HISTORIC SOVIET UNION Vehicle Owned by Nikita Khrushchev | Deep Dive

The GAZ Chaika, which means gull, is a luxury automobile from the Soviet Union made by GAZ (Gorkovsky Avtomobilny Zavod), translated as Gorky Automobile Plant. The GAZ-13 Chaika debuted in 1958 and exhibited internationally at the Brussels motor show. This particular GAZ Chaika is previously owned by Nikita Khrushchev. Join Leslie Kendall as he takes a deep dive into this historic political vehicle.
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[@DanMosqueda]

I studied in the USSR right before it fell. I remember seeing Chaikas, Volgas and even a ZIL. Please do more leader cars! It’d be great to get an expanded exhibition of world leader vehicles. The Royal Mews has an amazing, working collection. The Ford museum has many as well.

[@AtheistOrphan]

I’d love a ZIL!

[@vyacheslavdrovorub6896]

This brings back memories from childhood. In 88 when my brother was born, my dad rented a Chaika to pick up mom and little brother from the hospital.

[@josephbingham1255]

Beautiful car. Reminds me of a joke they used to tell in the Soviet Union. Leonid Brezhnev shows his mother his Luxurious office. They are taken through the countryside in a beautiful automobile to one of his magnificent dachas where he talks of his privileges. Whereupon his mother looks at him as says "But Leonid - what if the Communists come back?" :)

[@achatcueilleur5746]

Good point!

[@kollo3457]

Are you pretending Lenin didn’t have a personal car?

[@peterl3417]

@@kollo3457He didn’t eat the same meals and sleep in simillar quarters his men did, compared to greater men of history.

[@albertseabra9226]

Imitation is the highest manifestation of admiration and flattery .

[@tetchuma]

I want my legacy to be like Mr. Peterson. A collection of cars and stories!

[@stephenmoxley3004]

You guys continue to amaze me with videos of cars I've never heard of; or seen. Keep up the great work.

[@GeeBoggs]

To me this was one of the most memorable vehicles I had a chance to see at the Petersen Museum. Juan Perón’s was also quite impressive.

[@penzlic]

I still have scale model of Čajka that my grandfather brought from Lenjingrad.

[@george4209]

Packard had push buttons transmission. Buttons on a stalk

[@robertphillips6296]

Thank you for posting.

[@SunShine-dk6rk]

Thanks for a great upload, I saw this type and the square later model at the Riga Motor Museum in Latvia along with Brezhnevs Rolls Royce,these big Zil,Chaika's dwarfed the Rolls,that was in 2000 so hope there still there. Best wishes to the team who made this vid,family,friends and fellow followers.

[@JohnSmith-rw8uh]

The Tatra from Czechczechoslovakia were very cool too. Big air cooled V8 with the engine at the rear

[@scottguthrie8074]

Really enjoyed this deep dive! Especially the pictures of Khrushchev in the car!

[@Brommear]

Its a pity you could not take it for a drive! Our "presidential" vehicle is a 1965 two door Ford Galaxy convertible. Simply beautiful. I hope it is never changed. It was bought by President Allende for some or other state occasion (I think Castro's visit but cannot remember) and has been used ever since.

[@donaldhollums3278]

Turn the vehicle over to Jay Leno and let him do a more detailed episode of it on “Jay Leno’s Garage”.

[@jimstrict-998]

Need more technical details on the engine and transmission.

[@PU8698]

My favorite soviet era car

[@piercehawke8021]

Now for irony; I knew a guy in SoCal in the 1980's, whose last name was literally 'Chaika' and yes, this hotrodder knew a bit about his namesake Soviet car ^^^

[@tomwebber9377]

I really like this series. I'm learning more about different vehicles with each new posting. Thank you.

[@PetersenMuseum]

Glad you like them!

[@tanner1161998]

I was just at the museum and saw this car - nice to know more about it!

[@Bounty_Hunter84]

Hi Leslie love the channel and your informative videos. The petersen YT channel i am just following and looking forward too seeing more videos. :D

[@alanblanes2876]

Interesting!

[@askmaxim]

heard from an eye witness that new Chaika body panels, e.g. fenders, were knocked out with a wooden hammer on a blockhead by hand at the GAZ factory

[@avsystem3142]

Considering how few were produced that makes sense. To invest in stamping tooling for only a few thousand cars would not be economically practical.

