Vulgar Volga Variations

The Gaz (Volga) 3111 was intended to show the world that the Russian car industry could produce a thoroughly up-to-date executive sedan for the 21st century. V8,  automatic transmission, all-independent suspension, possibly permanent 4-wheel drive and all mod cons. But cost over-runs and production delays meant that just to get it out the door the specification had to be seriously downgraded (an old V6, manual transmission and a live rear axle with cart springs from the old Volga). Then they priced the finished product on a par with BMW and Mercedes. So, no prizes for guessing what canny Russians bought. Gaz managed to produce about 400 cars before they pulled the plug and concentrated on commercial vehicles.

After a bit of searching I found a 1:43 model produced in China for a Russian outfit called AIST - Abto Istoria (“Auto History”).  A fairly simple diecast but perfectly acceptable. Also done in red, black and I think maybe blue.

Some stretch versions of the 3111 were built, presumably in the Gaz factory. Maybe they hoped that government departments would feel obliged to buy the home-grown product for ministerial use, but apparently not. At least one ended up as a wedding car.

I thought this limo was interesting enough for a casual project. The AIST model (which was later issued in apparently identical form by DeAgostini in an “Auto Legends” series of Russian cars) was cheap enough so I got a couple more, and with a few strategic saw cuts and some reinforcing brass strips on the inside I had a limo body. The floor was also extended by cut-and-shut, and the seating unit was enhanced to include jump seats in the middle, but the fairly thick glazing makes that work pretty much invisible. The paint job is Volkwagen Sand and the black body accents are 1/16 inch chart tape. I didn’t even bother trying to replicate any fine chrome window surrounds. Sorry about that.

And then things got rather silly. In an idle moment (waiting for the glue to dry on another project) I joined the two body offcuts to make a rather stumpy 2-door coupé, and I thought “Mmmm, you do look awfully butch, sweetie. You could be a rally car.” So it acquired a deep front spoiler, flared wheel arches, side skirts, rear wing, rear diffuser, various air vents, a full roll cage and a driver and navigator. And, oh yes, mudflaps and a GPS antenna. The Gaz badge and “автоспорт“ (“Motorsport”) graphics were done as laser-printed waterslide transfers, and I threw in some commercial logos pretty much at random. The result may not be entirely plausible or strictly in line with international rally regulations, but it was never meant to be serious.

Anyway, I think The Stig approves, although obviously he isn’t saying.

p.s. For a bit more background info on the car and my search for models you can check out this article I did for MAR online.

Gaz Exploration | MAR Online

p.p.s.  And in case you're wondering, the Stig figure came with some model or other, but I'm damned if I remember what it was now.