GAZ-Ataman is an all-terrain vehicle, and its presentation was in 1996. The production of the car was completed before it even began. It was designed a year earlier (1995), and in a short time it was able to become the center of everyone's attention. Nizhny Novgorod residents looked at this vehicle in surprise in their city.
And you can understand their feelings, because the model was an atypical car for the Russian Federation. To be more precise, it was a pickup truck, but not a simple one, but had a rather colorful appearance. Because of its awkward appearance, the car received many eloquent nicknames, such as “a colossus with feet of clay”, “browed guy” and “a ball of contradictions”, which is very appropriate. The entire GAZ model range.
Car history
Even before its appearance, GAZ-Ataman originated in the mid-1990s, when the Gorky enterprise was gripped by a crisis of overproduction of the ever-obsolete Volga. The people who were at the helm of the plant in those years began to seriously worry about the task of saving the workshop capacity of passenger vehicles. We were able to find a way out almost immediately.
On the platform of an already established passenger car (Volga), they were able to design a Burlak pickup truck, which promised to conquer the new shelf of the automotive market. Although there were not many alterations, they were quite significant.
GAZ Burlak
Since it was necessary to increase the base of the pickup truck by 300 millimeters, this entailed lengthening the driveshaft and handbrake hummocks. Moreover, it was necessary to strengthen the suspension and equip the rear of the car with a frame that was connected to the side members.
But suddenly, market vagaries made it possible to correct the situation with the Volga, although with trucks, things were still not going well. Therefore, it is clear why they decided to send Burlak to the cargo production, where, under the influence of certain factors (a small paint booth, and an overabundance of certain types of assembly positions), the GAZ-2307 pickup truck was born on its platform.
This vehicle was an impossible coexistence of the GAZ-3307 truck (where the original nose was) and the Volga-type transport base on the Burlatsky chassis. In practice, it was the prototype of “Ataman”.
Afterwards, the car was equipped with a frame, individual suspension and a whole list of power units, which included a 4-cylinder gasoline engine, a V-shaped 8-cylinder gasoline engine and a 4-cylinder turbocharged engine running on diesel fuel.
The GAZ-Ataman car managed to create such a model that it was able to create a real sensation. Many people did not even expect such a pickup truck.
If we talk about the all-wheel drive car GAZ-2308 “Ataman” and its rear-wheel drive variation GAZ-2309, which was jokingly called “Atamansha”, then both vehicles looked quite awkward and funny.
In fact, everything was in place on the cars, but a significant number of those present at the event began to smile when they saw the model. In this article, we will describe gas 3106 ataman 2 and gas 2308 ataman.
Family
The designers of this SUV wanted to make it a universal platform for creating other models with similar characteristics. Therefore, when the Ataman GAZ-2308 was tested, several more cars were developed:
- GAZ-2309. This car only had front-wheel drive.
- GAZ-2308 "Ataman Ermak". It is made in a station wagon body.
- GAZ-230812. This is a pickup truck that has a double cab and a closed body.
By the way, when Ataman Ermak was presented to the public, it was positioned as a means of transporting ten people. After its appearance, work was carried out on the creation of seven-seat and five-seat modifications, the bodies of which were shortened.
The designers of the Gorky plant planned to create another two dozen models built on the basis of the GAZ-2308. All of them had to differ in configuration and equipment. However, only three new models saw the light of day. Years later, the Ataman platform was used to create models 3106 and 2169.
Exterior
If you pay attention to the model’s appearance, it evokes quite mixed feelings. The car received 16-inch wheels, which had a positive effect on its exterior. The wheelbase reaches a length of 3,100 millimeters.
To understand this better, we can compare it with the famous Volga, which has this parameter 300 millimeters less. The ground clearance of the vehicle from the Gorky Automobile Plant is 215 millimeters, which indicates excellent cross-country ability.
The body frame is located quite high above the ground and with the help of the running boards, you can easily get into the pickup truck. For example, the GAZ-3106 model received an expressive appearance. The first models had a “brow-shaped” cabin, which could be a little embarrassing. Over time, later versions of the "jeep" were released.
The graceful and confident lines of the pickup truck’s exterior speak of the vehicle’s bold qualities, its dynamism, smooth ride and ability not to stop where there is simply no good road surface. This model already looked a little like a foreign car.
