The popular name of the VAZ 2108. The popular nicknames of Soviet and Russian cars. "Leninets" vs. "Katyusha"

If everything is in the past Opel models received names in honor of military ranks, then the names modern models end with "-a": Astra, Corsa, Meriva, Zafira.

In addition, the name for the car can be any noun or adjective. Moreover, this really existing word should be “ideologically close” to the car, and not just beautiful. For example, the name of the Ford model Fiesta (Spanish for “fun, joy”) hints at the joy that a driver can experience while driving a car. The names of Smart brand models - Fortwo and Forfour - are of a practical nature. They indicate how many people the model is designed for - “For two” and “For four”.

When coming up with a name for the Impreza, Subaru played on the consonance of the word Impreza with the English impressed (“impressed”). This word, according to the developers, can describe the driver who got behind the wheel for the first time Subaru car. And Opel Agila (the city runabout was sold under this name) is a slightly paraphrased English word"agile" - "nimble, nimble."

"Leninets" vs. "Katyusha"

In the USSR, during the development of the first car of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant, VAZ 2101, they hardly knew about the existing “naming” technologies. Then the decisive factor for choosing names was purely ideological. Despite this, the “kopek” managed to avoid a politicized name. Moreover, the people were tasked with coming up with its name.

In August 1968, the press announced a competition for the “popular name” of a new Soviet car. As a result, about 30 thousand letters with proposals were sent to the Volzhsky Automobile Plant, from which about a hundred “successful” ones were selected. Among them were “Leninets”, “Volzhanka”, “Katyusha”, “Aurora”, “VIL” (short for Vladimir Ilyich Lenin). However, the winner was the word "Zhiguli".

“Zhiguli” in the Samara region refers to the mountains on the right bank of the Volga, not far from which Tolyatti is located - the birthplace of the modern AvtoVAZ. Most researchers believe that the toponym “Zhiguli” comes from the Turkic “dzhiugli” - “harnessed, horse-drawn”. The mountains got their name because of the barge haulers who lived in the area. But it is unlikely that the leadership of the Soviet Union went into detail about the origin of the word “Lada” when making their choice - apparently, it simply seemed to them to be quite euphonious.

However, residents of most European countries would hardly agree with this, where the word “Zhiguli” was consonant with the somewhat offensive word “gigolo”. Therefore, in order to export cars to Europe, VAZ urgently needed to come up with a more “decent” name. This is how Lada appeared.

Modern employees of AvtoVAZ... do not remember the history of the appearance of this name. One of the possible options: the name “Lada” comes from the consonant word “ladya” - this image has been used on car nameplates of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant since 1970. In any case, the name Lada turned out to be so successful that later not only export models, but also all other cars of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant began to be called that.

In addition to the official name "Zhiguli", the VAZ-2101 model also had a popular name - "Kopeyka".

Next after the Zhiguli (the last representative of this family was the VAZ-2107 “seven”) was the Sputnik line of models. The first car produced in 1984 under this name was the VAZ-2108. The name of the car was supposed to remind both the residents of the Soviet Union and foreign countries that the USSR was the main space power. However, it turned out that the word "satellite" was not very well known abroad. In addition, it turned out to be difficult to pronounce for foreigners.

As a result, for export the name was changed to another “euphonious” geographical name- "Samara". Some say that this word was chosen in honor of the river of the same name flowing in the region, while others recall that the city of Kuibyshev, the administrative center of the region in which AvtoVAZ is located, was and is now called this way until 1935.

Another topographical name was given to the VAZ 1111 subcompact car - “Oka”. The name was not invented at the Volzhsky Automobile Plant itself, but at its subsidiary, the Serpukhov Automobile Plant (SeAZ), where this car was produced. Thus, SeAZ tried to draw a parallel: AvtoVAZ is the Volga, and SeAZ is its tributary, the Oka. Such an association, however, has already been forgotten, but the “river” name remains popular even after the end of production of the small car.

