Moskvich-408

Moskvich
Moskvich-408IE in Russia, photographed in 2016
Moskvich-408
Sales designation:	Москвич-408 Москвич-426 Москвич-433
Production period:	1964-1975
Class :	Lower middle class
Body versions :	Limousine , station wagon , panel van
Engines:	Otto engine : 1.36 liters (37 kW)
Length:	4090 mm
Width:	1550 mm
Height:	1440 mm
Wheelbase :	2400 mm
Empty weight :	990-1055 kg
Previous model	Moskvich-403
successor	Moskvich-2138

The Moskvich-408 ( Russian Москвич-408 ) is a passenger car made by the Soviet manufacturer Moskovsky Sawod Malolitraschnych Avtomobilej ( MZMA for short , from 1968 AZLK for Avtomobilny Sawod imeni Leninskowo Komsomola , known from the use of the brand name Moskvich from 1964 to 1975) was built. It is the successor to the Moskvich-403 , for which MZMA already used the floor pan of the Moskvich-408. From 1967 the Moskvich-412 was manufactured in parallel , which mainly differed in its more powerful engine.

Under the name Moskvich-426 (Russian Москвич-426) a version as a station wagon was built from 1967, the Moskvich-433 is a closed box van. The latter was produced from 1966.

Vehicle history

Moskvich-408 of the second generation (2012)

Kombi Moskvich-426 in Vienna (around 1974)

Box van Moskvich-433P as right-hand drive (2014)

Moskvich-408 of the first series (2011)

The export version Moskvich-408IE with double headlights and more chrome parts (2016)

The development of the Moskvich-408 began in 1959. Outwardly, the prototypes still differed from the later production vehicle. Compared to its predecessor, the Moskvich-403, the car received a new body. The chassis has also been revised. However, its development was completed early, so that it was already used in the Moskvich-403. Series production began in 1964.

The Moskvich-408 has some technical innovations. Brake system and engine have been revised. The hood will now open forward. In the first few years, the vehicle was fitted with a steering wheel gearshift and a continuous bench seat with an adjustable backrest at the front. A stick shift was installed later , so there were two separate seats in the front.

At the beginning of 1967 the vehicle was adapted to the design and technology of the Moskvich-412. The first body in which both engines could be installed was number 199706 and rolled off the assembly line on October 17, 1967. On May 18 of the same year, the 1 millionth vehicle in the company's history was built, a Moskvich 408.

In October 1968 the manufacturer changed the name from MZMA to AZLK. The vehicle was visually redesigned in 1969. Models built from this point onwards can no longer be distinguished from the outside of the Moskvich-412, only the engine of the two types was different. These cars can be recognized by the rectangular headlights and the radiator grille with a larger rectangular structure. Production of the second series was stopped in December 1975 in favor of the Moskvich-2138 .

The Moskvich-408 was an important export. At times, more than 55% of the production at the Moscow plant was exported. The vehicle went not only to socialist countries like the GDR , but also to western countries. In Scandinavia it was sold as the Moskvich Carat , in France and other European countries as the Moskvich Elite 1360 . The name change was also made because Peugeot used a similar numbering scheme. At Scaldia in Belgium, the Moskvich-408 was equipped with a diesel engine. From 1967 the car was also exported to the Federal Republic of Germany and had good standard equipment compared to competing models.

Between 1966 and 1967, the Moskvich was also built in the Izmash factory in Izhevsk . There it was replaced by the more powerful Moskvich-412 after just one year of production. In Bulgaria there was also a license production in the city of Lovech between 1966 and 1975.

Model variants

Different versions of the Moskvich-408 were built, and there were also some prototypes based on this vehicle.

• Moskvich-408 - basic model with sedan body, built from 1964 to 1975.
• Moskvich-408IE - basic model with limousine body, for export.
• Moskvich-408Ju - basic model with limousine body, for export to countries with tropical climates.
• Moskvich-408B - Like the basic version, but all control elements have been converted so that they are suitable for people with physical disabilities (hand control).
• Moskvich-408M - For transporting medical personnel and materials, for example to make home visits to patients.
• Moskvich-408P - export version as right-hand drive.
• Moskvich-408T - model specially equipped and painted as a taxi .
• Moskvich-426 - Version built from 1967 as a four-door station wagon.
• Moskvich-426P - four-door station wagon for export, right -hand drive.
• Moskvich-433 - Version built from 1966 as a closed box van with only two doors.
• Moskvich-433P - box van in export version as right-hand drive.
• Moskvich-408-Tourist - prototype as Grand Tourismo, never built in series. 2 + 2-seater, convertible with hardtop .

Technical specifications

For the Moskvich-408 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 min ^-1
• Fuel: gasoline with (at least) 76  octane
• Consumption: 8 to 10 l / 100 km
• Transmission: manual four-speed gearbox with reverse gear, first gear unsynchronized
• Top speed: 120 km / h
• Acceleration: from 0 to 80 km / h in 17.2 s
• Drive formula : 4 × 2 (rear wheel drive)

measures and weight

• Length: 4090 mm
• Width: 1550 mm
• Height: 1440 mm
• Wheelbase: 2400 mm
• Front track: 1237 mm
• Rear track: 1227 mm
• Ground clearance: 178 mm
• Turning circle: 10 m
• Tire size: 6.00-13 ″
• Empty weight: 990 kg (station wagon: 1055 kg, box van: 1005 kg)
• permissible total weight: 1330 kg (station wagon: 1455 kg, box van: 1560 kg)
• Front axle load: 640 kg
• Rear axle load: 690 kg

literature

• LM Shugurov: АВТОМОБИЛИ. России и СССР. Second part. Ilbi / Prostreks, Moscow, 1994, ISBN 5-87483-006-5 .
• Ministry of Automobile Transport of the RSFSR ; Vehicle Construction Institute NIIAT: Short Automobile Manual (краткий автомобильный справочник). Transport Publishing House, 6th edition, Moscow 1971.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d} L. M. Shugurow: АВТОМОБИЛИ России и СССР. Second part, p. 35.
2. ↑ ^{a b c d e f} Information on the Moskvich-408 on denisoviet.ru (Russian)
3. ↑ Website for the Moskvich-403 (Russian)
4. ↑ ^{a b c d} Ministry of Automobile Transport of the RSFSR ; Vehicle Construction Institute NIIAT: Short Automobile Manual (краткий автомобильный справочник). P. 41 ff.
5. ↑ Former manufacturer website of AZLK (Russian)
6. ^ Automobile - Moskvich - Air pump on board . The mirror , 1967.
7. ↑ Overview of all vehicles manufactured by Moskvich as well as further information on the individual types on denisovets.ru (Russian)
8. ↑ Website for the Moskvich 408 Tourist (Russian)

Web links

Commons : Moskvich-408  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Video of a test drive with a Moskvich-408 (Russian)