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Born of war reparations, the first Moskvitch 400 was in reality the pre-war German Opel Kadett sedan, whose dies the Russians removed from Germany to build his ‘Son of Moscow’. The Moskvitch car was of unit construction with a 4-cylinder engine of 23hp which was later increased to 26 in the model Moskvitch 401 of 1954. Some tourers and station wagon Moskvitch cars were built on this chassis in addition to the sedans.
In 1956 a newly designed Model 402 Moskvitch car replaced the former Opel style. Engine power of this Moskvitch car was increased to 35hp at 4.200rpm and a 4-wheel-drive Moskvitch 410 was introduced.
A somewhat modified Moskvitch 407 series was announced in 1958 with 45hp and this Moskvitch was available in sedan, taxi, ambulance, station wagon, delivery, and 4-wheel-drive froms. A Moskvitch 403 sedan was constructed in 1963, overlapping Moskvitch 407 production; this Moskvitch car was similar to the other series but had different trim and could likewise be obtained as a station wagon or delivery.
The greatly changed Moskvitch 408 series was displayed in 1966 and showed the Russians’ determination to expand their Moskvitch car export business. This five-seater sedan Moskvitch car compared favourably with other makes of similar size and the Moskvitch car was equipped with a 4-cylinder, 1.4-litre ohv engine of 60hp. The transmission of the Moskvitch car was a 4-speed synchromesh; it had independent front suspension with leaf springs at the rear. Station wagon and delivery models were produced of this Moskvitch car and options included four headlamps, electric windscreen wipers and sun visors.
An unusual variation of the Moskvitch car was the Scaldia sedan, assembled in Belgium by Sobimpex with the Russian chassis and a British Perkins Diesel engine. Early in 1968 came the Moskvitch 412 series with 80bhp ohc hemi-head engine of 1.480cc, and by 1972 this was the staple Moskvitch car.
Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; BE
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