Moskvich-400

Moskvich
Restored Moskvich-400-420 in a museum (2011)
Moskvich-400
Sales designation:	Москвич-400 Москвич-401
Production period:	1946-1954 1954-1956
Class :	Lower middle class
Body versions :	Sedan , convertible saloon , van
Engines:	Petrol engine : 1.1 liters (17-19 kW)
Length:	3855 mm
Width:	1400 mm
Height:	1550 mm
Wheelbase :	2340 mm
Empty weight :	845-860 kg
Previous model	KIM-10
successor	Moskvich-402

The Moskvich-400 ( russian Москвич-400 ) is a passenger of the Soviet manufacturer Moskovsky Zavod Malolitraschnych Awtomobilej (Russian Московский завод малолитражных автомобилей shortly MZMA or МЗМА Russian, known by the use of the brand name Moskvich ), who built from 1946 to 1956 in series has been. The vehicle was largely a replica of the Opel Kadett from 1938 on the original production facilities, which had been confiscated for the Soviet Union in Rüsselsheim in 1945 after the end of World War II and brought to Moscow .

Under the designation Moskvich-401 (Russian Москвич-401) a version with a slightly higher performance was built from 1954 to 1956.

Vehicle history

Restored Moskvich-400 with German registration (2011)

Convertible sedan Moskvich-400-420A (2013)

Prototype Moskvich-401E-424E with a modified front in a museum (2008)

Panel van version Moskvich-400-422 (2010)

Rear view of a Moskvich-401 from 1955 (2011)

The Adam Opel AG produced since 1936 in Rüsselsheim the Opel Kadett. After the end of the Second World War, the Kadett's production facilities there were confiscated for the Soviet Union and brought to Moscow. There they were rebuilt in the already existing Moskovsky Zavod Malolitraschnych Avtomobilej . However, Opel already belonged to the US car company General Motors at that time, which is why the construction was not metric, but rather inch-based. This was changed before production began in Moscow, as the Soviet Union used the metric system. A more powerful alternator was also provided. In honor of the upcoming 800th anniversary of the founding of Moscow, the vehicle was named "Moskvich".

Series production of the Moskvich-400-420 (limousine) began on December 4, 1946. As early as 1947, a model version was manufactured as a two-door panel van with a wooden body, which was designated as the Moskvich-400-422. Due to the widespread use of the vehicle, various other bodies were manufactured in the following years. From 1948, and especially in 1949 and 1950, various prototypes were built, including an experimental version as a station wagon and models with a modified front.

From May 1951 a new transmission with synchronized second and third gear was installed. The most important change followed in 1954: the engine output was increased from 23 hp to 26 hp by increasing the compression ratio to 6.2: 1. This also resulted in a renaming to Moskvich-401 . Almost all models were equipped with the new engine, only the production of the convertible sedan was discontinued in 1952. Production of the Moskvich-401 continued for two years and was discontinued in April 1956 in favor of its successor, the Moskvich-402 , which received a completely redesigned body.

As with the predecessor KIM-10, it was planned to produce the vehicle in larger numbers. With the KIM-10, the outbreak of war prevented this. In fact, MZMA produced 247,439 copies of all versions of the Moskvich 400 during the ten years of production, significantly more than the 72,657 copies of the Opel Kadett 38. Most of this quarter of a million were fitted with a closed limousine body. Only 17,742 were delivered as a convertible sedan, 11,129 as a panel van and 2562 as a chassis.

Car races were also driven with near-series vehicles . In 1949 a Moskvich-400-420 set a Soviet record with an average speed of 83.8 km / h on the 1000 km from Moscow to Minsk and back.

Model variants

Different versions of the Moskvich-400 and Moskvich-401 were built, but not all models went into series production.

Series vehicles

• Moskvich-400-420 - Basic model built from 1946 to 1954 with 23 HP (17 kW) and a four-door sedan body.
• Moskvich-400-420A - Variant as a convertible sedan manufactured from 1949 to 1952 . The technical equipment was the same as in the basic model. 17,742 units were produced.
• Moskvich-400-420B - Like the basic version, but all control elements have been converted so that they are suitable for people with physical disabilities.
• Moskvich-400-420K - chassis with driver's cab and two doors and seats. A commercial vehicle superstructure could be attached to the rear if required. These vehicles were often used at airports to transport special equipment. On the other hand, closed boxes or ambulances were also built on this chassis.
• Moskvich-400-420M - vehicle for the medical care of the population. It could transport medical personnel and equipment, but was too small to be an ambulance.
• Moskvich-400-422 - Two-door box van with a closed body made of wood, built from 1947 onwards. There is a double-leaf door at the rear, the payload is 200 kg.
• Moskvich-401-420 - basic version with revised engine now with 26 HP (19 kW) power, built from 1954 to 1956.
• Moskvich-401-420B - Revised version of the handicapped accessible version with a more powerful motor.
• Moskvich-401-420K - Revised variant of the chassis with a more powerful engine.
• Moskvich-401-420M - Revised version for medical care.
• Moskvich-401-422 - panel van with an upgraded engine.

Prototypes

• Moskvich-400-421 - Version built in 1947 as a four-door station wagon with glazing of the body. The body shape was the same as that of the Moskvich-400-422 .
• Moskvich-400-420 Pick-up - The factory built a prototype of a pick-up based on the Moskvich-400-420K chassis . Series production never took place.
• Moskvich-403E-424E - (Russian Москвич – 403Э-424Э) Prototype from around 1949 with a modified front. The bonnet has been completely redesigned and the grille completely changed. It already received a more powerful engine, but the body shape was never taken over into series production. Several other similar models were built.

Technical specifications

For the Moskvich 400-420 , if known.

• Engine: four-cylinder gasoline engine
• Power: 23 HP (17 kW) at 3600 min ^-1
• Displacement: 1074 cm³
• Compression: 5.8: 1
• Fuel: gasoline with at least 66  octane
• Consumption: 9 l / 100 km
• Gearbox: manual three-speed gearbox with reverse gear, from 1951: 2nd and 3rd gear synchronized
• Top speed: 90 km / h
• Acceleration: from 0 to 80 km / h in 55 s
• Drive formula : 4 × 2 (rear wheel drive)

measures and weight

• Length: 3855 mm
• Width: 1400 mm
• Height: 1550 mm
• Wheelbase: 2340 mm
• Front track: 1105 mm
• Rear track: 1168 mm
• Ground clearance: 200 mm
• Tire dimensions: 4.50–16 ″, later also 5.00-16 ″
• Empty weight: 845–860 kg

literature

• LM Shugurov: АВТОМОБИЛИ. России и СССР. First part. Ilbi / Prostreks, Moscow 1993, ISBN 5-87483-004-9 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d e f} L. M. Shugurow: АВТОМОБИЛИ. России и СССР. First part, p. 192 ff.
2. ↑ ^{a b c d} Information on the Moskvich-400-420 on denisovets.ru (Russian)
3. ↑ ^{a b} Overview of all vehicles manufactured by Moskvich as well as further information on the individual types on denisovets.ru (Russian)
4. ^ Website on the Opel Kadett from 1938 to 1940

Web links

Commons : Moskvich-400 and Moskvich-401  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Website on the history of the plant with original recordings of even rare model variants (Russian) ( Memento from October 2, 2008 in the Internet Archive )