About GAZ-13 "Chaika"

"Chaika" - was a real "blue bird" in the hands of the Soviet Union. Working on the new model, the designers have tried to create a company car of the "luxury" class. And they succeeded because "Chaika" at the time belonged to many ministers, first secretaries of the regional committees, the wealthiest people of the Soviet Union, also it was habitual to present this car to the most famous people of the world or to provide it for the Wedding Palaces (the design of this parade model was so splendid and ceremonial). All other citizens had the opportunity to admire this car either in the streets, or at the pictures of magazines.

Participation of Chaika at public parades

A bit of history

Officially the series production of GAZ-13 Chaika started in the end of the 1959-th, but in early 1958 the first copy of the "E-2" was presented, this copy was being developed in an experimental mode specially for the international exhibition "Expo 58" which was held in Germany. This copy differed with its pastel-turquoise color, a logo in the shape of a seagull on the hood and design, substantially similar to "Packard" (the latter factor has forced designers to upgrade the body significantly in the future).

GAZ-13 "Chaika"

The creation of this "bird" was launched by the most experienced engineers, designers and testers: N. Yushmanov, V. Gnetnev, M. Mokeev, V. Soloviev, O. Pelyushenko etc. They had brought a lot of innovations, which were not even spoken about in the Soviet Union earlier. They included powerful OHV-row 5.5 liter engine, automatic transmission, four-chambers improved carburetor, power brakes, power steering, the ability to raise and lower the window by pressing the buttons and much more (we will talk about them later). By the way, the frame of the car was X-shaped, which had no spars and the body was fixed in 16 points. Chaika was quite overall, because, as a rule, the cabin had three rows of seats, designed for at least 7 people. Despite this, an improved heating system perfectly heated such a big cabin, a built-in glove compartment, eleсtric cigarette lighter, ashtrays, qualitative radio and powerful rear speakers significantly increased the comfort, making the stay in the car a real pleasure for the time.

Control Panel of Chaika

In the early 60-s of the twentieth century in Latvia Chaika was converted into a medical vehicle by the individual order of the head of the Ministry of Health. It had a more spacious interior, special stretchers, big round cabin lights and rear springs. This car was called "Kremlin Chaika" because they served exclusively for the officials, the bolsheviks and the "first" people of the Soviet Union. By the way, in many sources we can still meet Chaika "donkey-bull" which was also refitted according to the individual order of the military generals. Since Chaika was a car for high society, it had been somewhat dangerous to posses such a car by the average officials. Having a sagacity, the militarymen found the solution - to take the body of the famous ZIM, preserving the interior and technical "stuffing" of Chaika.

Ambulance Chaika,1982

The first major upgrade of Chaika was made in the middle of 1962, it touched not only the appearance but also the performance. Its comfort had increased due to the new receiver with the regulators on the back seat and more expensive upholstery in muted shades of green. The designers installed new circular plates on the wheels, instead of the old carburetor K-113 they put more powerful K-114. In 1963, the designers made solid headlights, slightly reshaped bumpers and improved bumper fascia. Such Chaika cruised the vast Soviet Union for about 10 years without causing any complaints, even from the most demanding of its customers.

GAZ-13 "Chaika" 1959-1981

By the beginning of the 70-s of the twentieth century designers started the upgrade again. This time GAZ-13 was equipped with unique side mirrors and adjustable foot position. A few years later a wooden cabin in the interior appeared, the qualitative velor sofas of light brown color were used, as well as a new transistor radio was set. Such copies rolled off the assembly line in a very small amount, and one of them still adorns the museum of Molotov plant. In a while the production of GAZ-13 was stopped. They were replaced by the new Chaika GAZ-14.

Creating a car

Throughout its history the production of Chaika went through one of the main tests - a truly world- wide recognition, love and respect. This car deserved the title of "the most beautiful car of the twentieth century" and "the best limo of the Soviet Union." Over 19 years of production only 3179 copies were released. This is not surprising, because Chaika had a representative class and was not intended for the mass production.

