Moskvitch 2140

The Moskvitch 2140 series (Russian: Москвич-2140) is a small family car produced by Soviet automotive maker AZLK from January 1976 to July 1988. It started first as Moskvitch 2138 and Moskvitch 2140 on a modified 412 platform. Pre-production models were shown during 1975. The Moskvitch 2140 SL/Moskvitch 1500 SL was an upmarket export variant, first publicly showcased in November 1980 for the 50th anniversary of AZLK, its production started in summer 1981; compared to the regular M-2140, it had large plastic bumpers with integrated side markers/turn signals, larger taillight units, plastic moldings on the door sides, and completely revised interior with new dashboard, steering wheel, and seats.

The Moskvitch-2140 line was facelifted throughout the second half of 1981 into the beginning of 1982, with the M-2140 SL already having all these features since its debut: the red shield logo with Kremlin towers silhouettes was changed to an "АЗЛК" wordmark in gray metallic font; the chrome trim around the grille, windows and rocker panels was removed; the black panel at the rear section between the headlights was now body-colored; the chrome hubcaps were discontinued and the cars were now delivered with plain steel wheels; the front doors now had single-piece windows without the quarter glass; the "Moskvich 1500/1360" fender badges and the "1500"/"1360" rear panel badge were removed; and the Latin "Moskvich" badge on the trunk lid was replaced with Cyrillic "Москвич", though the M-2140 SL retained the Latin badging even for its domestic variant. The 408-engined line, at this point consisting solely of the M-2138 sedan, was discontinued soon thereafter in December 1982, and the few 2138s built during the facelift era became visually indistinguishable from the 412-engined 2140-series sedans due to the removal of the engine displacement badges. The station wagon variant Moskvitch-2137 was the last of the Soviet cars to still feature taillight fins, which remained unchanged until the model was discontinued in February 1985.

Although originally designed and often referred to as the "fourth generation", the series was, in fact, only an improved variant of the third generation of Moskvitches, the M-408/412. The brand-new fourth generation entered in production with the Moskvitch-2141 Aleko starting in 1986 and remaining at a low scale, until the M-2140 was eventually discontinued in July 1988 and the M-2141 took its place at AZLK's main assembly line.

Models and variants

M-2140 (export name Moskvitch 1500): 4-door sedan model with standard UZAM-412 (75 hp) engine.