(Sưu tầm)
These models have been sold under a whole bunch of different names, so one common way to refer to them all is to simply call them all Saratov models, after the region in which they were built.
Models made BEFORE 1994 can mostly be classified as either Radon or Tantal. In 1994 a restructuring took place and models made after that will generally be Litan or Agat (not Arat, as it's often misspelled by westerners)
The very first model to come out, in 1971, was a Moskvitch 412. It's often been claimed, that the design was a straigh rip-off of French Dinky model #1410, a Moskvitch 408, but this has always been officially denied, stating that yes, they DID have a copy of the Dinky model, but it was only used for 'inspiration' on how to make their own.
One thing is certain, though: they look very much alike as you can see for yourself by comparing the baseplates
It's been said, that the French Dinky model was actually 'responsible' not only for the Russian counterpart, but for the whole Saratov model-story. The founder saw the french car and thought "Wow, looks great! We can make some like that at home" and so it began.
As you have probably noticed, the French model was a Moskvitch 408 and the Russian was the successor Moskvitch 412. These two cars were very, very much alike - so much so, that in the early stages of 412-production, it looked completely identical to the 408 from the outside, but soon a few changes were made (as they became available from the design department) giving the 412 (among other things) rectangular headlights, as opposed to the round twin headlights of the 408.
This was also reflected in the Radon/Tantal model: shortly after production had started, the model was renamed from 412 to 408. The models had been stamped on the baseplates with a catalogue number, and the first one was - naturally - assigned the number '1', preceded by an 'A' (probably for 'Avto' = Auto), so the very first, ancestral Radon/Tantal models will have baseplates saying "Moskvitch 412" and "A1". When the renaming took place, the 408 became A1 and 412 was numbered A2. The A1 model 412 is very rare today and one of the 'holy grails'
Not all models released have numbers, and nowadays the number system is completely gone, but here's a more or less complete list of all numbers:
A1 Moskvitch 412 (1971-75), issued 1971
A1 Moskvitch 408 (1975 and later), issued 1973
A2 Moskvitch 408 (1973-75), issued 1973
A2 Moskvitch 412 (1975 and later), issued 1971
A3 Moskvitch 426, issued 1974
A4 ZIL-118 "Youth" (this model was scheduled for release, but never happened)
A4 Moskvitch 427, issued 1974
A5 Moskvitch 433, issued 1974
A6 Moskvitch 434, issued 1974
A7 Moskvitch 403, issued 1976, withdrawn 1983
A8 Moskvitch 412 "Patrol", issued 1976
A9 VAZ 2101 Zhiguli (Lada 2101/Lada 1200), issued 1976
A10 IZH-Moskvitch 412, issued 1976, withdrawn 1978
A11 VAZ 2102 (Lada 2102/Lada 1200 Estate), issued 1976
The early models all had catalogue numbers stamped on the baseplates (as already mentioned). Lots of variants were often made, all sharing the same catalogue numbers, as long as the only difference between them was tampo prints (some quite famous and sought after issues were made for the 1980 Olympics - these models were produced as early as 1977 - they cost a lot more than the standard versions), but police cars, militia, ambulance versions were given their own catalogue numbers.
In order to always have the correct numbers on the baseplates (something that was insisted upon) it was necessary to craft new baseplates for each variant (civilian, police, ambulance, militia etc.), which was - of course - quite expensive - it also meant that the baseplates were not interchangable in case stocks ran out of one type, and if a variant was withdrawn, any surplus baseplates would go to waste.
This led to a decision in 1986 to scrap the whole idea of catalogue numbers - they could have opted to just stop using them on the baseplates, but no - it was all or nothing, so sometime in 1986 the numbering system was canceled.
So does this mean, that if you have a model with a catalogue number stamped on the baseplate, it was made in 1986 or earlier? Nope, not exactly: baseplates were often made in quite big quantities and some orders got 'bogged' in the system, so some stocks would last for several years - one such example is the A31 ZIL 117, whose supplies of numbered baseplates lasted until the early 90s! So what DO you know from the presence of a catalogue number on the baseplate? Well, you'll know for certain, that the baseplate was ordered 1986 or earlier, the model was released 1986 or earlier, the specimen was made no later than 1992-93 and this also tells you with certainty, that your model is a Radon/Tantal, not a Agat/Litan, since the namechange/restructuring took place in 1994.