While developing a name for the first SUV, the plant management faced a problem: they wanted to call the car, which was intended primarily for agricultural workers living in difficult areas, “Niva”. However, a combine harvester produced in Rostov-on-Don at Rosselmash already had such a name. However, the management of the Rostov plant did not object to AvtoVAZ using the name Niva. By the way, both the car (although the Niva brand now belongs to the GM concern) and the combine are still produced.

According to science

Currently, AvtoVAZ chooses names for new models in the same way as other modern manufacturers - “according to science.” As we were told by the AvtoVAZ press service, this is how the names Kalina and Priora were born. Both were selected from a list of 10-15 other names based on consumer testing. However, the final decision was made by the plant management.

The origin of the name Kalina has already become the subject of legends, one of which was invented by the plant workers themselves. According to it, the car got its name thanks to the red color in which the prototype of the model was presented. Although, in fact, it was lilac.

As you already know, in addition to major and minor, there were other modes (see “Medieval modes”). Some of these modes were and are still used today in the works of various peoples. We will look at the main modes of folk music used in this article.

Seven-step modes are quite common in folk music. The sequence of intervals between degrees in these modes is different, which distinguishes them from natural major and minor, as well as from each other. Despite this, the basis of these modes is either a major mode or a minor scale, so the modes of folk music can be considered as varieties of the major or minor mode.

The seven-step modes of folk music include two types of major and two types of minor modes. Due to the coincidence of the scales of these modes with the scales of medieval modes, they were given the names of these medieval modes:

In addition to seven-step modes, five-step modes are also found in folk music. They're called the pentatonic scale, and you're already familiar with it. If you have forgotten, we recommend returning to the article

And the first contender for the title of the most famous and called-name (pictured above):
VAZ 2101 (Kopeyka, Spear, Taz) - this car needs no introduction, so anyone can recognize it!

IZH-2715 (Heel, Chizhik, Pie)- a small van made in Izhevsk automobile plant. Outwardly it resembles a heel due to its booth.

AZLK 2141 (Kosmich)- this nickname turned out to be consonant with the name “Moskvich”.

VAZ-2108 and VAZ-2109 (Chisel)- with their “sharp” body shape they are very reminiscent of the corresponding instrument.

GAZ-AA (Lorry)- created in the image and likeness of the American Ford AA, but still slightly redesigned and adapted to Russian conditions. Actively used during the war.

ZIS-5 (Zakhar, Zakhar Ivanovich, Trekhtonka) - Freight car, also actively helped in the war.

SMZ-SZA (Morgunovka) and SMZ-SZD (Invalidka)- domestic small cars, mainly issued to disabled people. hence the name. The scene with the disabled woman is well remembered from the film "Operation Y".

VAZ-1111 OKA (Death Capsule, Crazy Stool, Shrimp, Cigarette Butt, Birdhouse) - people's car"20 minutes of shame, and you're at the dacha!"

ZAZ-965 (Humpbacked)- Zaporozhets began to be called that due to its inflated body in the rear, reminiscent of a hump.

ZAZ-968 Zaporozhets (Constipation, Cheburashka) - Soviet car small class. Got my first nickname, short for the name. And the second nickname stuck thanks to him appearance- the headlights resemble eyes, and the air intakes resemble the ears of a Cheburashka.

LUAZ - 969 Volyn (Lunokhod, Bagpipe, Chicken)- got its nickname due to its external resemblance to the lunar exploration machine, as well as the first two letters in the name.

GAZ-66 (Bump, Ball)- This all-wheel drive truck began to be called that because of the naming of its model, which contains two sixes.

GAZ-67 and GAZ-67B (Ivanushka, Ivan Willis, Kozlik)- an SUV of the Soviet army that took part in the Second World War.

GAZ-M1 (Voronok, Emka, Emmochka)- a Soviet passenger car produced at the Gorky Automobile Plant. 62888 units produced.

UAZ-452 (Loaf, Tablet, Loaf)- the most amazing cargo off-road vehicle, still in production today! He received the nickname "Loaf" for his resemblance to a loaf of bread. And also, unofficially, because they often drank there.
The modification for doctors began to be called the Tablet or Pill. The modification with an open body began to be called Tadpole due to its large cabin.

