The amphibian car VAZ-2122. VAZ-2122: technical specifications, photo

The narrative of such a marvelous model as the 2122 VAZ, it's worth starting with the fact that it deserves special attention. In the era of the developing automotive industry in the USSR, many entertaining projects were created that impressed the imagination. A large number of experimental samples with unimaginable characteristics and indicators gave hope for great success. An inspected copy is no exception. Machine-amphibians paid a lot of attention. A car VAZ-2122 (photo it is presented in our article) was just designed to overcome all kinds of land and water obstacles.

"The Russian automotive industry is senseless and ruthless"

This very phrase can very often be heard not only from the lips of car enthusiasts, but also those who did not come across the driving of vehicles. Most of these statements are connected with the creation of AvtoVAZ. On the logical "why" there are many different versions of the answers.

Someone does not like the look, someone - the necessary or unnecessary functionality. Many complain about small reliability, and even modern cultures of "BPAN", Loud Sound and the like in general cause a storm of emotions, sometimes positive, and often very negative. How many people - so many opinions. But do not forget that the Volzhsky Avtozavod was not always so boring and of the same type, and the cars produced here at various intervals continue to delight to this day.

How it all began

With the opening of the Volga Automobile Plant, the military showed great interest in the creation of an army vehicle of increased terrain, for use in extreme conditions. Initially, the idea of developing model 2122 VAZ was not supported by the plant management.

The first movement towards the planning of such a specimen began in the late 1970s. Then, designers and designers were instructed to investigate the prospects for the market of army cars and SUVs, as well as the results of their application in the course of military conflicts in the Middle East and Vietnam. Of all the available models were selected International Scout, Ford M151, as well as domestic UAZ, not only serial, but also promising.

First developments

The experimental amphibian VAZ-2122 "River" was originally developed at the initiative of the plant, and the project was headed by Peter Prusov. The main plan was the creation of a utilitarian army jeep. Despite this, the military soon made a request, which indicated the possibility of crossing water obstacles not only on wheels, but also afloat.

In early 1971, Yuri Danilov presented the first detailed drawing of an amphibious car. When in 1972, A. Eremeev was appointed to the position of the designer of the project, he began to build a full-scale layout. This was presented to the Council in 1974 and immediately approved. Externally, the first VAZ-2122, whose photo can be seen in the article, did not betray its waterfowl character. The fact is that the car looked like an absolutely normal SUV, not capable of maneuvering on the water.

Similarity with the VAZ-2121 "Niva"

Since the model 2122 was built on the basis of the notorious "Niva", the external differences from its ancestor in the amphibian were not so serious. Of course, the dimensions have slightly increased due to the special shape of the body. But the technical stuffing remained virtually unchanged - the same 1.58 liters engine with a slightly increased gear ratio of the main pair, which was 4.78.

Of course, the body was slightly upgraded, which was noticeable, mainly from the bottom of the car. To protect against unwanted moisture from entering important parts of the undercarriage, transmission and motor, as well as for smooth running on the water, the bottom of the VAZ model 2122 was flat and completely sealed. Of course, this did not pass unnoticed for some problems associated with overheating of the units.

E2122 - the first samples

So, in 1976, the first two prototypes were made. After all the necessary preparations, their field trials began. The first thing that was amazing - passability. Even after the increase in overall dimensions and weight in general, the car calmly overcame any land obstacles at the level of such SUVs as, for example, UAZ.

Water obstacles also did not become a hindrance, which could not but rejoice. VAZ-2122 (all-terrain amphibian of the first series) proved to be quite successful, except for one. In view of the closed bottom, there began to be shortcomings in cooling the engine and transmission units. As a result - overheating and unforeseen breakdowns. New developments were imminent, and soon the light saw the second series of apparatus.

2E2122 - work on errors

1978 showed the results of careful work on the project. Again, two prototypes were produced, which externally remained practically unchanged. The main feature was the rear-view mirrors borrowed from KamAZ. The tests that began in 1979, unfortunately, showed that the problem of overheating of the units remained at the same level.

In addition, the transmission model of the 2122 VAZ did not withstand the loads that the military created for it. The main cause of the breakdown was the change in the ratio of the reducer-wheel pair. As a result, the project went into a deep impasse.

To prevent malfunctions, the necessary conversion was a necessary measure, which could mean a discrepancy with the course of unification with the "Niva". This required a large cost, and it would have to facilitate the entire structure in order to reduce the load on the main units and units. These changes significantly differed from the requirement of customers. But on August 27, 1981, it was this development that was approved for the further implementation of the project.

3E2122 - global reconstruction

Before the release of the third sample, global changes were made, thanks to which the car VAZ-2122 was given the right to further development. The alterations were designed to increase the stability of the entire design of the amphibious all-terrain vehicle. In 1982, the first prototypes came out, which were smaller than the previous ones in size.

