Moskvich-2138

Moskvich
Moskvich-2138 in Sofia , photographed 2005
Moskvich-2138
Sales designation:	Москвич-2138 Москвич-2136
Production period:	1976-1988
Class :	Lower middle class
Body versions :	Limousine , station wagon
Engines:	Otto engine : 1.36 liters (37 kW)
Length:	4250 mm
Width:	1550 mm
Height:	1480 mm
Wheelbase :	2400 mm
Empty weight :	1045-1080 kg
Previous model	Moskvich-408
successor	none

The Moskvich-2138 ( Russian Москвич-2138 ) is a passenger car from the Soviet manufacturer Avtomobilny Sawod imeni Leninskowo Komsomola ( AZLK for short , known by the use of the brand name Moskvich ), which was built in series from 1976 to 1988. It is the successor to the Moskvich-408 and uses its engine and gearbox. The body and other components are identical to those of the stronger Moskvich-2140 . In 1988 production was discontinued without replacement.

Under the name Moskvich-2136 (Russian Москвич-2136) a version as a station wagon was built in the same period.

Vehicle history

In the mid-1970s, politicians urged the Moskvich factory to replace the two models, the Moskvich-408 and Moskvich-412, with more modern designs. With the Moskvich Series S and the Moskvich Series 3-5 , corresponding prototypes were also manufactured, but the financial means were not sufficient to set up a new series production. For this reason it was decided to modernize the existing models. At the same time, the model names were changed to the new naming system from 1966 . Series production began in 1976.

In order to save time and money, the body of the predecessor was almost completely adopted for the new vehicles, only add-on parts such as lamps and radiator grille were changed. There are no optical differences between the Moskvich-2138 and the more powerful Moskvich-2140. Only a badge on the rear of the vehicle indicates the displacement, with the Moskvich-2138 1360 and the Moskvich-2140 with 1500 . The production capacity for the Moskvich-2138 was around 20,000 copies per year.

The Moskvich-2138 was already underpowered with 50 HP (37 kW) when it was introduced. This problem was also known, but the number of 1500 cc engines was not enough for the production of the more powerful model. To make matters worse, Ischmasch continued to manufacture the Moskvich-412 after production had ended in Moscow and also needed the appropriate motors for it. For this reason, the 1360 cc engine continued to be built, even though it was technically outdated. The weaker motorization and the transmission, which was still taken over from the Moskvich-408, had various disadvantages. For one thing, the top speed of the car was only around 120 km / h, 20 km / h less than the Moskvich-2140. On the other hand, the consumption was significantly higher.

Compared to the previous generation, the Moskvich-2138 has undergone major modernizations on the braking system. The front drum brakes were replaced by disc brakes. A second brake circuit has also been added. A whole series of ball bearings and joints were encapsulated so that they no longer had to be relubricated over their service life. This significantly reduced the maintenance effort. The front seats also received headrests. In 1982 the opening windows on the front doors were no longer available. In 1988 the Gorkowski Avtomobilny Sawod stopped production of the weaker engine, so that production of the Moskvich-2138 had to be stopped. A successor was not developed. Compared to the Moskvich-2140, the vehicle has become rare today.

The Moskvich-2138 was officially imported into the GDR as a new car , as was the more powerful Moskvich-2140. The vehicle cost 18,622 GDR marks and thus just as much as the station wagon version of  the Moskvich-2140.

Model variants

Different versions of the Moskvich-2138 were built, with two different body types.

• Moskvich-2138 - basic model with sedan body, built from 1976 to 1988.
• Moskvich-21381 - For transporting medical personnel and materials, for example to make home visits to patients.
• Moskvich-2136 - basic model with combi body.
• Moskvich-2733 - version as a closed box van with only two doors. The rear windows of the station wagon body were laminated and the rear seat removed.

Technical specifications

For the Moskvich-2138 sedan , if known.

• Engine: four-cylinder gasoline engine
• Engine type: MZMA-408
• Power: 50 HP (37 kW) at 4750 min ^-1
• Displacement: 1358 cm³
• Bore: 76 mm
• Stroke: 75 mm
• Compression: 7.0: 1
• Torque: 91 Nm at 2750 to 3200 min ^-1
• Fuel: gasoline with (at least) 76  octane
• Consumption: 8.8 l / 100 km at a constant 80 km / h
• Tank capacity: 46 l
• Carburetor: Type K-126P
• Firing order: 1–3–4–2
• Transmission: manual four-speed gearbox with reverse gear, first gear unsynchronized
• Top speed: 122 km / h
• Acceleration: from 0 to 100 km / h in 30 s
• Braking distance: 42.6 m from 80 km / h
• On-board voltage: 12 V.
• Drive formula : 4 × 2 (rear wheel drive)

measures and weight

• Length: 4250 mm
• Width: 1550 mm
• Height: 1480 mm
• Wheelbase: 2400 mm
• Front track: 1270 mm
• Rear track: 1270 mm
• Ground clearance: 173 mm
• Turning circle: 11.4 m
• Tire size: 6.45–13 ″
• Empty weight: 1080 kg (station wagon: 1120 kg), value fluctuates slightly over the construction period
• Payload: 4–5 people + 50 kg luggage
• permissible total weight: 1480 kg (combi: 1520 kg)
• Trailer load: 300 kg unbraked, 600 kg braked
• Front axle load: 682 kg
• Rear axle load: 798 kg

literature

• SS Sijanin, PG Romantschikow, AI Lukanin: Автомобиль "Москвич" моделей 2130 and 2140 . Around 1980, no further information.
• Ministry of Automobile Transport of the RSFSR ; Vehicle Construction Institute NIIAT: Short Automobile Manual (краткий автомобильный справочник). Transport Publishing, 9th edition, Moscow 1982.
• Uwe Miethe: picture atlas of the GDR road traffic. GeraMond Verlag, Munich 2008, ISBN 978-3-7654-7692-1 .
• Sergei Kanunnikow: Отечественные легковые автомобили (1896-2000 гг.) . Sa rulem, 2009, ISBN 978-5-9698-0191-2 .
• Roman Nazarow: Русские автомобили. Полная энциклопедия . Eksmo, 2015, ISBN 978-5-699-76586-7 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Website on the history of the Moskvich-2138 and Moskvich-2140 models (Russian)
2. ↑ ^{a b c d} Information on Moskvich-2138 at denisoviet.ru (Russian)
3. ↑ ^{a b c} Roman Nazarow: Русские автомобили. Полная энциклопедия . P. 133 f.
4. ↑ ^{a b} S. S. Sijanin, PG Romantschikow, AI Lukanin: Автомобиль "Москвич" моделей 2130 and 2140 . P. 3.
5. ↑ Sergei Kanunnikow: Отечественные легковые автомобили (1896-2000 гг.) . P. 322 ff.
6. ^ Uwe Miethe: picture atlas of the GDR road traffic. P. 42.
7. ↑ ^{a b} Ministry of Automobile Transport of the RSFSR ; Vehicle Construction Institute NIIAT: Short Automobile Manual (краткий автомобильный справочник). P. 54 ff.
8. ↑ Overview of all vehicles manufactured by Moskvich as well as further information on the individual types on denisovets.ru (Russian)

Web links

Commons : Moskvich-2138  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Video of a test drive with a Moskvich-2138 (Russian)