UAZ-469 (Kozlik, Kozel, Bobik)- secular and Russian SUVs produced at the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant from 1972 to 2003. They got their nickname as an inheritance from GAZ-69 and GAZ-69A. Externally, UAZs look like the front face of a mongrel dog, hence the nickname.

RAF - 22038 (Rafik)- Minibus made in Latvia.

All cars have their own serial numbers, almost all without exception. But not everyone has official names. True, it often happens that these names do not take root and popular nicknames come into play. This applies not only to foreign cars, but also to domestic ones.

The appearance of a nickname for one or another car model is common; most often this happens precisely due to the lack of a name as such. But the opposite cases are not uncommon.

And it would be a mistake to believe that nicknames are given only to Soviet models, although USSR car companies often had problems with naming - cars were produced exclusively with a series and index number.

So, for example, in Germany the BMW Isetta was called the “coffin-mobile”. In general, this little girl had a lot of popular names. Its Soviet analogue, the SMZ SZA motorized wheelchair, will forever be remembered as “Morgunovka” (from “The Adventures of Shurik”), and its successor SMZ SZD is “Invalidka”.

And judging by these cars, we can really conclude that the models get nicknames that are very characteristic or even funny. And in the USSR there were enough such machines:

AZLK AND IZH

Moskvich cars were produced at two factories - AZLK (formerly MZMA) and IZHMASH. Many nicknames are given to cars in consonance with the name of the brand or model, and “Moskvich” is a vivid example of this: the so-called “paznie” (i.e. “late”, last years of production) “Muscovites” were called “masquerade”, “mekan” and even “Mustang” - although here we must make a reservation that the modern term “Pazniy” itself will be used more in relation to “Izhams”.

The previous, very first Moskvich, -400 and -401, bore the popular name “Hottabych”, and the Moskvich-412 sedan launched many years later was sometimes called “Barsik”. But the imagination of motorists really took off just at the end of the “Muscovites” era - the AZLK-2141 hatchback and its various incarnations were simply a treasure trove for amateur naming.

The basic model, the AZLK 2141 Svyatogor itself, was awarded the titles “Cosmich” (in consonance with “Muscovite”) and “Azylk”. Export version with the official name Aleko - “Cripple” and “Banderlog”. In addition to the VAZ-2106 engine, Svyatogor was equipped with a 2-liter Renault engine, and this modification was called “Renogor”. And the extended version of AZLK 2141 Prince Vladimir was called “Long” and “Vovka-Carrot”. Come on, it seems like the model has an official name, but nicknames still stick to her... All because they are much more accurate.

The Izhevsk history of “Moskvich” is a little simpler, but also deserves attention. In Izhevsk, commercial versions of the 408s and 412s were assembled, and it was here that a “pool” of popular names of this direction was formed: IZH-2715 - called by the now commonly used nicknames “Heel” and “Pirozhok”, but also by the less common “Cheburashka”, “Margarine” and, again, “Masquerade”, as well as the very mysterious “Box on the Five”. An independent model, not relying on AZLK products, IZH Orbit, released in 1990, was popularly nicknamed new way- “Orbit”. By the way, the name Orbit did not catch on because the official name Orbit was registered by the Italian ItalDesign, and the hatchback from Udmurtia eventually became Oda.

GAS

Sometimes you can hear that Volgas and Gazelles are often called simply “Deer” - due to the fact that this animal adorns the GAZ emblem - but nicknames for GAZ cars began to appear long before the appearance of this very deer. The first and most famous nickname is GAZ-AA truck, “Lorry”, because its carrying capacity was one and a half tons. Then, much later, there was the GAZ-69 jeep, which, due to the army’s extremely stiff suspension, became the “Kozlik”, and the GAZ-66 all-terrain truck, nicknamed “Shishiga”, which essentially means the same as “kikimora”, however in this case there was a simple consonance with “sixty-six”.

Story passenger cars GAZ also abounded in nicknames. Thus, the seemingly extremely appropriate official name GAZ-20 Pobeda eventually supplemented the popular “Turtle”. The first Volga, GAZ-21, was also called not only by name, but also by its nickname - “Tank in a tailcoat.”

