The Moskvich engine was a potential 90 mph plus rally winner!
It used the same standard 1,478 c.c. all alloy, overhead camshaft engine that successfully powered the team of three Moskvich saloons which finished the gruelling 16,000 mile World Cup Rally, as well as the earlier 1968 London-Sydney Marathon.
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The Russian Challenge
These two pics were taken from a Russian magazine - Photos courtesy Ken Green
Car 7 Avtoexport Moskvich 408 A. Ipatenko, A. Teherin and E. Bazhenov. Finished 33rd
Car 19 Avtoexport Moskvich 408 S. Tenishev and V. Kislyh. Finished 20th
Car 20 Avtoexport Moskvich 408 V. Schavelev, E. Lifshits and V Shirotchenkiv. Finished 38th
Car 98 Avtoexport Moskvich 408 U. Aava and J. Lesovski. Finished 22nd
Organisers restricted the size of advertising stickers on the cars, and banned them entirely from the front doors. This regulation stopped some cars becoming nothing more than sandwich boards with motors. The four Russian Moskviches, free of capitalist advertising, looked dull in comparison.
Near Agra, a Moskvich, car no. 20, ploughed into a group of spectators. The drivers leapt out, helped people to their feet, shook hands all round and went on their way.
Alan Sawyer
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Only one car, the Russian entered Moskvich of Aava and Lesovski was late afer a transmission failure on the Italian side of the Mont Blanc tunnel. The Russians lost 24 points rewelding their linkages.
John Smailes
Car 19 driven by S. Tenishev and V. Kislyh
Photo courtesy Alan Sawyer
Standard features included:
fully reclining seats
ammeter
oil pressure gauge
cigarette lighter
reversing lamps
armrests on all doors
two-speed wipers
radiator blind
underbonnet inspection lamp
a 22 piece tool kit
and more...
Production of this car stopped in 1975.
Car 98 AvtoExport Moskvich 408 driven by U.Aava and J. Lesovski.
Photo courtesy Daily Express
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Moskvich poster courtesy Jon Mauleon
If you have any stories or pics of these cars please contact me.
Car 19 the Avtoexport Moskvich 408 (right) crewed by S. Tenishev and V. Kislyh.
Photo courtesy Ken Green
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