The second generation of the Volga GAZ-24 was mass-produced from 1970 to 1985.
The creation of the GAZ-24
The first work on the heir to the GAZ-M21 began back in 1958. At the origins of these works was one of the designers of M21 A. Nevzorov. The first developments were based on a frame chassis, but it was quickly abandoned in favor of a supporting body. Initially, the car was designed for the promising 6-cylinder V-shaped engine and the base 4-cylinder. In the early 1960s, several layouts were built on which the design elements of the new model were worked out. By 1966, on the basis of the project of L. Tsikolenko and N. Kireev, several running pre-production models were built.
Production of installation batches began in late 1967, but full-scale serial production started only in July 1970.
The first series of GAZ-24
These machines include issues of 1970-1976. By the time production began, the 6-cylinder engine had not left the prototype stage. Therefore, the car got a modified engine from the previous generation. For many years, he became the only power unit not only for the GAZ-24, but also its heirs.
Externally, the first series is distinguished by chrome bumpers without fangs with a license plate niche under the bumper. Under the grille was a long molding, almost reaching the sidelights. There were no repeaters on the wings, as were the side lights on the lining of the ventilation ducts (on the rear pillars of the roof). The rear-view mirror was on the front wing. The taillights that had a sectional diffuser were also different. Trapezium-shaped reflectors were placed on the body panel under the trunk.
Inside, the first series is easily recognizable by a tape speedometer, a dashboard with steel-colored lining without simulating the texture of a tree. Door cards had a vertical stitching. The front seat is triple and consists of three parts - two seats with separate adjustment and a wide armrest, which could be used as an additional passenger seat. The rear window was not heated. The first releases of cars were equipped with a headlining with a ceiling lamp from M21.
The second series of GAZ-24
The machines of the second Volga-24 series are conditionally classified as production from 1976 to 1984. These cars already had fangs and fog lights on the bumper, a shortened molding under the grille. The taillights received new diffusers with integrated reflectors. Repeaters appeared on the wings.
Inside, changes also occurred - the plastic on the instrument panel and door handles became soft, a speedometer of the usual arrow type appeared. The direction of stitching door cards has changed - it has become horizontal. The dashboard itself began to be glued with wood-like stickers. Since 1977, the front seat armrest disappeared, and the car became 5-seater.
The rear window was heated by a separate heater.
The third series of GAZ-24
The third series includes modernizations of the period 1984-1987, marked by the transition to the GAZ-2410 model. The unification of the GAZ-24 units in the new promising GAZ-3102 model led to its appearance.
In 1985, the transitional model GAZ-24M went into series . The car had no fangs, it was equipped with a black plastic grille (some of the cars had an old grille), the side lights were transferred to the headlights. There were more changes inside - the front seats from the GAZ-3102 with head restraints, the hand brake moved to the usual place between the seats (previously the lever was under a torpedo, in the American style). Blowing the rear window was replaced by a more reliable electric heating.
The release of the GAZ-24M lasted about a year. In 1986, it was finally replaced by the Volga-2410. It introduced a lot of elements from the model 3102 - a more powerful engine, a plastic instrument panel and the instrument cluster itself, a steering wheel, a console between the seats and a number of other changes.
Differences in the version for taxi GAZ-2401
In parallel with the base Volga-24, a version for taxi service was also delivered to the conveyor. Due to the specifics of the operation, the characteristics of the GAZ-2401 were slightly different from the base.
If the base sedan had a 95-horsepower engine ZMZ-24D, requiring AI93 gasoline as fuel, then the taxi version was equipped with a compression version derated in terms of compression for the same engine (under the designation ZMZ-2401). The GAZ-2401 motor had a capacity of 85 liters. from. and worked on cheaper A76 gasoline, with a slight increase in fuel consumption.
Such an alteration was widespread among private owners of the GAZ-24, officially due to the greater prevalence of A76 gasoline. But the fact that the widespread ZIL-130 and GAZ-53 trucks operated precisely on this fuel played a large role. And the sale of excess gasoline by drivers of these cars was a common practice.
GAZ-2401 was also equipped with a leatherette upholstery, which allowed washing the car from the inside. The cars of the first series were painted from the factory in yellow-green color (there were other colors, according to individual orders of taxi fleets) and from the factory they were marked with taxi symbols in the form of black "checkers" on the doors. The second series was painted in lemon yellow (other colors are also available on request).
As standard equipment, the GAZ-2401 was equipped with a taximeter counter (under the climate control handles in the cabin) and a lantern with a green filter in the upper right corner on the windshield. The taxi versions always had in front two separate seats without an armrest and a third place. All GAZ-2401 cars from the factory had a locked rear left door, in order to prevent the passenger from entering the roadway.
All changes to the base sedan equally apply to the taxi version. Therefore, almost all GAZ-2401 and GAZ-24 spare parts are identical.
With the release of the new model in 1986, the index of the taxi car also changed - it received number 2411.