Three series GAZ-21 were released, most easily distinguished by the grille. The first series (1956–58), known as the
Star, featured a lattice of three large horizontal bars in the centre of which was a medallion with a star. Vehicles of the second series (1958–1962), known as the
Shark, featured a grille with 16 vertical slits. Finally, the third series (1962–1970), known as the
Baleen, featured a grille with 34 thin vertical rods.
First series (1956–1958) The design process leading to the GAZ-21 began in November 1953.
Alexander Nevzorov, head of the design team, was given a free hand to develop whatever he wanted to reach the objective of competing with American automobiles. Designer Lev Eremeyev decided to follow the fashion set by the
Chevrolet Bel Air,
Plymouth Savoy, and
Ford Mainline; the finished product bears a resemblance to the 1952
Mainline, The prototype appeared in the first quarter of 1954, powered by an
inline four with
overhead camshaft (driven by chain) and cross-flow
hemispherical head. The Volga offered front seats able to fold flat (not unlike a contemporary
Nash option) and came standard with cigarette lighter and a radio (still optional on most U.S. cars). The three variants were the standard M21G, an M21B taxi (with a
taximeter in place of the radio and bucket seats in front instead of a bench), and a tropical model, the M21GYU, all with the GAZ leaping deer
hood ornament. The Volga made its public debut in 1955, with a three cars on a demonstration drive from Moscow to the Crimea, two automatic models and a manual. From 1958, a three-speed manual, with synchromesh on the top two gears, was the only transmission available; this was the M21V, while the taxi became the M21A. The automatic did go on to be used in the low-production
GAZ-13 Chaika, which was also maintained by professionals. Also, export models were built, M21D with the manual transmission and M21E with the automatic, both with a higher 7.2:1 compression engine, producing . Added were windscreen washers and tubeless tires. In the same year, production for export began. The
headliner changed from cloth to vinyl, and the radio became optional. An M22 prototype
four-wheel drive station wagon/estate was also built, as was an M22A
van. Belgian-built cars were marketed as "Scaldia-Volgas", named after the Latin name for the river
Scheldt. While the diesel models cost considerably more than ones with the original engine, they were quite popular for their economy and reliability, and outsold the petrol models in both Belgium and the Netherlands. ==Models==