Moskvich-2140 (M-2140) is a typical fourth-generation rear-wheel drive sedan from the “1,500” family. They released it at AZLK (Moscow) for 13 years, until 1988. Immediately after the end of the Moscow Summer Olympic Games in August 1980, the number of such cars exceeded three million, and two years before the cessation of production of this model, the next Moskvich-1500 SL set a new record and became four millionth. Alas, before the withdrawal from production of this model, another million M-2140 vehicles could not be produced.
Being a deep processing of the previous Muscovites family with an index of 412, he won the hearts of many motorists so much that they continue to buy it even in the 21st century and by no means for collection or mercenary purposes. They are being restored, and spare parts are discharged not only from Russia, but also from abroad and drive, however, carefully and not in winter. So, the German who acquired the Moskvich of this modification, being a citizen of the German Democratic Republic (few people now remember our Soviet Union abroad), over 40 years of operation drove it over a million kilometers and does not agree to change it to a modern car.
History of creation
In the early 80s of the last century, the manufacturer of the Moskvich automobile (hereinafter - AZLK) was going through difficult times. The Moskvich-412 family of vehicles has exhausted its modernization resource, and a conceptually new model was required. Such promising models, developed as something between the AZLK and GAZ products, such as Series 3-5 and Series C (Crocodile Gene), did not go into production.
Deep refinement of previous cars
It was not possible to create a fundamentally new car, and decided to completely upgrade the 408 and 412 series. Three companies worked on these projects in parallel:
- Directly AZLK.
- German company Design Porsche.
- Paris branch of the American "Lowley".
As a result, foreign projects were rejected, and the successor to the traditions embodied in the Moskvich-408 car was Moskvich-2138, and the M-412 - 2140, respectively, Moskvich-2140. Restyling began in 1975. It was carried out quickly, and a year later the car went into serial production. These two models differed only in their external design and engine.
Export option
AZLK specialists are curious about the message that 80 thousand US dollars were paid for a project to modify the 1500 family to order overseas sales ordered in the USA. “If we were given this amount in rubles, we would have done better,” said Soviet engineers. As a result, it happened. The American version was “hacked”, and our specialists developed a “Lux SL” modification for free (for only salary and current bonus). AZLK made this modification in cooperation with the Yugoslavs (Saturnus company), paying for the parts received by barter: by the cars themselves.
The production of the export version of the M-2140 with the index 2140SL (1500SL, 2140-117) was launched in 1981. This car could boast of a new instrument panel, plastic bumpers with chrome trim and moldings, as well as metallic color, which was then a rarity. The cars of domestic assembly were mainly bought in the countries of the socialist community, while the cars of screwdriver assemblies were bought up in the capitalist countries.
Assembly outside the USSR
Moskvich cars in the “screwdriver assembly” mode, including the M-2140, were assembled in Bulgaria and Belgium. At the same time, production volumes were rather big: more than two tens of thousands of cars a year. Moreover, while Bulgaria, which was a socialist country, almost completely followed our technological process, Belgium, as a capitalist country, made significant changes to this work. So, Scaldia-Volga SA could supply an English or French engine, as well as change the interior and design. As a result, Moskvich was sold in four trim levels: Normal, LS, Elita and Rally. The Finnish AZLK dealer “Konela” (rear-view mirrors, high-pressure headlight washers) also sinned by small pre-sale processing.
Modifications
M-2140 had many modifications. Below we give some of them:
- Moskvich-2140D. An ordinary body with a weakened engine, designed for the widespread and cheap type of fuel of the A-76 brand at that time.
- Moskvich-214006 (214007). Option for sale abroad.
- Moskvich-2140-117 or 2140. Luxury option for overseas sales (the model was produced for 6 years).
- Moskvich-2140-121. Special taxi option with seats covered with a leather substitute (produced 6 years).
- "Moskvich-21403" - "invalidka" with RU (produced 9 years).
- Moskvich-21406. A rustic version with improved cross-country ability and a weakened engine, special brakes, a reinforced suspension, a reliable towing device (produced 10 years).
- "Moskvich-21401" - a medical sedan (for servicing patients at home). To facilitate the disinfection of the cabin, it was upholstered with materials of artificial origin.
- Moskvich-214026 (214027). This is the export version for English-speaking countries with left-hand traffic (steering wheel is installed on the right). There were two options: for the usual and subtropical (tropical) climate.