Another clue to the age of a model is the writing on the baseplate. On early models, everything was in cyrillic letters, but starting in 1983 (as exports grew), it was decided to stamp the baseplates with 'Made in USSR'. Again, this identification is not bulletproof, because of old stocks and so on, but if your model has "Made in USSR" on the baseplate, it's made in 1983 or later.
The issue dates listed are for 'proper' production start. Most model-releases were preceeded by very small test-run series, not available to the general public.
While metal quality on the early models was generally good, there was one notable phase of exception:
Around 1976 storage space at the Tantal-factory was becoming a big issue. Production figures had exploded around 1975 with massive export to a number of foreign markets, including the West. Attempting to keep up, corners were cut short, including some that - in retrospect - shouldn't have...
One workaround was to get rid of produced inventory as fast as possible, and some rumors claim that models sometimes got painted before the metal had even cooled off, because the cooling down process took up much needed space. This sometimes resulted in the paint 'bubbling up' due to the hot metal - it looks exactly like the well-known early warnings of zinc pest, but had nothing to do with it. Two models that seem to suffer particularly from this problem are the A5 and A6 (Moskvitch 433 and 434 panel vans). I have both of them, and both are affected, as are a large percentage of the models shown on the internet. The logical reason for this is the large roofs of these two models: large roofs equal big surfaces, equal very hot metal requiring more time to cool off. And yes, the 'bubbling' is most pronounced on the roofs.
Another shortcut taken involved the metals used for manufacturing. Although the Soviet state appreciated the nice income generated from the sales, toy cars were, after all, not considered at top state priority and with the growing needs for metals, keeping supplies flowing became a problem and in some cases recycled scrap metal of very inferior quality (including some from carburettors) was delivered to the factory.
While metal quality on the early models was generally good, there was one notable phase of exception:
Around 1976 storage space at the Tantal-factory was becoming a big issue. Production figures had exploded around 1975 with massive export to a number of foreign markets, including the West. Attempting to keep up, corners were cut short, including some that - in retrospect - shouldn't have...
One workaround was to get rid of produced inventory as fast as possible, and some rumors claim that models sometimes got painted before the metal had even cooled off, because the cooling down process took up much needed space. This sometimes resulted in the paint 'bubbling up' due to the hot metal - it looks exactly like the well-known early warnings of zinc pest, but had nothing to do with it. Two models that seem to suffer particularly from this problem are the A5 and A6 (Moskvitch 433 and 434 panel vans). I have both of them, and both are affected, as are a large percentage of the models shown on the internet. The logical reason for this is the large roofs of these two models: large roofs equal big surfaces, equal very hot metal requiring more time to cool off. And yes, the 'bubbling' is most pronounced on the roofs.
Another shortcut taken involved the metals used for manufacturing. Although the Soviet state appreciated the nice income generated from the sales, toy cars were, after all, not considered at top state priority and with the growing needs for metals, keeping supplies flowing became a problem and in some cases recycled scrap metal of very inferior quality (including some from carburettors) was delivered to the factory.
And we all know what happens when metal with impurities is used... problems! Some models made in 1976 and 1977 are very badly effected by zinc pest, one model in particular seems to be worse than all the others: the #A15 GAZ 13 "Chaika". The seller who sold me most of my Radon/Tantal models told me, that he also had the A15, but that it was literally crumbling, and I've seen several others like it on the net. Interestingly, the A15 didn't come out until 1978, but in 1977 - at the height of the problem - the factory must have been churning out this exact model to get it ready for release, so if you ever plan on buying this model, you need to be VERY aware of zinc pest!!!
Up until then, all models had been produced on the Tantal factory, but, as has been described, production was reaching a scale where room became a major concern, so in late 1977, large portions of production (primarily the 'big sellers') were moved to another factory, Radon (aka Radon Marx), also in the Saratov region.
This move more or less eliminated both the 'bubbling paint' and the zinc pest problems overnight. One might wonder, how this would affect the zinc pest problem - after all, the amount of metal needed remained the same, but it's possible, that because production was now split between two factories, the 'quotas' for good metal would do the same. Remember: this was all state-run and not commercial factories like we know them from the west, and raw materials would get assigned by the state.
