The standout feature of the car powered by the Zhiguli engine was its own made V-belt variator thoughtfully designed by the inventor.
The idea reportedly came from the era’s combine harvesters, where belts were regularly scavenged for a homegrown mechanism.
It is said a specialized factory in Belaya Tserkov produced 14 sets of the required belts free of charge, following a personal request from the director who respected resourceful tinkerers.
Additionally, the inventor earned a copyright certificate for his variator, securing recognition for his unique design.
At the dawn of perestroika, homemade cars gained popularity. The prototype of the versatile all-terrain vehicle “Magistr-1600,” built in Kaluga, was considered for small-scale production. It could be assembled with essential tools in a workshop of roughly 25–30 square meters.
The project “Master,” which blended features from different vehicle types, passed the control and technical examination at the Scientific and Technical Center of VAZ, receiving a favorable assessment and undergoing testing at the Dmitrov car testing site.
For years, Mikhail Kolodochkin has collected unusual facts from the history of technology. He notes, for instance, the curious purpose of the “legs” on the headlights of Zhiguli models five and seven.
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