Legendary cars: GAZ-21, Duesenberg, Cadillac. The most beautiful cars

During the whole era of the automobile industry, a huge number of vehicles have been created for every taste. Many of them, possessing ordinary characteristics and often unprepossessing exterior, gave people the opportunity to move in space. Some contributed to the introduction of innovations in the auto industry. But there are those who are considered an adornment of their own era and works of art. These legendary cars, despite many external differences, are united by the fact that at a certain stage they were the embodiment of elegance and power, making human life better. The latest ratings include a list of one hundred most beautiful cars in history. In this article, three of them will be considered: GAZ-21, Duesenberg, Cadillac.

Legend with a deer on the hood

For many years this car was the limit of the dreams of many Soviet motorists. Revolutionary GAZ-21 "Volga" - the legendary cars of the USSR, which were considered the embodiment of innovations of the domestic automotive industry. A particularly glamorous were models with a two-tone color and models with automatic transmission, which, incidentally, was not produced so much because of the poor quality of Soviet transmission oils of those years. A special glamor was the "Volga" model of a two-tone color. But with the manual gearbox, this car still has a large number of admirers in the CIS countries. So, by the fortieth anniversary of this brand at the Gorky Automobile Plant, 20 machines were restored using only original parts.

Legendary cars GAZ-21 "Volga" were produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1956 to 1970. These were the first representatives of a wide family line of the Volga family. The development of the model began in 1953, it was supposed to replace the already produced GAZ-20 "Victory", which due to the rapid development of the Soviet car industry of those years began to become obsolete. Soviet designers in the development of the "Volga" widely used the experience of foreign automakers. In particular, popular models of those times were studied: Plymouth Savoy, Opel Captain, Chevrolet 210, Ford Mainline. Specially developed were two types of three-stage gearbox - mechanics and automatic. The result is a very dynamic and modern car.

The Soviet "American"

The appearance of the GAZ-21 was fully developed in accordance with American trends of automobile design of the time. Smooth, streamlined lines of the body, round silhouette, low to the stern roof. All this gave the feeling of a starting rocket, flight and speed. The rocket-shaped outline of the body was crowned by a chrome figure of a deer on a hood, frozen in a jump.

The outer lining is made in accordance with the fashion trends of that time. A large number of chrome elements - grille, wheel hub, moldings, bumpers. Indicators of turn, stop-signals and dimensions were placed in a single block of rear lamps. The main drawback of the body was the low rise of the trunk and hood.

Chronology of Volga Models

The first series of machines was produced from 1956 to 1958. Their external differences were a chrome grille with a longitudinal strip and a chrome star in the circle. On the "Volga" of the first series were installed forced engines from the GAZ-20, with a capacity of 65 liters. from.

The second series of GAZ-21 was produced from 1958 to 1962. Changes affected a greater degree of appearance. The radiator grille was upgraded, which received familiar vertical slits "whalebone". At that time they were painted in body color. The star was removed.

The last, the most familiar third series of "Volga" was produced from 1962 to 1970. The number of slits in the radiator grille was increased to 37, and it again became chrome plated. Engine power was increased to 75 liters. from. Tissue interior materials were replaced with dermatome. The welded body of the early models was replaced by a single one. In this version, GAZ-21 Volga was produced before 1970, after which it was replaced by GAZ-24.

One of the most beautiful cars in the world

In 1913, two brothers of self-taught engineers and German immigrants - founded in the United States the company Duesenberg Motor Company, originally produced boat motors and racing cars. After a few brothers decide to focus exclusively on four-wheeled vehicles and set themselves the task: no more or less, but to create the best and most beautiful car in the world. And already in the 30's luxury cars Duesenberg outperformed Rolls-Royce and Mercedes-Benz. The term "supercar" appeared much later, but already at that time this term could be applied to these cars. Legendary Duesenberg cars technically outperformed their time for decades. They were admired and dreamed of a ride at least as passengers.

The legendary Duesenberg brand, despite its rather short existence, entered the annals of history as one of the greatest cars not only of America, but of the world. Many experts agree that a more beautiful car since the time of "Dyuzi" in the American automobile industry has never been created. Cars of this brand adored the stars of Hollywood and the spinners from Wall Street for their luxurious design, and the Sicilian Mafiosi - for unprecedented power at that time. They were bought as a status attribute.

Duesenberg - even faster, even steeper!

