No.17 - 6 Nov 2000
"Market Economy"
"Will finding spare parts for our aging Volgas be a major concern in the coming years, adding to the worry about whether we can expect any pension when we retire (a hot political
topic in Sweden these days). A recent trip to Russia, where my girlfriend lives, gave my some anxious thoughts about the future. In Novgorod I was told in several spare parts
shops and markets that there where no parts at all available for GAZ-21, "these cars are now in museum" one mercant told me. Another seller gave me at least an advice, "go to
Moscow, to the avtorynok at Avtozavodskaya metro station".
Two days later I entered the huge avtobazaar that was actually some two kilometers from the metro, reachable by regular minivan service from the station, and yes there were
parts for sale, in fact there were four or five vendors dealing more or less exclusively with GAZ-21 parts. That was the good news. The bad news was that
the parts I needed, a steering wheel, the plastic shield behind the speedometer and the old type of front shock suspension, were in short supply. Another negative surprise was the
amount of money asked for. The nonexisting steering wheel was said to cost 2000 Roubles, some 80 USD when available, "come back saturday". A new decoration with lights for
the tail numberplate was also 2000 Roubles. The plastic shield behind the steering wheel, yes I eventually found one, a "handmade" blue, much darker than the original green one,
cost me 550 roubles, and the shock suspension, I had to settle for a Pobeda item that can eventually be reconstructed to fit Volga, was handed over for 350 roubles. A radio, the
original type "trust me it works" was traded for 300. Really nothing seemed to be cheap at this market and my question to the readers of the GAZette is following, was I, an
obvious foreigner shortened up, like in a russian museum where foreigners have to pay five times the entrance fee of a local visitor, or is this for real? In that case what can we
expect for the future, will prices continue to surge on GAZ-parts?
In Estonia friends tell me constantly about the problem of finding parts for old russian cars and about the rising prices when available. The "olen" that decorates the hood
cost roughly 100 USD in the Volgashop in Tallinn.
The story announced in the previous issue will be following shortly.
