Russo Balt C 24 - 40 (diecast 1:43, Saratov/ Agat)
- Russo Balt C 24 - 40 (from 1913)
- Saratov/ Agat
- 1:43
- Showcase model / No engine
- diecast
- others
- In near mint condition
- Original packaging exists
- Not for sale
In 1909, in Riga, the first car drove out of the gates of the Russian-Baltic Carriage Works (RBVZ), which later became known as Russo-Balt (in those years, as a rule, they wrote Russo-Baltic or Russo-Baltique in general). He was far from the first domestic car. But in fact - the first truly serial. It was at RBVZ that similar machines began to be manufactured in series of several dozen pieces. And most importantly, Russo-Balts were almost completely manufactured in the Russian Empire, at a modern factory, and not assembled from imported components.
The first Russo-Balt C24/30 model was based on the design of the now forgotten Belgian company Fondu. The Riga plant, whose main product was railway cars, had connections with a Belgian company of the same profile.
The Mercedes chassis is different. The rear axle is symmetrical, there is no transverse spring. The first Mercedes with a driveline appeared, by the way, in 1906, simultaneously with the debut of the Fondu CF 24/30. Moreover, for several more years, the German company used cardan transmissions only on relatively low-power models. It was believed that for the most powerful chain drive is preferable.
The chassis of the Russo-Balts of the C series was modernized several times. On the C24 / 40 model, the frame was slightly changed, the rear axle was already symmetrical. But the rear additional transverse spring was retained.
The Russo-Balt four-cylinder engine, like most similar engines of those years, was made of two blocks. They did it for technological reasons. With a working volume of 4.5 liters (105 × 130 mm), the motor developed 30 hp. at 1200 rpm. Later, the engine was upgraded twice. By installing a Zenith carburetor instead of their own, the power was increased to 35 hp. at 1200 rpm. And since 1913, on the C24 / 40 model, the engine developed 40 hp. at 1500 rpm. At the same time, the 3-speed gearbox was replaced by a 4-speed one.
The Russo-Balt engine was practically a copy of the Fondu engine (105 × 130 mm) with a volume of 4.5 liters. However, the unit was adapted to the capabilities of the RBVZ. In terms of equipment (for example, a carburetor), the Russian engine differed from the Belgian one.
There is something in common between German, Belgian and Russian engines. In particular, two blocks of two cylinders each, an L-shaped combustion chamber, gas distribution mechanisms. But a similar design was then in many engines. The Fondu motor is not a copy of the Mercedes one. And there was no direct German analogue. The closest in terms of parameters are the engines of models 18/22 (100 × 130 mm), with a volume of 4.1 liters and 28/32 (110 × 140 mm), with a volume of 5.3 liters. Most likely, Julien Potter, designing the Belgian car, was guided by advanced analogues similar in characteristics.
The chief designer of the automotive department of RBVZ was a young Swiss Julien Pottera, who previously worked for Fondu and designed a Belgian car, and now put it into production in Riga. However, the design of the Fondu CF 24/30 1906 is sometimes considered borrowed from the German model Mercedes Simplex, produced from 1902 to 1909 in many versions. Let's make the way back: from Russia to Belgium, and then to Germany.
Mercedes Simplex is similar to the Belgian and Russian counterparts exactly as much as many other cars of that time to each other. Mercedes has a completely different hood, grille, fenders. But the funny luggage superstructure on the roof is very similar.
Already in 1911 Russo-Balt C24/30 has noticeably changed in appearance. There was a more elegant sloping hood and a new grille. And the customer could choose the shape of the wings from two options - more elegant or simpler.
The first car factory in Russia: sports cars and convertibles were made before the revolution
Creating the first Russo-Balt, the leaders of the automotive department of RBVZ took the right path. They not only took a successful foreign design, but also attracted its author, Julien Potter, to adapt it to Russian realities and the capabilities of the plant. The Swiss worked in Riga for about three years and participated not only in the modernization of C-series cars, but also in the creation of the following models.