The brand Duesenberg existed only 24 years, but for this time has forever entered the history of the automotive industry. The company produced unrivaled racing cars. These legendary cars were assembled exclusively by hand. They were lighter, but more powerful and faster than competitors. The first triumphs did not take long. In 1919, a car with a new 16-cylinder engine developed by brothers installed a ground speed record in the sands of Daytona - 255 km / h. A year later, Duesenberg creates the first in-line 3-liter eight-cylinder top-engine with three valves per cylinder. This concept became the basis of all subsequent motors of the company. A year later, in 1921, "Dusi" won the Grand Prix of France. These were the first American cars to win in these competitions. The next 10 years at the annual prestigious competition in Indianapolis three times won the drivers who opted for the engines Duesenberg.

A car that hardly ruined everyone

Talented designers, the Dyzenberg brothers were far from being able to do business. Many of their inventions they simply forgot to patent, for example, hydraulic brakes, which deprived them of multimillion-dollar profits. As a result, the company found itself on the brink of bankruptcy. Help came in the face of a born businessman Erret Kord, who took up the management of the company. The course taken by Kord included the creation of a luxury road car. In 1928, the light saw, perhaps, the most famous model - Duesenberg Model J. This chic car seemed a miracle. He could reach speeds of up to 192 km / h and shook with his luxury, and his specifications were unprecedented for his time. At the request of the customer, for the interior of Model J, precious stones, mosaics made from precious wood and even pure gold could be used. No wonder that this car fell in love with successful businessmen, eventually became an attribute of fame for Hollywood stars and went down in history as one of the most luxurious and beautiful cars in the world. The owners of this car were such celebrities as Howard Hughes, Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, Gary Cooper. Today, this model is an enviable collection of collectors around the world, and the price often exceeds one million dollars.

"Cadillac": innovators of the automotive industry

Cadillac is one of the oldest and most famous automotive brands in the world. These cars have always been associated with large sizes, luxury and very often become trendsetters of fashion trends in the automotive industry. "Cadillac" - a machine whose designers have never been afraid of experiments. So, thanks to bold innovations there was a silent mechanical gearbox with gears for constant engagement and an automatic gearbox Hydra-Matic. Air conditioning in the car was first installed in Cadillac in the 30's. Fashion for large American cars appeared largely thanks to Cadillac, and V8-engines became standard for the entire US automotive industry. On cars of this brand, for the first time wooden roofs were replaced by steel roofs. One of Cadillac's most significant innovations was the introduction of spare parts as concepts. The construction of these cars began to use removable parts, which could be changed.

The Incarnation of the American Dream

For many residents of the United States, "Cadillac" - a car that embodied luxury and the American dream. This brand was preferred by America's top people, show business stars, successful businessmen and mafiosi. The armored Cadillac was used to move President Roosevelt. This car was confiscated several years earlier from the odious gangster Al Capone. Even in his youth, King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley gave his mother a promise that, having become famous, the first thing he would buy himself and her "Cadillac". After a few years in the garage of the star there were 13 cars of this brand, and the mother got the subsequently become legendary pink Cadillac Eldorado. The popularity of this brand is so great in America that sometimes it reaches the cult. Now from the leather upholstery of the old cars Cadillac sewing jackets, positioning it as though original, but still the opportunity to touch the American dream.

The famous classic. Cars GAZ-21, Duesenberg and Cadillac in the cinema

Often, cars from movies become famous in the same way as the actors themselves. For example, GAZ-21 "Volga" was used in many Soviet movies. In the film "Beware of the car", "Volga" is positioned as a symbol of prosperity and success. Literally the whole plot of the film is built around this car. The film "The Diamond Arm" was remembered by many on the famous phrase "Our people do not go to a bakery for a taxi!", Spoken against the backdrop of GAZ-21.

The most famous appearance of the luxurious Duesenberg in the cinema can be considered the film "The Great Gatsby". The hero of Leonardo DiCaprio, an eccentric millionaire, sported a bright yellow Duesenberg II SJ cabriolet.

The number of films in which the Cadillac cars were involved can not be precisely calculated. The huge American cars of the 70s were used for filming such films as Scarface, Razin, Enemy of State No. 1, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and others. A relic Cadillac of the early 20th century lit up In the "Transformers". More modern models were used in the filming of the "Matrix", "Cadillac Dolona", "Zombiland". A large number of different models were used in the Cadillac Records shoots, well, and, perhaps, one of the most famous Cadillac cars in the cinema - the well-known ghost hunters' car from the movie of the same name.