RESTORATION / РЕСТАВРАЦИЯ

The restoration began in the spring of 2008. Little by little the car was taken apart and carefully examined. Two donors (source cars for spare parts) were also bought, both made in 1958. The work on the body was finished in the summer of 2009. All the gaps were adjusted, inner fenders and inner quarter panels were replaced, new rocker panels and quarter panel skins were installed. Front fenders are original, restored.

In 2010 the car was painted. The paint of choice is made by "Glasurit". The original color was called "Biruza" (Turquoise). Two-tone paint scheme was chosen with additional color called "Cream Milk" — one of the factory combinations. Inner structures of the body were treated with "Rust Stop" chemicals.

Also in 2010 the engine was completely rebuilt. Camshaft and cam bushings are new. Pistons and rings are also new, made by "PON-Kostroma" for UMZ engines. Crankshaft was re-ground. Early 1st series cylinder head was fully rebuilt. The engine work was performed by a well-known master mechanic from St. Petersburg. As a result the oil pressure measures "5" on idle by the gauge on the dashboard.

The front suspension was next on the list. All the replaceable parts were changed (bushings, threaded sleeves, joints). Steering knuckles and kingpins were rebuilt. Original control arms were installed together with the CLS (central lubrication system) lines. Knee-action shocks are NOS (new old stock), with replaced seals. Steering box taken apart and refurbished, all clearances checked. Basically, every part of the suspension and steering was either rebuilt or replaced with a new item.

The extra-rare CLS (central lubrication system) was assembled using 3–4 donor cars, flushed and adjusted. All the lines are new. Rear axle was taken from a donor car with 40,000 kilometers on it. It was test-driven on a different car, then disassembled, washed, adjusted, painted and put back together. Test-drive proved that the rear axle is in perfect shape.

In fact, no expenses were spared — all new parts that could be found were installed, and the rest was meticulously restored during 2010–2012. Here is a brief scope of the components:

Attention was paid to every nut, washer and bolt. All the authentic hardware was collected from 3–4 donor cars, sorted and then zinc-coated to the factory specs. The original tool kit is included. The kit consists of a repair and owner's manual, jack, crank handle, oiler can, air pump, pressure gauge, emergency work light, and 2 canvas bags with tools. Everything is authentic. "Universal" white-wall tires are installed, factory size. The spare tire is original USSR-made, rethreaded.

The last restoration phase included the assembly and adjustment of the grille, hood and doors installation, windows and vents assembly, fenders installation with gaps adjustment, weather stripe and chromed parts installation. The dashboard and wire harness were installed. The door locks and window frames were assembled. The interior cardboard, door panels and seats were installed. By estimate of several well-known Moscow restoration shops, the price of such a project could easily be around 2.5–3 million rubles which equals almost $100,000. My car was truly restored and assembled by hand, with meticulous attention to each detail.

On April 28, 2013 the car was fully assembled to take a first test-drive, and to participate in the season opening event for St. Petersburg Auto-Retro Club. The restored car appeared in public for the very first time and caused quite the commotion among Volga admirers. Then on May 4–5, 2013 the car was driven 220 miles to Lahti, Finland to participate in the annual Classic Motor Show. Needless to say that M-21 "The Star" was a real star of that international event.

On July 18–19, 2013 I attended a fantastic car show in Nizhny Novgorod (former Gorky city), the hometown of the GAZ factory. This annual show is called "Gorky Classic" and it was held for the third time. Only 50 cars made by GAZ are invited each year. After the show, a book called "Collectible GAZ Automobiles Register" is published. 38 best cars from the show were added to the Register in 2013. This entry to the Register is the highest award a classic GAZ automobile can achieve in Russia. I was personally invited to attend by the show's founder Ivan Paderin, a well-known Volga expert and the author of the book "21, car of our dreams". At this show it was the first time that I was able to see my car and to test-drive it both on the streets and on the race track.

On September 15, 2013 the car participated in Kronshtadt festival "AvtoFortuna" where it became a center of attention from many spectators. In the end of September 2013 the car was driven from St. Petersburg, Russia to Kotka, Finland where it was loaded into a container to be shipped to America. On November 16, 2013 the car arrived to the port of New Jersey, and cleared US Customs. It started right up and I drove it to my house in Brooklyn. Its new life in the western hemisphere begins now. It's a known fact that Volga GAZ-21 was created under the influence of American automotive design trends. So in some way the car made a journey to its roots… Let's wish it best of luck!

In conclusion, all the work completed in the past five years gives me the confidence to say that this car is one of the most perfectly restored 1st series "Volga" cars in Russia, and, without a doubt, the best "Volga" in America.