ZAZ 965A

Fabbri Collection No. 36: ZAZ 965A (GOLDENEYE) Scale: 1/43. UH Universal Hobbies/GE Fabbri #36 in THE JAMES BOND CAR COLLECTION (UK) The ZAZ 965 is an automobile produced by the Ukrainian manufacturer ZAZ from 1960 to 1969. The first car left the factory on June 18, 1959, but it was still a prototype. The body design was undoubtedly inspired by the Fiat 600, and it was powered by a V4 746 cm³ engine with 23 hp. The ZAZ 965 (for Zaporosky Avtomobilny Zavod; Zaporizhia Automobile Plant) reached a top speed of 80 km/h and had a 4-speed gearbox, with the last three gears being synchronized. However, it was not until November 22, 1960, that the first production model left the assembly line, and only 1,500 units were produced by the end of 1960. Measuring 3.33m long and 1.39m wide, the ZAZ was much smaller than other vehicles produced in the country and much cheaper, selling for 1,800 rubles. The first secretary of the Communist Party, Nikita Khrushchev, declared that it would be "a good gift for the workers, provided that it is inexpensive".