GAZ-M1 History
Catalog record
This is a brief catalog introduction with limited source documentation. A licensed, identity-checked lead photograph has not yet been added for this page. Detailed year, configuration and ownership coverage must be identified separately; this page is not a complete vehicle catalog.
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The GAZ-M1, popularly nicknamed the 'Emka' (the Russian letter M), replaced the GAZ-A in May 1936. Its first prototype drew from the 1934 Ford Model B 40A four-door sedan, but Soviet engineers substantially reworked the suspension — redesigning it entirely for rough Russian roads — and adapted the drivetrain for local conditions, so the production car was widely regarded as a distinct design rather than a Ford clone.
The 'M' in its name honored Vyacheslav Molotov, whose name was incorporated into the plant's title at the time. Production of the GAZ-M1 continued through the early years of the Second World War; systematic production ended in 1941, though the plant assembled the remaining parts inventory until 1943, yielding a total of 62,888 vehicles. Many Emkas served as military staff cars during the Great Patriotic War.
Body styles
- Sedan
- Phaeton (open tourer)
- Pickup
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