Despite production ceasing long ago, Volga cars (or GAZ-24) still hold a special place in the memories of generations of Vietnamese people. As a result, vintage Volga cars are highly sought after in the used car market, despite the scarcity of replacement parts.
Volga cars were reserved for high-ranking officials during its heyday
Recently, the Vietnamese car enthusiast community has been captivated by a restored Volga car at a renowned garage in Ho Chi Minh City. According to the garage owner, this car used to belong to former General Secretary Le Duan.
The garage representative said: “Le Duan’s relatives wanted to restore this car for display purposes.”
When it arrived at the garage, the car was in a relatively old condition, with many extensively corroded details such as the chassis, doors, exhaust pipes, and numerous worn-out parts that couldn’t be restored.
Many details on the 1980 Volga couldn’t be restored and had to be replaced
After disassembling the car and removing the original paint, an epoxy layer was applied to the Volga to reveal any imperfections on the surface. Then, the painting, bodywork, and welding team proceeded to repair the unfinished mechanical details.
In this stage, over 100 parts on the Volga car needed restoration or replacement, including the front and rear bumpers, fenders, radiator grille, and headlight frames. Due to the extensive corrosion, this was considered the most challenging stage in the GAZ-24 restoration process.
The car had been restored twice before
After repairing imperfections on the body and chassis, the team began repainting the entire car using a new color code. Subsequently, Vietnamese craftsmen restored details such as door trims and window moldings using 304 stainless steel materials.
The car engine before and after restoration looks completely different aesthetically
The engine of the car was cleaned, and many original parts were replaced. The engine block was painted matte black, while the top cover had a military green color.
The garage did not interfere with the engine performance, so it still produces a power output of 110 horsepower and 187 Nm torque, combined with a 4-speed transmission. According to the manufacturer’s specifications, the car is capable of reaching a top speed of 145 km/h. The entire exhaust system was completely renewed, with only the muffler remaining.
Moving to the interior, all the seats of the Volga car were upholstered with white nappa leather. Other details such as the headliner and door panels also used the same color scheme. The exception was the upholstered black leather dashboard, and the car radio was also restored and upgraded to be compatible with modern media devices.
The interior has been transformed from brown to white cream color
In the trunk, the GAZ-24 car is fitted with an additional air conditioner connected to the passenger compartment
After completion, the Volga car not only looks brand new but also has additional modern amenities suitable for daily commuting.
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