In October 1960, the Zaporizhia Automobile Plant began production. The first Zaporozhets cars rolled off the line. The vehicle was based on the Italian Fiat 600 designed by Dante Giacosa.
“Foreign countries will help us.”
In 1955, the new Moskvich-402 appeared — a more affordable car, but still out of reach for many Soviet citizens. So the authorities approved several experimental models: NAMII-031, NAMII-059, IMZ-A50 “Belka,” and GAZ-18. All of those attempts failed.
The decision was made to adapt an existing foreign car to local needs. Engineers reworked the small Fiat 600 — a popular, very lightweight car. From that work came the Moskvitch-444, but after a while the technical documentation was transferred to the Zaporizhia enterprise Komintern.
18,000 rubles vs. 25,000–50,000 rubles
For this project, NAM engineers designed a 746 cc, four-cylinder engine that proved successful. Because the engine was larger than the Fiat’s, they installed it in the rear, creating the characteristic hump that earned the Zaporozhets its nickname.
The cars were assembled at ZAZ, while the engines were produced at the Melitopol Motor Plant. Before series production began, three experimental prototypes were presented in 1960; after extensive testing they were approved by a government commission. Nikita Khrushchev even tested the car himself, and experts concluded it was ready for sale.
Serial production of the ZAZ-965 began in 1960, with an initial price of 18,000 rubles. Compared with Moskvich and Volga models, which sold for 25,000 to 50,000 rubles, the new model was far more affordable.
The real “people’s” car
Soviet drivers immediately embraced the Humpback and bought it in huge numbers. The car handled rural roads and off-road conditions well: if a ZAZ-965 got stuck in snow or mud, two people could often pull it out.
The Zaporozhets could traverse the rough ruts left by trucks — terrain the GAZ-69 sometimes struggled with. Owners appreciated its agility, rugged body, fuel economy, and easy repairs. Its biggest advantage was the low, widely accessible price across the USSR.
