GAZ – 12, GAZ – 23
1959. At GAZ change flagship. Issue limousine GAZ-12 "(" ZIM ") terminated. Zim was collected 10 years. Despite his pomposity, he was a very democratic machine – used not only "the court" but as "ambulances and taxis. In addition, a citizen could acquire Zim for 40 thousand rubles. His successor "Chaika" ("GAZ-13") was delivered only in spetsgarazhi, registrar’s office and large cities for the "Intourist". For sale Seagull private owners were taboo. "Seagull" fitted with an automatic transmission, a concept which was tested on the Volga first issue. Three years later, in 1962, 160-horsepower V 8 "Seagull", automatic transmission and power steering will install a secret modification of the Volga – GAZ-23 ". This car will not mean in any popular directory – exclusive customer "GAZ-23" was the KGB. The car that was heavier than the base for more than 100 kg, developed the average speed of 160 km / h and accelerated up to a hundred in 16 seconds (compared to 34 seconds, "GAS-21L). Power Brakes in the hood compartment has no place, and the brake system remains unchanged. From 1962 to 1970, was issued 603 GAZ-23 ".
In September 1959 year, Khrushchev made an official visit USA. U.S. farmers have proposed to Secretary General to feed the entire Soviet Union. "And 
we will be supplying cars" – Nikita Khrushchev replied with a joke a joke. One of the suite understood this literally – the gas flew dispatch. Rumors spread. But no matter how would "bylinniki voluble" attribute GAZ lot of cars for the U.S. market, the gas itself denies this honor – to compete with "brogemami" and "Corvette" nobody was going to.
The height of the Khrushchev thaw. The failed Soviet spy – Detective ("Dead Season") waiting for the border river, three black "Volga car" and "Tu-104". Simultaneous reversal of "Volga" on a wet road, the aircraft Tu-104 ", magomaevskoe" wanders through the lanes summer ", Gagarin became symbols of the 60′s.
1961. When Gagarin was the carpet report to the head of the Party and government, he untied lace (save film). Togo and look – come. That worried him, as it fell. (If you have fallen – the film would not have survived). Gagarin safely Khrushchev gave a report. This year, the Soviet Union was a monetary reform. Ascension would later write "Take money from Lenin!". Price of the Volga in the 1961st year was 5100 rubles.