Drawings of Chaika

From the very beginning there was a dispute among the creators about how to call GAZ-13 - "The Seagull" or "Arrow". But after one of the engineers said, "If there is Volga, therefore the Seagull must hover over it", the choice was obvious. Perhaps the most difficult process in the creation of GAZ-13 was the development of its design. The work started from the mid 50-s and then the car did not have the canopies over the headlights, it had much in common with the body of the famous "Volga", and the front bumper was almost a replica of bumper of ZIL-111. Finally it was not very good option, so the sculptor Lebedev and auto designer Duarte began to remodel GAZ-13, hoping to create something new and not like anything else. In 1957 two prototypes were ready, the difference was only in the volume of engine. They were tested on the difficult roads of Ukraine, Russia and the Caucasus mountain roads with a total length of not less than 21,000 miles. And finally on 19 January 1959 Gorky plant pulled off the assembly line the first Chaika, which had never been neglected by all the passers-by.

Production of GAZ-13

The first series of gulls had some differences from all the future ones, and the first thing it was concerning the emblem. This vehicle took an active part in almost all international exhibitions (Brno, Budapest, Geneva, New York, Leipzig and Mexico, and others) since the first years of its "life". One of the first major exhibitions where GAZ-13 participated, was an exhibition-contest "Grand Prix" held in Germany (city of Brussels). It had been presented in three versions: GAZ-13A (sedan with an internal partition), GAZ-13C (Medical Car) and GAZ-13B (convertible). By the way, starting from the health wagon, a copy of the hearse was created later, which was never destined to go into mass production.

Two-colored Chaika, made for the exhibition Grand Prix

In the end of 1959 a unique copy of Chaika in black with fabric upholstery, which had the original checkerboard print, was represented in New York. If we consider the "life" of Chaika in chronological order, the first reincarnation of the car was as early as 1961, when the Gorky factory began to develop a cabriolet, which had received the article "13B". In the same year, a few months later, the famous limousine, having an integral partition of the driver was released. These cars were produced, as a rule, only for individual orders and in accordance with the whims of the "first people" of the Soviet Union (it was concerning even of the interior design and color scheme). Limousines rolled off the assembly line in the amount of no more than 150 copies a year. A year later, in 1962, the main sedan was fully modernized and got a "new look" both internally and externally. By 1970 Chaika had acquired the rearview mirror. During the final "stage of life" designers slowed down a bit over the production of GAZ-13 and started the new GAZ-14. Although during this period they still decided to remake the interior and to add the natural materials, more beautiful upholstery and others (which, actually, was very similar to the interior of GAZ-14).

Convertible Chaika, 1961-1962

Comparing Chaika with other vehicles, such as ZIM, Victory or MZMA-402, GAZ-13 , it was not a free sale car and had never had a certain value. But from some sources it was known that when the price of other cars ranged from 16 to 40 thousand rubles, the price of Chaika was not less than 100 thousand rubles. By the way, Chaika had another important peculiarity - a limit on the mileage, which was installed on a mandatory basis. After the car "rolled" a certain number of kilometers, either the motor part of the car was completely changed or it was repainted white and transferred to the centers of marriage. By the way, now, in the twenty-first century, Chaika is one of the most popular cars at the wedding.

But generally speaking, Chaika was a real star of its time, because it had always been involved in parades, festivals, it served the diplomats, politicians and people of high society, and officially transferred to the "Intourist" as a vehicle for vip-tourists. Chaika was a real "face" of the Soviet Union – these cars were at all Soviet embassies abroad. GAZ-13 - is a rarity nowadays, because during the entire period of production there were released about 3,000 copies (among them 20 wagons and no more than 8 convertibles).

