In 1957, when the design bureau of the Minsk automobile plant decided to build their own model to participate in the USSR circuit racing championship, the most famous sports car in the world was the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR (W196). It was in his image and likeness that Minsk engineers decided to build their own racing car.
However, the similarity between the MAZ-1500 and the 300 SLR was largely limited to the appearance. Unlike the exterior panels of the Mercedes-Benz SLR made of the exotic and expensive Elektron alloy, the body of the Soviet sports prototype was made entirely of BF glue and fiberglass.
The curb weight of the racing MAZ was 730 kg, almost 250 kg lighter than the 300 SLR.
They tried to power up the racing MAZ with the help of motorcycle carburetors. The working volume of the MAZ engine did not exceed one and a half liters. The power of the MAZ-1500, with all the tricks, was only increased to 60 horsepower. However, given the ridiculous mass, the “Soviet Mercedes” still accelerated to an embarrassing 165 km / h.
Sports career MAZ-1500 turned out to be short. The first start of the “Minsk Mercedes” came out in the 1961 season. Here it turned out that the MAZ-1500, confidently ahead of its rivals in design, is inferior to them in speed.
Only seven cars started the race and five of them made it to the finish. That is, the MAZ-1500 arrived last.
This ended the short and not too rosy career of the Minsk Automobile Plant racing car.
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Source: Avto.ru and “Behind the wheel”
The only passenger car in the history of the Minsk Automobile Plant is a racing car!
