08
December
2009
Mikhail Slipenchuk, head of METROPOL Group, donated a unique collection of cars of the former AZLK to Moscow
The solemn ceremony of donation of the collection of cars of the
former AZLK to Moscow was held on December, 7, 2009 in the Moscow
Museum of Retro-cars. Head of METROPOL Group Mikhail Slipenchuk,
chairman of veteran committee of Soviet motorsports Tatiana
Sokolova, deputy senior test run engineer, head of the Soviet team
of the rally “Tour of Europe - 74” Pavel Ranenko, head of the
design engineering bureau of sport-racing cars, Merited Master of
Sports of the USSR, merited coacher of the RSFSR, senior coacher of
the Soviet team of the rally “Tour of Europe - 74” Victor
Shchavelev, Merited Masters of Sports of the USSR and members
of the team “Moskvich”, who participated in the competitions in car
of the legendary plant AZLK.
This event was coincided to a significant date for the Russian
motorsports – 35 years ago the team “Moskvich” won Gold and Silver
Cups in the rally “Tour of Europe - 74”, and the team Stasis
Brundza – Alexander Karamyshev got the first place in the
competition.
During the speech within the ceremony Mikhail Slipenchuk
mentioned that he had bought the collection in order to preserve it
from purchasing by different private collectors and to donate it to
the city. Head of METROPOL Group assumes that knowledge and
experience of AZLK may be useful for Russian car industry with
account taken of modern technical requirements and design. In his
opinion Russian car industry is capable to move to the fore, but to
achieve this large capital investments together with contribution
of the government are essential.
The collection includes twenty two cars, fifteen industrial
samples and eight engines. All this issues are in good technical
state and are maintained regularly.
At the ceremony veterans of Russian car industry expressed their
gratitude to Mikhail Slipenchuk for preserving the unique
collection.
The demonstration of the retro-models of “Moskvich” М 408, М 410
and 412 IZh Rally (the participant of the legendary heat of 1974)
by veteran racing car drivers became the culmination of the
ceremony.
About the Collection of cars of AZLK
plant
In 2006 METROPOL Group became a successful tenderer for a piece of
“Moskvich” property. The collection of cars of the former AZLK was
purchased as well. The new owner maintained the collection properly
and provided the necessary technical support. The collection
includes twenty two cars, fifteen industrial samples and eight
engines. The most valuable issues are “Ford-A” of 1932, “Gaz-AA” of
1935, “Moskvich 400/420” of 1954 and other models. It is difficult
to overestimate the collection in the sense of uniqueness and
historical value. First of all this is a bright stage of history of
the Russian car industry. A lot of items exist in a single copy.
Electric traction models and special purpose vehicles are of the
great interest. Foreign collectors were interested in purchasing
the items and the whole collection for several times.
The Museum of Retro-cars
Moscow public institution “The Museum of Retro-cars” was opened in
2004. The exposition of the museum consists of one hundred and
eighty items of retro machines (including cars, motorcycles,
auto-trucks, autobuses, special vehicles) and approximately tree
thousand participative items (ancient subjects and
attributes).
Historical line-up of Soviet cars, European and American cars are
presented to the public. The collection includes the unique cars
such as
• The first mass produced car of Soviet car industry of Gaz-A,
that was manufactured from 1932 untill 1936 on the Gorkovskiy car
plant and from 1933 until 1935 on Moscow plant KIM. Approximately
forty two thousand cars was produced;
• GAZ-24 owned by Lev Yashin, the best goal keeper ever;
• American car Hudson of 1936 which was given to the Soviet
pilot Valeriy Chkalov.