Specifications of GAZ-13 "Chaika"

A look at the Chaika from the inside

Let's start with the engine. Designers equipped Chaika with 8-cylinder overhead valve engine V8. All blocks and cylinder heads were made of solid aluminum alloy, whereas the sleeves are removable and made of iron. Five indigenous type bearings have special inserts and hold the crankshaft with crankpins having 2 rods each. The pistons are installed in front and correspond to the motion of the car, they are made of aluminum alloy, as well as the engine. Combined engine grease lubricated the bearings of the crankshaft and the camshaft. All other parts are lubricated by spraying. Gear oil pump has two sections – the oil supplied to the engine from one of them and from the other - to the radiator and the filter. Open system of ventilation provides Chaika with the effective elimination of exhaust gases, which adversely affect the condition of the oil. Combustion system P-13 had octane-corrector and a vacuum and centrifugal regulators.

We will consider a new carburetor, i. e. K-114, which was started to be installed since 1962. At that time it was quite a powerful model of the vertical type for 4 chambers. In fact, it could completely replace the two 2-chamber carburetors. It worked in such a way that when the vehicle was moving at a medium speed and medium load, the fuel was supplied from only two chambers. As soon as Chaika upshifted or significantly increased the load, the other two chambers started to work. The chambers themselves were arranged in pairs and each of them had its own float chamber, designed to control the fuel level through a small window. The second pair of chambers had a similar structure, but it was additionally equipped with accelerator pump, choke and system idle (which can be adjusted only with intact ignition and well warmed up engine of the car). Carburetor of Chaika had a cover, which was mounted on 8-core bolts and 2 additional screws. Torque of GAZ-13 consisted of the reactor, the impeller and the turbine. It is attached to the crankshaft. Automatic gearbox of Chaika had a number of planetary gears, which add up to three basic transfers and back up of the car. Two belt brakes and two disc clutches shifted the gear. During the ignition two pumps that provide grease the brake, clutch, torque converter, and the box itself are triggered. In order to transfer the gears smoothly and in time hydraulic control system and power control were installed. The driver needed only to press the appropriate buttons, namely: N - starting, idling and neutral, D - movement, T – brake, ZX - reverse.

Major modifications of GAZ-13 "Chaika"

GAZ-13 — the first and the most common modification. It had a versatile 4-door interior and three sofas.

GAZ-13А — 4-door station wagon with three rows of seats and the partition between the driver and the passenger cabin. Manufacturing was made exclusively for special orders of the Defense Ministry in limited quantities.

GAZ-13B — 2-door convertible (some sources say that the body was called "phaeton"). Soft roof lifted and descended with the help of a hydraulic system. Frame glasses were replaced by the metal edging. These vehicles were designed for 6 seats.

Modernization Project of GAZ-12B

GAZ-13С - Medical sedan station wagon with a partition between the driver and the cabin and folding stretcher. Manual assembly for individual orders, so each model had certain differences. In our time, there are only 12 copies of the 20 released.

Medical wagon GAZ-13C

Interesting facts

1. The original color of GAZ-13 "Chaika" - is black. The only one white Chaika was made for special order and was presented to Valentina Tereshkova, the red one – to the head of the Fire Department. Bicolor Chaikas were made exclusively for the Brussels Exhibition “Grand Prix”.

2. Chaika had been produced, starting from the two most popular cars - sedan and convertible Packard Patrician. We can see this studying the first modification of GAZ-13, which possessed a lot of notable similarities. Later they were gradually eradicated.

2-х дверный кабриолет Packard Caribbean, который стал примером для создания Чайки

3. Chaika had always been considered an honorary gift from the head of the Soviet Union and was presented only to the elite. So, Khrushchev presented it to Mikhail Sholokhov, Yuri Gagarin, Galina Ulanova, Fidel Castro and Valentina Tereshkova.

4. The First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee of Belarus P. Masherov was killed in his newfound Chaika during his working trip. It happened in 1980.

5. By the special order of Mosfilm several copies of shooting Chaikas were produced. At the rear body the roof was cut in such a way that it was possible to establish Cine. The front bumper of the car was also remodeled to use the technique.

See also history about GAZ-24 Volga