Moskvich 408-426-433 

Sales designation:	Москвич-408,Москвич-426,Москвич-433
Production period:	1964 to 1975
Class:	Motor car
Body versions:	Limousine, estaate station wagon, panel van
Engines:	Gasoline :1.36 litres(37 kW) Desiel :1760 cc Perkins diesel I4
Length:	4090 mm
Width:	1550 mm
Height:	1440 mm
Wheelbase:	2400 mm
Curb weight:	990-1055 kg

The Moskvich-408 is a passenger car of the Soviet Union built from 1964 to 1975.

History 

The manufacturer Moskovsky Sawod Malolitraschnych Awtomobilej (short MZMA, from 1968 AZLK for Awtomobilny Sawod imeni Leninskovo Komsomola, known by the use of the brand name Moskvich), from 1964 to 1975 in series built the car. He is the successor of the Moskvich-403, for the MZMA already used the ground group of the Moskvich-408. From 1967 the Moskwitsch-412 was manufactured in parallel, which differed mainly by a stronger engine. Under the name Moskvich-426 (Russian Москвич-426) from 1967 a version was built as a station wagon, the Moskvich-433 is a closed box van. The latter was produced from 1966. 

The development of the Moskvich-408 began in 1959. The prototypes differed externally from the later production vehicle. Compared to the predecessor Moskwitsch-403, the car received a new body with its distribution of weight: 54% front axle, 46% rear axle. The suspension has also front suspension with  independent, wishbones, coil springs, anti-roll bar, telescopic dampers and the rear suspension is rigid axle, semi-elliptic leaf- springs, telescopic dampers. been redesigned. Its development was completed early, so it was already used in the Moskvich-403. The series production began in 1964. 

The Moskvich-408 had some technical innovations. Brake system and engine have been revised. The bonnet will now open to the front. The vehicle received in the early years a steering wheel circuit and front a full-length bench with adjustable backrest. Later, a stick circuit was installed, accordingly, there were two separate front seats. Beginning in 1967, the vehicle was adapted to the design and engineering of the Moskvich-412. The first body in which equally both engines could be installed, was number 199706 and ran on 17 October 1967. Already on 18 May of the same year, the 1-millionth vehicle in the company's history was built, a Moskvich-408. Moskvich 4 x 4 Saloon, with 4-wheel drive, gearbox with transferbox (1.15 and 2.68 ratios), rigid axle on front and rear suspension with semi-elliptic leafsprings, overall height 66.34 in, 1,685 mm, ground clearance 8.66 in, 220 mm,dry weight 2,359 1b, 1,070 kg, power-weight ratio 39 lb/hp, 17.7 kg/hp, max speed 62.1 mph, 100 km/h. 

In October 1968, the manufacturer changed the name of MZMA to AZLK. the vehicle was revised Optical 1969 at the latest let off this time-built models from the outside not from Moskvich-412 differ, only the engine of the two types was different.  can be recognized by these cars to the rectangular headlights and the radiator grille with a larger rectangular structure. The production of the second series was established in December 1975 in favour of the Moskvich-2138. 

The Moskvich-408 was an important export commodity. At times more than 55% of the factory's production was exported to Moscow. The vehicle not only went to socialist countries such as the GDR, but also to western countries. In Scandinavia he was sold as Moskwitsch Carat, in France and other European countries as Moskwitsch elite 1360. The name change was also made because Peugeot used a similar numbering scheme.  At Scaldiain Belgium Moskvich-408 were equipped with a diesel engine. From 1967, the car was also exported to the Federal Republic of Germany and had in comparison to competing models a good standard equipment. max speeds for petrol version: 15 mph, 24.1 km/h in 1st gear; 27 mph, 43.5 km/h in 2nd gear; 49 mph, 78.9 km/h in 3rd gear; 74.5 mph, 120 km/h in 4th gear power-weight ratio: 32.9 lb/hp, 14.9 kg/hp.

Between 1966 and 1967 the Moskvich was also built in the Ischmash factory in Izhevsk. There, however, it was replaced after a year of production by the stronger Moskwitsch-412. In Bulgaria, there was also a license production in the city of Lovech between 1966 and 1975. 

Model Variants

From the Moskvich-408 different versions were built, also some prototypes existed based on this vehicle.

• Moskvich-408 - Basic model with limousine body, built from 1964 to 1975.
• Moskvich-408IE - Basic model with limousine body, for export.
• Moskvich-408Ju - Basic model with limousine body, for export to countries with tropical climate.
• Moskvich-408B - Like the basic version, however, all controls have been retrofitted to suit people with physical disabilities (manual control).
• Moskvich-408M - For transportation of medical personnel and material, for example to perform home visits to patients.
• Moskvich-408P - export version as right-hand drive.
• Moskvich-408T model, specially equipped and painted as a taxi.
• Moskvich-426 - From 1967 built version as a four-door station wagon.
• Moskvich-426P - Four-door station wagon for export, right -hand drive.
• Moskvich-433 - From 1966 built version as a closed box van with only two doors.
• Moskwitsch-433P - Panel van in export execution as right-hand drive.
• Moskvich-408-Tourist - Prototype as Grand Tourismo, never built-in series. 2 + 2-seater, convertible with hardtop.