The rear overhang was reduced by 100 mm. In fact, the dimensions became comparable to the VAZ-2121 "Niva", and the tires were installed from the "immortal symbol of the Russian car industry". The main pair was also changed, giving it a gear ratio of 4.44. In addition, with the customer it was agreed to reduce the payload to 360 kg from 400 kg, and the total volume of fuel tanks was reduced to 80 liters instead of the previous 120. The reduction in the thickness and height of the metal from which the bumper was made was also effective.

3E2122: test results

The third modification turned out to be the most successful. The engine's replacement with a smaller engine (VAZ-21011), with a volume of 1.3 liters, made it possible to achieve greater reliability of the unit. The front gearbox was placed outside the main body, which was still as tight as possible. And thanks to the increase in the cooling radiator and the addition of the second fan, the cooling capacity of the transfer case increased.

All these innovations helped to cope with the previous deficiencies, and in the tests the car VAZ-2122, the technical characteristics of which at that time exceeded all expectations, proved to be excellent.

The passage on land and water did not deteriorate, even despite the reduction in engine capacity and the smaller diameter of the wheels. A complete test program was conducted in the desert areas in Turkmenistan and passes in the Pamirs. And this all-terrain vehicle withstood perfectly well.

Series 400 - the fourth stage of development

In 1983, on the basis of the third generation of the 2122 series, three samples were created with assigned numbers PT-401, 402 and 403, respectively. They were prepared specifically for testing at the state level.

More than half a year of all kinds of inspections, the samples passed a distance equal to 30,000 km, being afloat for more than 50 hours. At the end, the state commission concluded that the VAZ-2122 (floating Niva) vehicle was being inspected according to the basic requirements, and also meets the requirements of state and industry standards, TTZ and other NTDs.

In addition, there was a phrase according to which the jeep was recommended for serial production and acceptance for service. It was necessary to correct only the insufficient reliability of brakes in high-mountain conditions, because at relatively high altitudes (4000 m above sea level or more) the brake fluid boiled due to low pressure.

Series 500 and 600 - small innovations

1985 was marked by the release of the 5th generation of test specimens. All comments to the 4th series were taken into account, and 10 more copies of the VAZ-2122 were seen, the technical characteristics of which became possible to realize in any weather and natural conditions.

According to unconfirmed reports, 5 (or 6) of these cars were in service with various military units and were used for army needs. The remaining 4 cars remained at the plant for their own tests.

In the end, only positive feedback from the military, coupled with the great interest of hunters and fishermen for this miracle of engineering technology, gave hope for a mass production of the model. The full test program prompted the state commission to again recommend the all-terrain amphibian to mass production in 1986. And in 1987 it was marked by the release of three copies of the sixth series, in which some innovations were introduced from the engineers of the plant.

Ghost Car

Despite the great success of the model and only positive feedback, the whole planned small-scale production did not begin. The fact is that at the time of the end of the field tests of the 6th series, the military had no need for a floating company commander's car, and 6 million rubles, necessary for the start of production, proved impossible to raise the sum for the state and AvtoVAZ.

The project was closed, and the car turned into a ghost. However, the last samples still exist, but are in various museums. VAZ-2122, whose photo is now one of the last reminders about it, has become a dream of many enthusiastic fans of the project.

In the hands of the modern owner

One of the samples of the 6th series, after the project was canceled, was in the hands of one of the leaders of the creation and production of the "River". Thanks to the accumulated experience over the years of development, Valery Domansky restored the VAZ-2122 "Floating Field".

A description of this instance can take many printed pages. However, from all this it is only necessary to highlight the moment when the amphibian still belonged to Valery Ivanovich (now he is in the museum of technology of JSC AvtoVAZ). Before the direct transfer of the car to the exhibition, it was possible for him to ride journalists from the Autoreview, who were incredibly enthusiastic about the quality of the assembly and the capabilities of the device. From the review you can find out that on land the machine behaves like an ordinary "Niva", but when the VAZ-2122 starts its "swimming", it has no equal. The Amphibian Amphibian is able to overcome not only the ponds with standing water, but also the currents of the rivers. Having chosen the same "dry out of the water", the movement on land continues also without any difficulties. In a word, not a car is a dream!

A little bit about the sad

Unfortunately, this part of the car industry can not be considered from the point of view of the consumer niche. Closed at the stage of introduction into production, the device was a great prospect and hope of many avid hunters and fishermen. Despite the relatively small capacity, but good crossability for any type of soil and water surface, the "River" was never destined to find itself in the hands of true fans.

It is worth noting that the period for which the serial release of the amphibian was planned became quite complicated in the history of the countries of the USSR. Perhaps, that is why such large-scale developments have sunk into oblivion. Already in the modern world, the need for them has disappeared, and replaced by air-cushion ships and other innovations in the field of automotive industry. As a result - one of the most promising and unusual projects of the entire domestic automotive industry has become an involuntary ending of the crown of engineering thought.