[@markaustin4370]

Yet another left front fender diatribe. Top down? Detailed dash shots so you can see the guages? Trunk? What was the hvac? Displacement and origin of engine? Transmission? At least we got 8 seconds of video under the hood this time Again, watch Jay Lennos Garage and see how it's done, or better yet, have him do them. Very interesting cars on this channel but these videos are about exiting as a Junior high film strip on Acne.

[@dukeallen432]

Glad we got some power plant info at the end. Course love to see carb. Suspension. Hp. (:

[@davezul4396]

Did you say you could “get a Lada different things”? I personally think that’s a gorgeous car. I’ve always liked Soviet cars. Thankyou for an excellent presentation.

[@jerrycallender9927]

Packard dies from 1940-1941 were also the basis for Russian cars post war. I also see 1958 Buick Limited in the rear fender.

[@randybock82]

Also I see a 65 Cadillac on the side between bumper and front wheel wells

[@user-mj7dt8of8e]

Chaika is not a copy of Packard, Pontiac. Technically they are different cars.

[@zaphodsrealm1549]

James May driving Hammond in one of these Russian limos is unforgettable👍

[@sandermakarian]

I thought it was the first man in space, who happenned to be russian😊 Thank you

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space that returned alive. He was not the first man in space.

[@jakekaywell5972]

Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman in space and also whom the Chaika car is named after, given that Chaika was her callsign during her time as a cosmonaut.

[@opera93]

Thanks, good overviews..! Interestingly, I would,be interested in closer exams of all systems, look underneath ( Shocks?), Maintenance ( OIL filters/air conditioning,etc), tires & brakes( what is fit in Russia), and closer to Instruments, etc.

[@davidhollenshead4892]

Think of a 1950s American car but one that will continue to run without getting regular maintenance... Oh and also that their early automatics & the mechanical guidance systems used a trans fluid made from whale oil...

[@chucksnightmare7674]

@ Opera: ME TWO. Would love to be able/ allowed to personally go/ look all over the car to see all that you described, to see how they arranged everything. Maybe, just maybe one day.

[@ml9867]

Please show the inside of the trunks too.

[@josephgaviota]

The engine looks like a late '50s Chrysler Hemi; and the power brake booster looks _exactly_ like a 1957 Chrysler brake booster And I think the read exhaust is very 1958 Cadillac, as well as the [unfulfilled] "Dagmars" up front.

[@davehopping7212]

In 1941, FDR gave Stalin a (then) brand new 1942 Packard 180 limousine.Stalin loved that car so much he had his designers copy it--not quite exactly, but VERY close. and that was the ZIS-110 and its ZIS-115 armored variant. They look almost identical to the Packard. ZIS (later ZIL) are abbreviation for much longer Russian-language manufacturer names. The model was in production into the late Fifties, being replaced by the Chaika. So Packard styling lived on in the Comintern long after Packard closed up shop in the USA.

[@jeffking4176]

My friends were walking to a store in Clayton [ St.Louis] Missouri. This was ca: 1976(?). We spotted one on the other side of the parking lot. One friend said it was a Lincoln, another friend said Cadillac. I said it was Russian. They said I was crazy. Sure enough, there was Russian writing on it. It was a Chaika❗️ WHAT the heck it was doing in St.Louis County, Missouri, I have no idea. HOW it got there, is a mystery, BUT, There it was❗️ We looked it over, hoping someone would show up, but….. 📻🙂

[@peterl3417]

No idea what a diplomat would be doing in St. Louis. Maybe imported by a collector?

[@aaronwilliams6989]

It is beautiful.

[@georgizukov7651]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Paramount531]

I saw this car at Petersen, I was shocked at how much it resembled a 55-56 Packard. They did an exceptionally good job with the dash and instruments. I'm really surprised that the Soviets didn't know how unpopular the Packard was compared to Cadillac, but they weren't known for getting things right.

[@achatcueilleur5746]

Packard was solving transportation problems of top Bolshevick tyrants from 1922. Ford was doing the same for lower positions. Top party bosses in every "Republic" used Lincoln Zephyr and Army General used Buick T90 and Buick Roadmaster. First "Russian" truck is AUTOCAR truck for South America model. USSR survived mostly on technical and material assistance from the US.

