On August 13, 2022, the Special Purpose Garage Museum unveiled the “Struggle for Speed” exhibit, a focused homage to the history of record-setting and racing machines. The display gathers more than 500 rare items, offering visitors a window into Soviet motorsport’s evolution under conditions of isolation and away from the international circuits that dominated much of the world. It is a tale told through engines, chassis, and the daring of pilots who pushed limits when the Iron Curtain kept travel and collaboration at bay. [citation: Special Purpose Garage Museum archival materials]
The exhibit rests on the rediscovery and restoration of 15 record and race cars once considered lost, then revived through the dedicated work of researchers, historians, and restoration specialists. These vehicles embody resilience—pieces of a broader story about competition, engineering ingenuity, and national pride that persisted despite political and logistical barriers. [citation: Restoration team records]
Among the featured machines are the Pobeda-Sport and Estonia, the ZIL-112S and Tartu, as well as the Kharkiv and Kiev-Sport lines. Names once spoken with anticipation return to life on the museum floor, their gleaming chrome and blazing liveries recalling the intensity of the starting gun and the power unleashed at the moment of ignition. Some records set during that era by Soviet athletes remain unbroken to this day, a testament to the audacity and skill of a generation that raced under unique and demanding conditions. [citation: Museum catalog]
Visitors to the exhibition will encounter a race car powered by a MIG fighter engine, a bold reminder of the experimental spirit that characterized early modules of performance research. Ahead of its time, pre-war fast buses and trucks offer another lens into how vehicle design evolved in response to speed demands, technology advances, and the pursuit of competitive advantage. The display aims to connect audiences with the practical and imaginative thinking that drove Soviet engineering forward. [citation: Exhibition notes]
Exhibits for the “Struggle for Speed” were contributed by the Shamansky Workshop, whose craftsmanship helped bring these historical machines back to life for contemporary viewing. The exhibit runs from August 13 to October 9, 2022, and is located in Pavilion 53 at the VDNH complex, a venue long associated with exhibitions that celebrate science, industry, and innovation. [citation: Shamansky Workshop press release]
A visual caption accompanies the presentation: GON Museum