- Moskvich-2315. This is a sedan with open and closed bodies (the model was assembled for 5 years in small batches from rejected cars).
- “Moskvich-2137” is a station wagon of the “one and a half thousand” family (it hasn’t left the assembly line for 10 years).
- Moskvich-2734 is a cargo van for transportation of small consignments (this modification was produced within 6 years).
- Moskvich-1600 Rallye (AZLK 1600 SL Rallye) - sports versions of the M-2140, created to participate in various rallies. They differ in homologation dates –1976 and 1983 respectively. They had forced engines and fundamentally different gearboxes from the M-2140 gearbox, as well as brakes.
Design description
Due to the modernized body and lighting equipment, which met the requirements of the second half of the last century, the Moskvich-2140 car began to fully comply with the traffic safety standards existing at that time.
Also, in order not to violate the relevant international requirements, which was critically important when selling this car abroad, it was equipped with the latest front disc brakes, a safety wheel and a soft dashboard. Head restraints were installed on the seats. In the event of a head-on collision, they softened the blow to the head when the body returned by inertia. An alarm appeared (even earlier than on the Zhiguli), and external lighting and stop lights automatically dimmed at night.
Additional changes M-2140
The additional changes introduced in 1982 mainly affected its appearance. The air vents, wheel caps, the chromed contour of the radiator grille and the black strip between the rear lights disappeared. A "luxury" steering wheel and a heater were installed, changes were made to the design of the bumpers. The existing designations are replaced by “Moskvich” and “AZLK”.
A large number of such cars were equipped with tires with steel cord, and some even had a rear window heater.
The main characteristic of M-2140 is the weight of the transported cargo. By itself, this car model weighed a little more than one ton and could carry a maximum load of up to 400 kilograms. The car could have a driver and four passengers, a spare tire and the contents of the trunk inside the car, as well as a roof rack with a load of up to 0.5 centners. At the same time, it was necessary to pump up the rear wheels to the corresponding atmospheres and observe the high-speed mode no higher than its average indicators.
What does the M-2140 look like? Photos can be seen in the article. Now such cars are rarely seen on the streets.
M-2140: technical specifications
The basic model of the car "Moskvich-2140" had the following parameters:
- Doors (pieces) - four.
- Passengers (person) - four.
- Size in length - 425 centimeters.
- The size in width is 155 centimeters.
- Size in height (without additional load) - 148 centimeters.
- The distance between the axles is 240 centimeters.
- The gauge is 127 centimeters.
- Ground clearance - 17 centimeters.
- The M-2140 engine is a four-cylinder, gasoline, carburetor type, four-stroke.
- The net volume of the engine is 1.48 cubic decimeters.
- N engine (power) - seventy-five horsepower. Acceleration to one hundred kilometers in twenty seconds.
- Gearbox - gear (four steps - four gears forward and one reverse).
- Dampers (shock absorbers) - liquid (hydraulics), telescopic.
- The brake system - front discs, and rear "drums".
- Gas consumption is about nine liters per hundred kilometers.
- Speed (maximum) - 142 kilometers per hour.
- Net weight is one ton.
- Full weight without additional load - 1080 kilograms.
- Full weight with maximum additional load - up to one and a half tons.
Participation in sports competitions
Moskvich-2140 could not overtake its predecessor in sports races in terms of fame, although it had separate victories at the stages of the Friendship Cup of the socialist countries, Saturnus (Yugoslavia) and even thousands of lakes (Finland). True, from the M-2140 in rally cars there was practically only one body, since everything else was at least modernized, and most of the parts were simply replaced with those that could support the participation of the car in these competitions. Although it was initially clear that he could not climb the podium. It was a race for the "own tail" or for the "phantom" of the last rear-wheel drive Moskvich in the history of AZLK.
Price
At the moment, this car can be purchased in the secondary market at a price of 15 to 30 thousand rubles on average. There are also almost perfect specimens, sold for 150 thousand rubles. But you need to understand that most models are in poor condition. First of all, the Muscovites require welding. After the purchase, you have to digest the bottom, sills and arches.
Conclusion
AZLK lost the battle with AvtoVAZ, including in terms of price / quality ratio. Demand for the M-2140 fell to a record low. So, in 1984, nine out of ten issued “Muscovites” were not purchased, overstocking occurred. His rating fell so low that he was only slightly able to overtake the "hunchback" - a car brand "Zaporozhets". And in the summer of 1988, the last Moskvich-2140 rolled off the AZLK factory conveyor.