[@paulparoma]

Of course they "weren't known for getting things right." Achieved 100% literacy in just a few years; defeated the Nazis; launched the first satellite; put the first man in space; gave everyone an excellent education; won gold medals in sports, music and ballet etc. They could not perfect Coca Cola, junk food, consumerism, drive-by shootings etc. - so yes, they could not get anything right.

[@achatcueilleur5746]

@@paulparoma They even taught FIAT how to make cars since Italians have no idea how to design and build cars. And also you keep your saving in excellent rubles and drive Russia's car.

[@paulparoma]

@@achatcueilleur5746 What does that have to do with any real accomplishments of a (young) society? Cars are consumer goods. Sure, the West has been superior in consumer goods, but that's where that superiority ends, pretty much. FYI, the ruble is the world's best-performing currency right now, and Russia is much more sound economically than the West. CPI is down some 18-20%, and there is an enormous budget surplus. Enjoy paying premium for food and energy meanwhile.

[@Paramount531]

@@paulparoma Got run into bankruptcy by Reagan, LOL! Thanks for the history lesson, comrade.

[@neildickson5394]

Packard also had push button driive in 1956.

[@henrymorgan3982]

Historical Classic. It is in the right place to retire.

[@chucksnightmare7674]

@ Henry Morgan: NOT!!! My Garage would be the best place for it. I would drive the car in the summer. I would invite privately other people that I found that Loved the car as I do, to come over and take the car for a drive/inspection. And yes you would be one of them, my friend.

[@Digitalsharecropper]

I have bad news. This was never used by Mr Khrushchev. This was a parade car from a central pool. Khrushchev and all other party bosses used hard roof cars for protection

[@chrisjeffries2322]

It would have been nice to know the Cubic Inches or Liters of this engine.

[@railtrolley]

5.5 litres.

[@chrisjeffries2322]

@@railtrolley Thank you for the information.

[@_b_x_b_1063]

​@@chrisjeffries2322Engine GAZ-13, 195 hp

[@aldente2676]

Hardtops? Besides that convertible, I've only seen sedan versions of that earlier series

[@geoffreytampleman8212]

A treasure of a car truly worthy of the world class Peterson Museum.

[@intuitive7274]

I'm glad you have done these documentaries on Russian Cars

[@danielthoman7324]

the back end looks like a 59 rambler ambassador. 🤔

[@charlesstauffer9831]

A good-looking car, very stately.

[@lostallmymoney2082]

I actually really like it.

[@seandoole6504]

Same production run as the Checker Marathon; a car visually similar but for an inverse purpose. The greenhouse of the regular Chaika is very similar to the Marathon, and often mine is confused for being "Russian" despite being an NYC icon.

[@piotr.leniec-lincow5209]

We had fiew of these in Poland . However then priminister of Poland who was a big motorisation fan imported British limos named HUMBER for communists . That was considered a show of independence then .....

[@RivieraByBuick]

5:00 the first HUMAN in space

[@aaronburratwood.6957]

Anyone else notice the “N” in the name on the car looks like the “IA” in the new KIA logo?

[@HarborLockRoad]

Ive always been told the ZiL limousines actually WERE Packards, in the fact that Packard routinely sold off all their old body dies machinery to the USSR. And what a better time to do so while Studebaker and Packard had merged and were planning on all future Packard production to be Studebaker based( see 1957-58 Packards). I dont think its so much a copy, as a rebadge and restyle.

[@mten1454]

With inferior build quality/tolerance engineering and horrific powertrain technology

[@user-mj7dt8of8e]

Chaika is not a copy of Packard, Pontiac. Technically they are different cars.

[@avsystem3142]

Did you watch the video? The Zils were not made from Packard tooling and parts are not interchangable. They were stylistically inspired by the design of several different American cars of the 1950's.

[@jakekaywell5972]

@@mten1454 What you define as "horrific powertrain technology" is subjective, but I can tell you firsthand that these Chaikas were built to the highest standards possible. As state limousines, they had to be.

[@mten1454]

@@jakekaywell5972 they were dramatically underpowered and inefficient compared to comparable American engines at the time

[@jimclarke1108]

Looks a bit like a 50's Chev and Ford Customline

[@KenanTurkiye]

There's something about black and chrome! : )

[@type3666]

Chaika 👍🤘

[@georgizukov7651]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@delosdmi]

Inspired by Packard, Pontiac, Mercury and Chrysler....I would call it, "Frankincar".