These models have been sold under a whole bunch of different names, so one common way to refer to them all is to simply call them all Saratov models, after the region in which they were built.
Models made BEFORE 1994 can mostly be classified as either Radon or Tantal. In 1994 a restructuring took place and models made after that will generally be Litan or Agat (not Arat, as it's often misspelled by westerners)
The very first model to come out, in 1971, was a Moskvitch 412. It's often been claimed, that the design was a straigh rip-off of French Dinky model #1410, a Moskvitch 408, but this has always been officially denied, stating that yes, they DID have a copy of the Dinky model, but it was only used for 'inspiration' on how to make their own.
One thing is certain, though: they look very much alike as you can see for yourself by comparing the baseplates
It's been said, that the French Dinky model was actually 'responsible' not only for the Russian counterpart, but for the whole Saratov model-story. The founder saw the french car and thought "Wow, looks great! We can make some like that at home" and so it began.
As you have probably noticed, the French model was a Moskvitch 408 and the Russian was the successor Moskvitch 412. These two cars were very, very much alike - so much so, that in the early stages of 412-production, it looked completely identical to the 408 from the outside, but soon a few changes were made (as they became available from the design department) giving the 412 (among other things) rectangular headlights, as opposed to the round twin headlights of the 408.
This was also reflected in the Radon/Tantal model: shortly after production had started, the model was renamed from 412 to 408. The models had been stamped on the baseplates with a catalogue number, and the first one was - naturally - assigned the number '1', preceded by an 'A' (probably for 'Avto' = Auto), so the very first, ancestral Radon/Tantal models will have baseplates saying "Moskvitch 412" and "A1". When the renaming took place, the 408 became A1 and 412 was numbered A2. The A1 model 412 is very rare today and one of the 'holy grails'
Not all models released have numbers, and nowadays the number system is completely gone, but here's a more or less complete list of all numbers:
A1 Moskvitch 412 (1971-75), issued 1971
A1 Moskvitch 408 (1975 and later), issued 1973
A2 Moskvitch 408 (1973-75), issued 1973
A2 Moskvitch 412 (1975 and later), issued 1971
A3 Moskvitch 426, issued 1974
A4 ZIL-118 "Youth" (this model was scheduled for release, but never happened)
A4 Moskvitch 427, issued 1974
A5 Moskvitch 433, issued 1974
A6 Moskvitch 434, issued 1974
A7 Moskvitch 403, issued 1976, withdrawn 1983
A8 Moskvitch 412 "Patrol", issued 1976
A9 VAZ 2101 Zhiguli (Lada 2101/Lada 1200), issued 1976
A10 IZH-Moskvitch 412, issued 1976, withdrawn 1978
A11 VAZ 2102 (Lada 2102/Lada 1200 Estate), issued 1976
The early models all had catalogue numbers stamped on the baseplates (as already mentioned). Lots of variants were often made, all sharing the same catalogue numbers, as long as the only difference between them was tampo prints (some quite famous and sought after issues were made for the 1980 Olympics - these models were produced as early as 1977 - they cost a lot more than the standard versions), but police cars, militia, ambulance versions were given their own catalogue numbers.
In order to always have the correct numbers on the baseplates (something that was insisted upon) it was necessary to craft new baseplates for each variant (civilian, police, ambulance, militia etc.), which was - of course - quite expensive - it also meant that the baseplates were not interchangable in case stocks ran out of one type, and if a variant was withdrawn, any surplus baseplates would go to waste.
This led to a decision in 1986 to scrap the whole idea of catalogue numbers - they could have opted to just stop using them on the baseplates, but no - it was all or nothing, so sometime in 1986 the numbering system was canceled.
So does this mean, that if you have a model with a catalogue number stamped on the baseplate, it was made in 1986 or earlier? Nope, not exactly: baseplates were often made in quite big quantities and some orders got 'bogged' in the system, so some stocks would last for several years - one such example is the A31 ZIL 117, whose supplies of numbered baseplates lasted until the early 90s! So what DO you know from the presence of a catalogue number on the baseplate? Well, you'll know for certain, that the baseplate was ordered 1986 or earlier, the model was released 1986 or earlier, the specimen was made no later than 1992-93 and this also tells you with certainty, that your model is a Radon/Tantal, not a Agat/Litan, since the namechange/restructuring took place in 1994.