Impressive dimensions
The off-road character of the car is emphasized by its impressive dimensions: 5060/1910/2070 mm. The length of the wheelbase is 3100 mm. For comparison, it is worth saying that for the Volga this figure is 300 mm less. The Ataman's ground clearance is 215 mm, which indicates good cross-country ability. The body frame is located quite high from the ground, but thanks to the footrests it is convenient to get into the car. The interior of the car is very spacious, and thanks to the wide windows there are no problems with visibility. There's not much to say about the interior design. In the 90s it was considered quite good, but now it is already a relic of the past. Everything in the cabin is simple and basically comfortable.
Interior
The three-seater cabin of both cars had plenty of spaciousness. Due to the fact that a huge glass area was installed, there was excellent visibility, which is very important. If we talk about the interior itself, then the pickup truck had a cargo-like and spartan look.
The only difference between the rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive layouts was the number of transmission levers. The off-road version had a 5-speed manual gearbox lever along with a pair of auxiliary ones.
These included speed reduction and a locking center differential. The driver's seat was separated from the passenger seat.
The dashboard had many similarities with trucks from the Gorky Automobile Plant. On it, the largest sensor was assigned to the speedometer. The steering wheel has a two-spoke shape and a not very thin rim.
Specifications
Power unit
If we talk about engines, pickup trucks had them with different characteristics. Ataman received a V-shaped 100-horsepower cargo “eight”, the working volume of which was 4.25 liters. But the rear-wheel drive version already had a 2.89-liter four-cylinder power plant, which also had 100 horsepower.
The list of power units for such a car consisted of two engines, among which was a gasoline 4-cylinder 2.5-liter engine that developed up to 150 horses and a diesel 4-cylinder engine that produced 110 horsepower.
This engine is equipped with intercooler and turbocharging options. Such engines allowed the car to reach speeds of up to 120-140 km/h. But it cannot be said that the power units had small appetites - about 15.8 liters per hundred in city mode.
Although we should not forget that the vehicle was not purchased for city trips, and such considerable fuel consumption is justified by its weight, dimensions and power.
As for the pedal assembly, especially the clutch pedal was very hard to press, so a lot of effort had to be applied. More recent variations of the pickup truck received in-line 4-cylinder gasoline and 5-cylinder diesel power units GAZ 560 (“STEYR”) and V-shaped six and eight-cylinder engines running on gasoline.
The version of the GAZ-3106 vehicle was developed by car factory designers, and the debut version was produced together with an engineering company from America - “Venture”.
Transmission
Together with similar power units, the pickup truck operated using a five-speed manual transfer gearbox, which received a constantly active all-wheel drive system and a center differential lock.
Suspension
Passing special cobblestone sections allowed us to fully appreciate the merits of the chassis. It was felt that Gorky’s specialists spent many hours working on it. What’s nice is that we managed to reach a compromise.
It was possible to reduce the “shaking” to a minimum, and also provide the car with a good carrying capacity of 800 kilograms. The main merit of this was thanks to the long-stroke springs on the front and leaf spring suspension installed at the rear.
The rear-wheel drive version, being on loose sand, suddenly began to dig in, which emphasized its rear-wheel drive essence.
The all-wheel drive version had almost no problems with sand; moreover, it was even able to pull out the rear-wheel drive version of Ataman and continued to plow rough terrain in any direction.
In short, at the front, the car has a wishbone suspension, where there is a transverse stabilizer and a coil spring. And at the rear, the suspension has a transverse stabilizer, a split beam axle and springs.
The designers of the Gorky Automobile Plant did a good job on the technical equipment of the car, as a result, the model was distinguished by excellent cross-country ability and considerable ground clearance, which, coupled with the all-wheel drive system, made it a real SUV.
Steering
It was for all versions of the pickup truck, it was equipped with a hydraulic power steering wheel and it worked perfectly due to its lightness.
Brake system
The brake mechanisms of the GAZ-Ataman are represented by disc devices in front and drum devices in the rear.
Later models of the 3106 received an anti-lock braking system, which not only increases the vehicle's high maneuverability, but also makes it more stable when traveling at high speeds.
Latest versions of "Ataman"
Since 1996, the model has been produced in small quantities. It was equipped with the same two engines and had three drive options: rear, front, all-wheel drive. The car could be covered with two types of awnings: a high one, which has windows in the front part, and a low one, which is located flush with the cabin.