[@Thorscauldron]

Surely there was a vodka cabinet... I'm not sure it looks similar to a DDR (east german) NVA parade car. That Heinz Hoffman or Heinz Kessler would stand in.

[@V8_screw_electric_cars]

This car was like Mercedes 600 Pullmann or Cadillac series 75 handbuilt special cars none of them were for ordinary guy.

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

Since they were not mass-produced, each one must have cost a small fortune to construct. And I would imagine zero spare parts are available.

[@21stcenturyfossil7]

I imagine the suspension, brakes and drivetrain parts were the same or similar to mass produced truck parts.

[@Lincolntowncoupe]

I want to drive one of these wearing a big furry hat

[@user-mj7dt8of8e]

There are a lot of inaccuracies in the video. Chaika is not a copy of Packard, Pontiac. The Chaika is a Soviet design, Soviet engineers designed it themselves. Just study the design of this car. The USSR purchased foreign vehicles for testing and studying technical solutions, but this does not mean that Soviet engineers copied technologies. The only thing that Soviet engineers copied was the Plymouth brake booster, Ford automatic transmission (it was heavily redesigned), Packard headlight visors and the gold grill on the Packard instrument cluster. Those who accuse the Russians of copying forget that American engineers, German engineers also copied technologies from each other.

[@avsystem3142]

You didn't pay attention. The presenter specifically stated that the Chaika was not a copy of a Packard. The styling was inspired by several different American vehicles of the 1950's, including Packard. There are no inaccuracies in the video.

[@davehopping7212]

Stalin's infatuation with Packards meant that his designers and engineers would build whatever he wanted to see, so the high-end transportation was going to look like Packards. It's true the Chaikas had Mopar and GM styling cues, but the earlier ZiS 110s looked exactly like the '41-'42 Packard 180. Aside #1: Another high-end Soviet limo, the ZIM, was very reminescent of the 1949 Cadillac. Aside #2: During WW2, several B-29s had to land in the CCCP after having sustained damage over Japan. The Soviets copied that bird exactly, calling it the Tupolev TU-4, and building 1000 of them. Several later generations of Soviet bombers-- and their Aeroflot derivatives -- had a distinct family resemblance to the TU-4.

[@timothyhh]

Calm your tits, Vitaly.

[@rustyaxelrod]

Everyone is equal. No one can have nice things. (Kinda)

[@iuopunderstandyourjokes9914]

It is a handsome automobile

[@QwertyQwerty-zn8wz]

ЧАААААААААААЙКА!

[@stevebot]

You could buy Lada different things.

[@geothon]

Soviet- not Russian. USSR- not Russia. Learn the difference, please. Chaika was never sold new to private citizens- only issued to the very top officials during the times of USSR. Later on it was given to government marital agencies so that newlyweds could ride in it for a day. The name Packard always had the same vibe to the Soviets (engineers included) as Cadillac- it was something American and therefore it was magical. They had no way of differentiating American cars based on the price segment. Anything American was the top bracket.

[@Island_Line_Rail_Productions]

Wrong, Still was manufactured in Russia. Just because it was the USSR does not mean every country was the same. They were like the US States. So saying it is a Russian car because it was built in the Russian SFSR is correct.

[@robert3302]

Stalin admired Packards, and bought a few. When they started making their own cars, the designers thought it a good idea to stick with the inspiration.

[@albertseabra9226]

The pre-WW II cars made in Russia or USSR, were copies of the od-fashioned Packards. Putin enjoys the top-of-the-line Mercedes . .

[@Joe-jd4pn]

Looks like a Chrysler Royal Ap1.

[@fredsimmons6188]

Crank it up. Drive it around. Let's see it in action. It does look like a Packard.

[@56cadd]

I'd roll it !

[@AgentZ7]

I think at one time the idea of "Fine art in cars" was more worldwide. This car is an example of that exact fine art. I would love to see one done Kustom car style.

[@piotr.leniec-lincow5209]

One small detail. Chaika is not seagull .

[@avsystem3142]

Instead of commenting what Chaika isn't, why not state what it means in Russian if you know?

[@piotr.leniec-lincow5209]

@@avsystem3142 you wanted to say what it means in English ? In Russian it is a CHAIKA .