GAZ-24, the legendary second Volga, went down in history as the “Barge” and “Scow”, because it was soft on the move, seemed to float along the highway, but heeled in turns. Well, its later incarnation, the VAZ-3110, received the even less flattering nickname “Pull-Push”.

VAZ, LADA

The products of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant received, perhaps, the most from national creators - here, of course, TAZ (Tolyatti Automobile Plant), and “Vedroid” with “Vedrover”, and “Brick”, and even “Terror” in relation to Zhiguli. These are all more or less general names for “vases”, but if you look at them in detail... It all started with the VAZ-2101, which in Moscow was immediately nicknamed “Tin Can” - for its thinner metal body compared to Muscovites and Volgas. At home, in Tolyatti, where the VAZ-2101 was produced and modernized, it was called “Edinichka” or “Odnerka”.

But the now well-known nickname “Kopeyka” appeared only at the very end of the 20th century, as did its derivatives: “Spear” and “Kopendos”. It is also known that truckers call this car “Chaplain” - here, too, there is a consonance with “Kopeyka”, but actually it is... a priest in the army.

It is clear that VAZ cars are characterized by nicknames derived from numerals (according to the serial number of the model), but in addition to the simple “deuce”, “treshka” (“troika”) and others, there are more interesting variations on the same “numeral” theme. VAZ-2106, for example, in addition to the “Six”, has the nicknames “Shaha”, “Miner”, “Jackal”, “Shamok” and “Shaitan”. VAZ-2105 - “Piglet” and “Petrik”. And VAZ-2107 - “Semyon” and “Semaphore”.

According to the same scheme, with a pedigree from numerals, the nicknames VAZ-2114 (“Four”) and VAZ-2115 (“Fifteen” and “One and a half”) were formed, but in general the main nickname of the Samara and Samara-2 families is still “Chisel” ": for the characteristic body shape, the VAZ-2108 and VAZ-2109 were nicknamed this way immediately after they entered the market. All the first VAZ front-wheel drive vehicles also received the not-so-unflattering nickname “Rattle”, but the VAZ-21099 sedan acquired its own – “Suitcase” and “Duplet”.

But the record holder for the number of nicknames among VAZ models is, of course, the VAZ-1111 Oka: “Cigarette Butt”, “Perch”, “Mad Stool”, “Death Capsule” (remember the Izetta “coffin-mobile”?), “Shrimp” , “Box”, “Birdhouse”, “Miscarriage”, “Bag on Wheels”, “Cabin from KAMAZ”, “Keychain from BELAZ”, as well as the legendary “20 minutes of shame - and in the country”. Here it is, people's love!

The VAZ-2110 was almost equally loved by the people: in addition to the neutral “Chirik”, “Chervonets” and “Matryoshka”, “Pregnant Antelope” and “Remnant” were in circulation. These nicknames, with some modifications, were inherited by the VAZ-2111 station wagon - it was called “Pregnant Cow”, “Bar of Soap” and “Slippery Brick”. Against this background, the nickname of the VAZ-2112 - “Cucumber” - looks almost like the official name of the model.

In the case of the VAZ-2120 minivan, VAZ decided to stop the vicious practice of naming cars exclusively by numbers and gave the model its own name - “Nadezhda”. In those years, AVTOVAZ painfully survived in primitive capitalism, so the name was appropriate. But that was not the case, among the people it was transformed into “Clothes”, “Hopelessness” and “Konstantinovna” - and here double headlights, as if reminiscent of N.K.’s glasses, turned out to suit the suit. Krupskaya.

In general, with the return of the practice of official naming of Volzhsky Automobile Plant models, unofficial naming has not gone away. For example, Kalina is called, “Gooseberry”, “Hamster”, “Horse meat” and excuse me, “Fecalina”, and the name of the hat check Lada Xray on the Internet instantly transformed into the much more phonetically Russian “Khrey”. Against this background, Niva looks interesting - it remains just “Niva”, and nothing more, even many years after it stopped officially being called that.