Russian Volgas making a pilgrimage to Silverstone

From Russia with love: GAZ-21 Volga.

Such is the soaring appeal of the annual Silverstone Classic that this year’s huge three-day festival (26-28 July) has attracted an unprecedented number of car clubs displaying a record number of classic cars.

While the huge displays and parades being organised to celebrate special milestones in the histories of Aston Martin, Lamborghini and the Porsche 911 are likely to steal the headlines, perhaps the most interesting entry comes from rather further afield.

Four intrepid members of the GAZ-21 Car Club are travelling all the way from Moscow to attend the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival and provide show-goers with two of the most unusual exhibits.

The Volga GAZ-21 was originally developed with State approval in 1956 with a design heavily influenced by US vehicles of the same era. Over the next 14 years no fewer than 639,478 Volgas were produced including a special GAZ-23 Volga version for Soviet special services which was fitted with a V8 engine and capable of topping the 100mph mark.

Vladimir Smagin and Dmitry Kilpio are driving the two cars all the way to Silverstone from Russia. – the 6,000+ kilometre round trip to the UK will take the plucky pair through Minsk, Warsaw, Poznan, Hannover, Antwerp, Brugge and London en route to Silverstone.

As well as the GAZ-21 Car Club other new clubs attending this year’s Silverstone Classic include the Abarth Scorpion Club, Corvette Club de France, Karmann Ghia Owners Club and V6Clio.net club. In total an unprecedented total of 8,269 classic cars have been registered for display on more than 80-car club stands over the weekend.

Posted in: Classic