[@piotr.leniec-lincow5209]

@@avsystem3142 I play a little game with you . Look up VANELLUS VANELLUS ( latin ) that's Chaika but it is not a seagull .

[@avsystem3142]

@@piotr.leniec-lincow5209 Why would I be interested in playing games? Why didn't you just provide the knowledge you claim to have in the first place?

[@piotr.leniec-lincow5209]

@@avsystem3142 you want to make me a language examination ? That is a game . I stated a fact . Chaika is not a seagull . I know what it is in Russian . That should be enough . What it is in English you can find for yourself . Try it .

[@mikhailkay1797]

What @taparotsa?! Haha It’s zaparozhets

[@scootergeorge7089]

Stalin got a Packard!

[@markwagner4909]

Looks like a cross breed of a mercury and a Pontiac

[@nealsidor1323]

Looks like a knock off mid fifties Packard...

[@jakekaywell5972]

Except it isn't. Even the Petersen presenter here explained in length how this Chaika was a fully independent design.

[@nealsidor1323]

@@jakekaywell5972 I watched the video. Nonetheless, it does resemble a Packard. Just as for many years after WW 2, Russian military trucks had a strong resemblance to the heavy duty trucks produced under contract by Studebaker.

[@jakekaywell5972]

@@nealsidor1323 It resembles a Packard, sure, but to say its a knock-off as you originally did is grossly inaccurate. With few exceptions, carmakers borrow cues from other car makers all the time. To single out GAZ or the USSR on this front is an unfair criticism. I know what the Studebaker US6 trucks look like as well, and I can't say I see anything among most of GAZ or ZiLs models that "strongly resembles" the US6. Just general truck shapes to me.

[@nealsidor1323]

@@jakekaywell5972 From the rear it's a knock off/ copy of a Cadillac. I just took a peek at an old May day parade from the Brezhnev era and many of those heavy duty trucks were knock offs/copies of the WW2 vintage Studebakers. Face it Jake, the Russians were never known for original attractive designs and their build quality and engineering were inferior to us in every aspect. These examples are definitely of interest but NOT because of their originality or superior quality, not by a long shot...

[@jakekaywell5972]

@@nealsidor1323 The build quality of these Chaikas were and are stellar, easily rivaling anything the U.S. was making at the time. They had to be as state limousines after all. I should know, I experienced one first hand. Engineering-wise is solid too. What one considers "original designs" is again subjective, but the USSR made plenty of those too in the automotive world. I would refer you to the UAZ 452 "Bukhanka", the Lada Niva, the Moskvitch 2141 "Aleko", the Moskvitch 402, and the Moskvitch 412 as five examples of this.

[@hypercomms2001]

"via diplomatic means"... One wonders what "diplomatic" means were used!

[@stoundingresults]

It looks like it wants to be a Chevy.

[@ldnwholesale8552]

60s? Very dated for then, mid50s US. Complete with a generator!

[@chuckselvage3157]

It looks like it says Wanka

[@matthewbucher8954]

It looks just like a packard

[@jakekaywell5972]

Except it isn't. Even the Petersen presenter here explained in length how this Chaika was a fully independent design.

[@samiam5557]

Goddamn hunk of commie scrap iron to me. =D

[@JohnSmith-rw8uh]

Like the fascist yank car industry has always built gems..... give it a rest.

[@jakekaywell5972]

It's not 1959 anymore, McCarthy. Stop with the jingoism because MuH cUmMuNiSm.

[@every1665]

I can imagine Khrushchev cruising around the Moscow nightlife district late on Saturday nights picking up hot chicks in this!

[@mrbojangles8133]

just like an Western car, but worse

[@rahiltagiyeva7199]

Zil CAYKA ZİM ZİS VOLGA POBEDA SMZ KAMAZ andbLADA NİVA ZAZ RAF UAZ MASQİVCH CCCP Car Soviet car❤

[@corywilhelm9768]

Who cares about what a dictator owned???!!!??? Why don't you spend time celebrating American car owners.

[@avsystem3142]

They do both. You got a problem with that? If so, don't watch this channel.

[@jakekaywell5972]

I do. This Chaika is excellent. If anything, there is too much of a focus on American cars and owners, so this Soviet vehicle is much appreciated.

[@anastassiosperakis2869]

couldn't you take the top off?