In the late 1980s, Volga cars carried a prestige that came with a strict gatekeeping routine. Access to these cars was reserved for a select circle, with lists prepared and approved at high levels. The GAZ-24-10 carried a price tag that many found daunting, reaching 16,360 rubles, while VAZ models offered a notably more approachable option at roughly half that amount.
Curiously, the limit used by Sberbank for a purchase was always a four-digit ceiling, capped at 9,999 rubles. It meant a buyer would often need to present not one, but two checks to complete the payment for a car, a quirk that underscored the era of strict financial control and careful budgeting.
As a lighthearted perk on the day of agreed purchase, an unusual note appeared on the invoice: the octane rating of the intended gasoline. The first five buyers secured cars with tuned engines offering 90 horsepower in the Model 4021 family, tuned for gasoline A-76. Those further back in line received the 100 horsepower engines designated for AI-93 fuel. The contrast between fuel options was more than a technical detail; it was a small ritual that highlighted how performance and fuel choice influenced ownership experience.
One could argue that the ability to drive on cheaper fuel was, in a sense, a concession offered to temper the practical extravagance of owning a car from that era. The car’s performance and fuel economy were topics of frequent discussion among enthusiasts who measured capability not just in power, but in the numbers that defined everyday use.
In terms of usage, the official guidance did not set a fixed factory fuel consumption rate. Instead, it described a practical baseline based on typical trips. For the ZMZ-402 engine running on AI-93, summer ез runs at a speed of 90 km/h reported around 9.3 liters per 100 kilometers, while pushing to 120 km/h could result in about 12.9 liters per 100 kilometers. When paired with the ZMZ-4021 engine designed for A-76, the figures showed roughly 10.2 liters per 100 kilometers at 90 km/h and 13.9 liters per 100 kilometers at 120 km/h. In real-world use, drivers commonly observed fuel consumption in the range of 13 to 15 liters per hundred kilometers, reflecting the difference between theory and everyday driving styles.
Among those who curate historical snapshots of technology, a figure named Mikhail Kolodochkin has spent years gathering curious facts. For example, he notes questions that often arise about the design details of Zhiguli headlights, including those peculiar “legs” on the lamps of the fifth and seventh models, which sparked conversations about aesthetics and functionality that still intrigue collectors today.
Questions or curiosities about these classic cars can be explored further through community discussions and archival notes, which share the charm and the challenges of owning, restoring, and understanding Soviet-era automobiles.
- Find ten remarkable facts about the GAZ-24-10 in a curated collection of automotive histories and anecdotes.
- Behind the wheel can be followed through community pages and archives dedicated to vintage cars.