Cuba is of course famous for its old American cars from 1959 or earlier, but here’s a big old Russian Chaika limo that RiveraNotario shot there. It’s dated as a 1978, but it sure looks lie it could be a pre-1960 American car, like a 1955 Packard or such.
Tatra87 did a very thorough take on these second-tier Russian limos here, so I’m not going to repeat any of that. Those rear fins are looking rather 1957 Buick-like to me.
Looks like it even had exhausts outlets in the bumper, like a Cadillac. And from here, the rear window and roof have a 1955-1956 Ford vibe. A real mongrel.
It’s what a Trabant wants to be when it grows up!
Where it’s “off model” so to speak from its’ Detroit inspirations, it’s from having been designed as a limo from scratch. The rear quarter windows and the rear door-to-wheelwell dimension are too short for a 2-door post sedan which in Detroit would’ve been the donor for the rear section.
It is interesting that it stayed in production as long as it did without even a facelift.
“It is interesting that it stayed in production as long as it did without even a facelift.”
To add to the mystery, the updated replacement model, the GAZ 14 was already in production by 1978. Apparently both the new and old models were made concurrently for 4 years, 1977 through 1981, before the older model was discontinued.
I suspect there may have been a hierarchy among government officials. Lesser officials got the older GAZ 13 model, while the new model was reserved for more senior staff. And of course, those at the top of the heap received the palatial ZIL 4104
These were low volume hand-built government-only limos. I think total built over the years was like 3000 units. Facelifting them made absolutely no sense. They would just get replaced by an entirely new model at the end of the run.
That roof looks completely like a 57-59 GM roofline. And that side swoop of chrome is remindful of that on the side of a 57 Chevy Impala maybe.
It looks like it’s ready to take a chomp out of that little red car in front of it.
Cool shots.
My first thought was “Gussied-up Checker Marathon”.
Failed “gussey” at that.
Don’t you folks remember that when the Packard got the Studebaker body in 1956, the entire Packard line was sold to Russian?
Maybe someone snuck this Russian built Packard into Cuba along with the missiles, or maybe it was Khrushchev’s personal limo?
Rohrschach roof. It looks to me like ’55 Chrysler.
The engine and transmission were pure Chrysler, on a Lancia-style platform chassis.
There has been over the years a lot of mis-information about Packard dies being sold in WW II and the resemblance to ZIL, ZIS, and GAZ to to various Packards, Imperials &c, but none of it is correct. There’s extensive discussion, photos and documents to substantiate that all of the Soviet era look-alikes were home grown and somewhat crude copies, including their drivetrains. There’s zero relationship other than some blatant cribbing by the Soviets between any USSR built car and any US make. For more check out the forum topic on the as http://www.packardinfo where a former DDR member has provided extensive expertise on this topic.
PS: the ohv V8s of the Soviet autos had nothing in common with the Mopar hemi- or the wedge-head engines introduced by Mopar in ’58, other than their general. configuration. Reportedly they were hand assembled, and not as refined as the US V8s, but decently durable nonetheless.
The the front end of some of the later limos for the Soviet apparatchiks did have something of a passing resemblance to Dodge Polaras!
Shape reminds me more of a Checker than anything from the Detroit big 3 (or Packard) that it’s usually compared to. Though the front and rear look like bad knockoffs of the ’55 Packard and ’57 Buick respectively.
The Russians could not beat the capitalists so they copied them.
See also the Tupelov TU-4 bomber which was a reverse-engineered copy of a few Boeing B-29s (which the Russians stole and would not return).
I’d guess this Chaika was once a diplomatic car used at the Havana embassy.
Reminds of the old Johnny Cash song where he snuck car parts out of the Cadillac plant he worked in. “Well it’s a 55. 56, 57, 58, 59 and a 60” etc.
From the back, there’s a touch of ’58 Rambler, as well.
I can’t quite place the model, but that car screams 1950’s American car. And while they might have been impressive in the 50’s, might, by the late 70s they definitely were not. I wonder if the stylist was honored or sent to Siberia?
A “mash up” of fifties, american behemoths. Age accentuated it’s “menacing” attributes. The little, watchmadingle parked in front looks like a kids toy. “Wind it up”
Wow .
Strong 1950’s vibe here but that’s normal for Russia ~ I have a Russian clock made in the 1980’s that uses a 1950’s font, much of my Russian Ural Motocycles also have 1950’s touches .
I’m assuming it must be well built as it’s still going, lots of lesser American and European cars can’t make it this long .
It looks over the top to me but still like the 1950’s designs so this one looks nice to me .
-Nate