Another clue to the age of a model is the writing on the baseplate. On early models, everything was in cyrillic letters, but starting in 1983 (as exports grew), it was decided to stamp the baseplates with 'Made in USSR'. Again, this identification is not bulletproof, because of old stocks and so on, but if your model has "Made in USSR" on the baseplate, it's made in 1983 or later.
The issue dates listed are for 'proper' production start. Most model-releases were preceeded by very small test-run series, not available to the general public.
While metal quality on the early models was generally good, there was one notable phase of exception:
Around 1976 storage space at the Tantal-factory was becoming a big issue. Production figures had exploded around 1975 with massive export to a number of foreign markets, including the West. Attempting to keep up, corners were cut short, including some that - in retrospect - shouldn't have...
One workaround was to get rid of produced inventory as fast as possible, and some rumors claim that models sometimes got painted before the metal had even cooled off, because the cooling down process took up much needed space. This sometimes resulted in the paint 'bubbling up' due to the hot metal - it looks exactly like the well-known early warnings of zinc pest, but had nothing to do with it. Two models that seem to suffer particularly from this problem are the A5 and A6 (Moskvitch 433 and 434 panel vans). I have both of them, and both are affected, as are a large percentage of the models shown on the internet. The logical reason for this is the large roofs of these two models: large roofs equal big surfaces, equal very hot metal requiring more time to cool off. And yes, the 'bubbling' is most pronounced on the roofs.
Another shortcut taken involved the metals used for manufacturing. Although the Soviet state appreciated the nice income generated from the sales, toy cars were, after all, not considered at top state priority and with the growing needs for metals, keeping supplies flowing became a problem and in some cases recycled scrap metal of very inferior quality (including some from carburettors) was delivered to the factory.
While metal quality on the early models was generally good, there was one notable phase of exception:
Around 1976 storage space at the Tantal-factory was becoming a big issue. Production figures had exploded around 1975 with massive export to a number of foreign markets, including the West. Attempting to keep up, corners were cut short, including some that - in retrospect - shouldn't have...
One workaround was to get rid of produced inventory as fast as possible, and some rumors claim that models sometimes got painted before the metal had even cooled off, because the cooling down process took up much needed space. This sometimes resulted in the paint 'bubbling up' due to the hot metal - it looks exactly like the well-known early warnings of zinc pest, but had nothing to do with it. Two models that seem to suffer particularly from this problem are the A5 and A6 (Moskvitch 433 and 434 panel vans). I have both of them, and both are affected, as are a large percentage of the models shown on the internet. The logical reason for this is the large roofs of these two models: large roofs equal big surfaces, equal very hot metal requiring more time to cool off. And yes, the 'bubbling' is most pronounced on the roofs.
Another shortcut taken involved the metals used for manufacturing. Although the Soviet state appreciated the nice income generated from the sales, toy cars were, after all, not considered at top state priority and with the growing needs for metals, keeping supplies flowing became a problem and in some cases recycled scrap metal of very inferior quality (including some from carburettors) was delivered to the factory.
And we all know what happens when metal with impurities is used... problems! Some models made in 1976 and 1977 are very badly effected by zinc pest, one model in particular seems to be worse than all the others: the #A15 GAZ 13 "Chaika". The seller who sold me most of my Radon/Tantal models told me, that he also had the A15, but that it was literally crumbling, and I've seen several others like it on the net. Interestingly, the A15 didn't come out until 1978, but in 1977 - at the height of the problem - the factory must have been churning out this exact model to get it ready for release, so if you ever plan on buying this model, you need to be VERY aware of zinc pest!!!
Up until then, all models had been produced on the Tantal factory, but, as has been described, production was reaching a scale where room became a major concern, so in late 1977, large portions of production (primarily the 'big sellers') were moved to another factory, Radon (aka Radon Marx), also in the Saratov region.
This move more or less eliminated both the 'bubbling paint' and the zinc pest problems overnight. One might wonder, how this would affect the zinc pest problem - after all, the amount of metal needed remained the same, but it's possible, that because production was now split between two factories, the 'quotas' for good metal would do the same. Remember: this was all state-run and not commercial factories like we know them from the west, and raw materials would get assigned by the state.
