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The Volga M21: iconic Russian cars ressurecting in the Monte Carlo Historic Rally

07.02.2019

The Volga M21: the resurrection of two iconic Russian cars participating in the Monte Carlo Historic Rally.

The Volga M21 (GAZ-21) model was produced in the Russian GAZ /Gorki, URSS/ during the years between 1956 and 1970. With a modest power output, varying from 70 to 85 horsepower, depending on its construction year, not the typical Rally car you’d expect.

The Volga M21: iconic Russian cars ressurecting in the Monte Carlo Historic Rally

Back in the days, the Gorki factories owned their own racing workshop « Torpédo-GAZ », and prepared their Volga cars for extreme challenges such as rallies, track races and off-road rallies.

Since 1961, the race pilots from the Russian Torpédo-GAZ team participated in numerous international rallies. Including the world-famous Monte-Carlo rally in 1964 and 1965. The URSS team ceased the use of the Volga cars however from 1968 of.

The Volga M21: iconic Russian cars ressurecting in the Monte Carlo Historic Rally

Fast-forward to 2015. There was only one from the tree original rally cars left in a decent state. This car participated in the Monte-Carlo Rally in 1965, and was bought back by race driver Viatcheslav MOSSOLOFF, and reconverted to its original state during a 3-year process, however improved with some modern technology.

The Volga M21: iconic Russian cars ressurecting in the Monte Carlo Historic Rally

2019 marked the 55th anniversary of the first participation of the Russian team in the Monte-Carlo Rally. In proud memory of this event, the Motul Gorkyclassic team restored and prepared two Volga M21’s for the 22nd edition of the Monte-Carlo historic rally.

On the 30th of January, Anastasia Nifontova gave the official start signal for the two Volga rally cars on the Red Square in Moscow.

The Volga M21: iconic Russian cars ressurecting in the Monte Carlo Historic Rally

   

The Volga M21: iconic Russian cars ressurecting in the Monte Carlo Historic Rally

Technical data of the two cars:

  • Type                                       M21
  • Construction year                 1961
  • Owner                                    ALEXEY VASILYEV
  • Chassis number                    135826
  • Type of engine                       402, 421
  • VIN                                         M021OA750RUS
     
  • Type                                       GAZ-21
  • Construction year                  1962
  • Owner                                    ALEXEY VASILYEV
  • Chassis number                     200936
  • Type of engine                       402, 421
  • VIN                                         E646PX99RUS
The Volga M21: iconic Russian cars ressurecting in the Monte Carlo Historic Rally

The official Monte Carlo Rally website: http://acm.mc/en/accueil/

The Volga M21: iconic Russian cars ressurecting in the Monte Carlo Historic Rally