque converter.

Steering

And here everything was almost exclusive. The hydraulic booster was made in the image and likeness of GAZ-13 - it had a separate reducer hydraulic cylinder, which acted directly on the trapezium. The design was very similar to the American systems that were created in the 60's. The same system was then installed in the experimental models of GAZ-3102. The peculiarity of these hydraulic amplifiers was that they were flowing. Reviews say that in almost all cars, the engine compartment is generously spattered with liquid GUR. There are also problems with the ignition system (here it is of the trambler type, with the runner). Although there are interchangeable spare parts from GAZ-53 (for example, a generator and a pump).

Results

We must admit that it is impossible to operate such cars now. They can only be used for infrequent trips so as not to overheat the engine. And in the organs for a long time already do not use GAZ-2424. Technical characteristics of it have long been outdated. Now it is much cheaper to buy a foreign car. After all, consumables and spare parts for "Volga-Dogonalyuk" can not be found.