The Moskvich 2140 was a small family car built by AZLK in Moscow from January 1976 to July 1988. It began life as a deep modernisation of the Moskvich 412 rather than an all-new design, and for more than a decade it served as the firm’s main model. It was the last rear-wheel-drive Moskvich sedan, replaced on the main line by the front-wheel-drive 2141 Aleko.
Moskvich 2140 at a glance
| Maker | AZLK, Moscow |
|---|---|
| Production | January 1976 – July 1988 |
| Based on | Moskvich 412 platform, modified |
| Engine | 1.5-litre UZAM-412, 75 hp |
| Engine in 2138 | 1.36-litre MZMA-408, 50 hp |
| Export names | Moskvich 1500 (2140), Moskvich 1360 (2138) |
| Front brakes | discs, a first for a 412-derived Moskvich |
| Top model | 2140-117 SuperLux / 1500 SL, from 1980 |
| Facelift | second half of 1981 to early 1982 |
| Rural version | 21406, from October 1978, 68 hp, runs on A-76 |
| Assembly abroad | Lovech, Bulgaria, 1976–1986 |
The English article gives the start of production as January 1976 while the Russian one says the first cars were built in December 1975; the page uses both dates as they apply to the start and the ramp-up.
History of the Moskvich 2140
By the mid-1970s the Moskvich 412 was ageing and losing ground on export markets, while AZLK could not afford to re-tool for a completely new car because its lines were still new. The answer was a substantial modernisation of the 412, started in 1973. Besides the factory’s own engineers, outside design work was ordered from Porsche Design in Germany and from the Paris studio CEI of Raymond Loewy; both proposals were rejected, the Porsche one in particular because it barely changed the car’s appearance. The first production 2140s left the line in December 1975, and early cars still used some 412 body panels and trim.
Compared with the 412, the 2140 had a black plastic grille, recessed door handles, a redesigned rear with rectangular lights in a black panel, a new dashboard and steering wheel. It was also the first 412-derived Moskvich to use disc brakes at the front. The range began as the 2138 and the 2140: the 2138 kept the old 1.36-litre 408 engine of 50 hp and was built mainly for fleets because it ran on low-grade A-76 petrol, while the 2140 used the 75 hp 1.5-litre UZAM-412.
A major facelift came in the second half of 1981 and early 1982. The red shield badge with Kremlin towers gave way to a grey metallic AZLK wordmark, the chrome around the grille, windows and sills disappeared, the black rear panel became body-coloured, chrome hubcaps were dropped, the front doors received one-piece glass, and the Latin “Moskvich” badge on the boot was replaced by the Cyrillic “Москвич”. The 2138 with the 408 engine was dropped in December 1982. The estate derivative, the 2137, stayed until February 1985, and the sedan itself was built until July 1988, when the 2141 took over the main assembly line.
The most luxurious version was the 2140-117 SuperLux, also sold as the Moskvich 1500 SL. Shown in November 1980 for AZLK’s fiftieth anniversary, it went into production in 1981 with large plastic bumpers, bigger tail lights, side mouldings and a completely revised interior with Yugoslav-made Saturnus trim. There were also working versions: the 21406 of October 1978 for rural users, with a 68 hp engine for A-76 fuel, reinforced suspension and drum brakes all round, and the 21403 of November 1979 with hand controls for drivers with limited use of their legs.
Design and features
- Front disc brakes: the first 412-derived Moskvich to have them.
- Rectangular tail lights: set in a black panel before the 1982 facelift.
- SuperLux trim: big plastic bumpers, new lights and a Saturnus interior on the 1500 SL.
- Rural 21406: low-compression engine, stronger suspension and protection for the sump.
- Export names: sold abroad as the Moskvich 1500 and, with the smaller engine, the 1360.
Moskvich 2140 versions
- Moskvich 2140 (1976–1988): standard sedan with the 75 hp 1.5-litre engine.
- Moskvich 2138 (1976–1982): sedan with the 50 hp 1.36-litre M-408 engine.
- Moskvich 2140-117 / 1500 SL (1981–1988): luxury export version with revised body trim and interior.
- Moskvich 21406 (1978–1988): rural version with a 68 hp engine for A-76 petrol.
- Moskvich 21403 (1979–1988): version with hand controls for disabled drivers.
- Moskvich 21401 (1976–1988): medical dispatch sedan in standard medical livery.
The 2140 replaced the Moskvich 412 and was itself succeeded by the front-wheel-drive Moskvich 2141 Aleko. Its estate version is described under Moskvich 2137, and the rest of the marque is in the Moskvich collection.
Sources
- Moskvitch 2140, English Wikipedia: development, engines, facelift, variants
- Москвич-2140, Russian Wikipedia: design work, SuperLux, Bulgarian assembly, dates