The plant had good prospects. But development was held back by a very low solvent demand, and then the war began, and the plant was evacuated in parts to Petrograd, Tver and Moscow. The last cars were assembled in Petrograd until about 1918. In total, a little more than 600 Russo-Balts were made, of which more than half were of the C series. The modernized Russo-Balt C24 / 40 under the name Prombron in 1922 became the first car in Soviet Russia.
Author: Eugen1985
No responsibility is taken for the correctness of this information
The first Russo-Balt C24/30 model was based on the design of the now forgotten Belgian company Fondu. The Riga plant, whose main product was railway cars, had connections with a Belgian company of the same profile.
The Mercedes chassis is different. The rear axle is symmetrical, there is no transverse spring. The first Mercedes with a driveline appeared, by the way, in 1906, simultaneously with the debut of the Fondu CF 24/30. Moreover, for several more years, the German company used cardan transmissions only on relatively low-power models. It was believed that for the most powerful chain drive is preferable.
The chassis of the Russo-Balts of the C series was modernized several times. On the C24 / 40 model, the frame was slightly changed, the rear axle was already symmetrical. But the rear additional transverse spring was retained.
The Russo-Balt four-cylinder engine, like most similar engines of those years, was made of two blocks. They did it for technological reasons. With a working volume of 4.5 liters (105 × 130 mm), the motor developed 30 hp. at 1200 rpm. Later, the engine was upgraded twice. By installing a Zenith carburetor instead of their own, the power was increased to 35 hp. at 1200 rpm. And since 1913, on the C24 / 40 model, the engine developed 40 hp. at 1500 rpm. At the same time, the 3-speed gearbox was replaced by a 4-speed one.
The Russo-Balt engine was practically a copy of the Fondu engine (105 × 130 mm) with a volume of 4.5 liters. However, the unit was adapted to the capabilities of the RBVZ. In terms of equipment (for example, a carburetor), the Russian engine differed from the Belgian one.
There is something in common between German, Belgian and Russian engines. In particular, two blocks of two cylinders each, an L-shaped combustion chamber, gas distribution mechanisms. But a similar design was then in many engines. The Fondu motor is not a copy of the Mercedes one. And there was no direct German analogue. The closest in terms of parameters are the engines of models 18/22 (100 × 130 mm), with a volume of 4.1 liters and 28/32 (110 × 140 mm), with a volume of 5.3 liters. Most likely, Julien Potter, designing the Belgian car, was guided by advanced analogues similar in characteristics.
The chief designer of the automotive department of RBVZ was a young Swiss Julien Pottera, who previously worked for Fondu and designed a Belgian car, and now put it into production in Riga. However, the design of the Fondu CF 24/30 1906 is sometimes considered borrowed from the German model Mercedes Simplex, produced from 1902 to 1909 in many versions. Let's make the way back: from Russia to Belgium, and then to Germany.
Mercedes Simplex is similar to the Belgian and Russian counterparts exactly as much as many other cars of that time to each other. Mercedes has a completely different hood, grille, fenders. But the funny luggage superstructure on the roof is very similar.
Already in 1911 Russo-Balt C24/30 has noticeably changed in appearance. There was a more elegant sloping hood and a new grille. And the customer could choose the shape of the wings from two options - more elegant or simpler.
The first car factory in Russia: sports cars and convertibles were made before the revolution
Creating the first Russo-Balt, the leaders of the automotive department of RBVZ took the right path. They not only took a successful foreign design, but also attracted its author, Julien Potter, to adapt it to Russian realities and the capabilities of the plant. The Swiss worked in Riga for about three years and participated not only in the modernization of C-series cars, but also in the creation of the following models.
The plant had good prospects. But development was held back by a very low solvent demand, and then the war began, and the plant was evacuated in parts to Petrograd, Tver and Moscow. The last cars were assembled in Petrograd until about 1918. In total, a little more than 600 Russo-Balts were made, of which more than half were of the C series. The modernized Russo-Balt C24 / 40 under the name Prombron in 1922 became the first car in Soviet Russia.
Author: Eugen1985
No responsibility is taken for the correctness of this information
219 Visitors since 07/06/2023
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