The GAZ-2424 car was not intended for civilian use. This is a Soviet car for special services. In closed papers, she was called simply - a high-speed car or an escort car. Unofficially, the factory employees called it “catching up”. This is the most powerful version of the base GAZ-24. Today, special services are already using completely different cars, and therefore it is no longer a secret what GAZ-2424 is, and this can be described.
General description of the car
This is a Soviet middle-class car, which was produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant from 1968 to 1985. The release was launched in 1973. The basis for the “catch-up” is the ordinary serial GAZ-24. On the technical side, this is a modernized standard GAZ-24. But here the suspension is significantly strengthened, the steering is equipped with a hydraulic booster, another gearbox is used. The design even had an automatic three-speed gearbox. And the most important thing in this car is the V8 ZMZ-503 with a four-chamber carburetor or the ZMZ-505 equipped with two synchronized carburetors.
In this case, the car should have looked the same as the civilian version, but the technical capabilities should be maximized.
Short story
Since the 1930s, the Gorky Plant has been producing small series of middle-class high-speed vehicles for the security forces and special services in small batches. The issue was established on the basis of GAZ-M1, Victory and GAZ-21.
The main task that the Volga GAZ-2424 performed was the operation in the 9th Directorate of the KGB of the USSR. The car was intended to accompany the ZILs and "Seagulls", in which there were senior government officials. To do this, we needed a car that could move along with them. The simplest and relatively inexpensive way to make such a car was to install a motor and transmission system from Chaika into the GAZ-24 serial body.
The peculiarity of these cars is that all assembly work was carried out using manual labor only. The painting was carried out according to old technologies - “Seagulls” were still painted on them. The factory made high-quality anti-corrosion protection. In some cases, upon special order, they made a non-standard plush or velor interior, which was then a real luxury. Also, the car could be equipped with air conditioning. But for ordinary KGB agents, the interior was ordinary, fabric.
Appearance
Outside, the GAZ-2424 had no differences from the serial civilian “twenty fours”. They didn’t change the landing either, even taking into account that you can sit in different ways on the Volga. Also, the car has one exhaust pipe.
It was possible to distinguish the KGB car in the cabin. If you look there, you can see a slightly different gear selector lever. It is curved at the base. The box is switched according to the accepted scheme for automatic transmissions.
As for coloring, often these cars were painted in ordinary, dim colors. The car should have been easily lost in the stream. The most popular color for catch-ups, of course, is black. But there were very few gray cars. Black “Volga” differed more improved trim and high-quality painting.
Body
Many people think that this machine is unique in its engine and characteristics. But no, the body is unique here. With a completely indistinguishable design from the civilian version, the chassis is completely original. The body is equipped with special reinforced spars. Otherwise, the heavy GAZ-2424 engine would simply fall out of the compartment at the time of braking. The weight of the power unit was about 200 kg. Plus it’s worth adding here the mass of the torque converter, the mass of the cooling system, as well as the rest of the little things.
It should be borne in mind that the chassis was cooked by the continuous seam method around the entire perimeter. But that was not enough. When a car was shaken on Soviet roads, cracks formed in the power frame along this seam. These cars are not intended for bad roads. Pits are an enemy for a heavy body. At the factory, they wanted to switch to using local amplification, but it also helped little.
There were rumors that the bodies were galvanized - this is incorrect information. The bodies could be tinned, but even this is very rare. Nevertheless, many "catch-up" survived to our times in the original paint, without rot.
Interior
The only noticeable part inside this car is the automatic transmission selector. The shape of the lever was different from the standard switch. It was slightly bent at its base. In some versions there was only a brake pedal. Also, on some models, dual pedals were installed, and they worked like brakes. Also in the cabin there were cables controlling the hood and luggage compartment locks. It was possible to distinguish “catch-up” from the civilian “Volga” by another larva of castles.
Two pedals are installed here - they were gas and brake. At the same time, the brake could be wider, as is popular in cars with automatic transmission. There were also models with three standard pedals. But here the clutch worked like a brake.
As for the overall trim, it is much better than on civilian versions. There is even information that some models of the GAZ-2424 were equipped with electric windows.
Engines
The power units used in this car are the fruits of the development of ZMZ-13/23. On the "catch-up" was placed ZMZ-2424 with a volume of 5.53 liters and one carburetor for four cameras. The power of this engine was 195 liters. from. with a torque of 420 Nm. For GAZ-2424, the maximum speed characteristics with this motor are 170 kilometers per hour.
ZMZ-503 is practically the same, but the unit is slightly modernized. Its power is also 195 forces, but it is much more widespread. ZMZ-505 is a more powerful version, there were two four-chamber carburetors. Power was already 220 liters. from. with a torque of 460 Nm. There is also information that there was also an injection unit ZMZ-504. Its power is 250 forces with a torque of 520 Nm. Previously, such engines were placed only on trucks. Here's what else is interesting about these motors: the same block was used on all cars. Only its marking changed. Particularly tuning this motor will not work. If the GAZ-2424 is not driving, then only a person who understands these units can repair such a motor. And they were almost gone.
Transmission
An automatic transmission from the Seagull was installed on these cars. But on the GAZ-2424 5.5, the switching mechanics were different. The box case remained the same, an extension cord appeared in the design. It is interesting that it was developed under a license based on the American Ford submachine gun for the GAZ-21. No secret was made of this.
The box had three gears for moving forward, as well as one rear. All speeds were long, so there were no special problems with use. Naturally, this design did not contribute at least some saving. But the “catch-up” was not created for these purposes. Reviews say that for a hundred the car spends under 30 liters of fuel. Installing a manual gearbox on these machines is an impossible task. Docking sizes here are just under the torque converter.
Steering
And here everything was almost exclusive. The hydraulic booster was made in the image of GAZ-13 - it had a separate hydraulic cylinder reducer, which acted directly on the trapezoid. The design was very similar to the American systems that were created in the 60s. The same system was then installed in the experimental GAZ-3102 models.
A feature of these power steering was that they flowed. Reviews say that on almost all cars, the engine compartment is generously splattered with power steering fluid. There are also problems with the ignition system (here it is of the distributor type, with a slider). Although there are interchangeable spare parts with the GAZ-53 (for example, a generator and a pump).
Summary
I must admit that it is now impossible to operate such cars. They can be used only for infrequent trips so as not to overheat the engine. Yes, and the authorities have not been using the GAZ-2424 for a long time . Its technical characteristics have long been outdated. Now it is much cheaper to buy a foreign car. After all, consumables and spare parts for the Volga-catching-up can no longer be found.