In 2000, the history of the Ataman car opened another page. The Moscow company DISA has developed a special vehicle on its platform - a van designed for collectors. This model could carry three people and had hidden armor. The model's body had an all-welded structure, and the cargo compartment was connected to the cabin. The cargo compartment could be accessed both from the cab and through the rear door.
In the same year, the second version of “Ataman” was created. It was built on a shortened platform from 1996. The second version of the SUV received the following components from its “big brother”: drive axles, front suspension, brakes, steering, rims.
"Ataman 2" received the number "3106". It had all-wheel drive, a transfer gearbox with a multi-row plate chain and a locking center differential. This combination gave the car the so-called “traction” and revving power. And the absence of intermediate shafts made it possible to reduce the noise level in the cabin.
The prototype was equipped with a diesel engine with a capacity of 141 horsepower. The model began to look much more attractive, having received a more modern design. However, despite a number of positive qualities, the second “Ataman” remained a prototype. It never left the assembly line.
Advantages and disadvantages
Pros of the car
- Acceptable ride height;
- Excellent vehicle cross-country ability;
- There is an all-wheel drive system;
- There is hydraulic power steering;
- Powerful power units;
- Unpretentious model;
- Lots of free space inside;
- Male car silhouette;
- Can carry about 800 kilograms of luggage;
- ABS installed;
- Not afraid of bad roads;
- The front wheels have disc brakes;
- Good visibility.
Cons of the car
- The GAZ-2308 model has a rather sparse and ascetic interior, such as can be found on trucks;
- High fuel consumption;
- Large dimensions;
- Poor quality front panel made of plastic;
- The drag coefficient is high.
Reviews
Before making a conclusion, it’s worth talking about reviews of the Russian SUV. GAZ-2308 “Ataman” is truly a unique model. You could even call it a real rarity. Car enthusiasts who are lucky enough to own this car admire its off-road performance. In any weather, the Ataman can be used to tackle medium and difficult off-road conditions. The car has more than enough agility, you just need to learn how to drive it competently. Of course, the design leaves much to be desired, but nothing can be done about it - the Soviet auto industry of the 90s lagged far behind its foreign competitors.
Let's sum it up
Generally speaking, the pickup trucks produced by the Gorky Automobile Plant were able to make a pleasant impression. They were able to show themselves to be quite productive and consistent with their times. Model 2309, one might say, was created for roads with good coverage, but 2308 can overcome any problematic roads.
It was the latter option that was able to obtain “permission” for serial production. It was planned to install the car on the conveyor in 2000. However, just then, the management of the enterprise changed, which entailed a fundamental restructuring, which put an end to such a project.
In the end, only about a hundred cars of the experimental “Ataman” series were produced, and then everything was over. Many cars have fallen into oblivion, and some, which were purchased by private individuals, are used even to this day.
The chieftain had a peculiar appearance, which was what immediately surprised many people. Even many foreign variants could envy its off-road characteristics. Of course, inside, the level of comfort and the quality of the materials used left much to be desired, but the model was just beginning to develop.
It is possible that later, if the machine went into mass production, it could be gradually improved. Although, do not forget about the model GAZ 3106 Ataman 2, which they were able to make better and more pleasant than its predecessor.
We advise you to read the article: GAZ - the history of car production.
Price policy
The time has come to talk about the cost of the GAZ-2308 “Ataman”. The price of the car was one of the reasons why production was stopped. Manufacturers and buyers decided that it was too high, taking into account all the characteristics of the pickup truck.
Today, the basic model will cost the buyer approximately 450 thousand rubles. More equipped versions are naturally more expensive, and the Ermak model costs about 600 thousand. Of course, a used car can be bought on the secondary market for much less. True, it is difficult to find it, because the plant produced only about a hundred copies. Most of them were sold to Belarus.
GAZ-Ataman photo
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GAZ-69
GAZ-2169 "Combat"
The development of the GAZ-2169 “Combat” by specialists at the Gorky Automobile Plant was carried out in parallel with the development of the second “Ataman”. It was planned that “Kombat” would be a continuation of the legendary GAZ-69. This was reflected not only in the model numbering, but also in the special “retro style” of this car.
This SUV borrowed the chassis from the Ataman family. The heart of the car is a 2.1-liter turbodiesel with 110 hp. in combination with a 5-speed gearbox. The car is front-wheel drive with a center differential lock and reduction gear.
But this project was also canceled during the reorganization of GAZ, and the car did not go into production. The plant used it as a show stopper at exhibitions, since the car was a very recognizable replica of the GAZ-69.
