AutoCult Babich Leningrad (1956) (Russia)

About the Original

An extraordinary Russian

Only little is known about the unique Russian car, which went down in automotive history, with the surname of its designer, as Babich.

A contemporary photo that dates to the 1950s shows the slim, middle-aged Akardij Dmitirevich Babich who was clean-shaven and wearing a suit and tie. Back then he lived in the metropolis that was known as Leningrad.

His first car that was specially designed and built by him was said to have been powered by a V-2 motorcycle engine. Additionally he participated in the development of the tubular frame for the Russian road race car that was known as the KVN 2500 – or also known as the KVN 20S. After this creative phase Akardij Dmitirevich Babich decided to design his own vehicle, in fact a large convertible. Over all the construction period was three years and the car was finally completed in 1956. As drive served a six-cylinder engine with a displacement of 3.5 liters and an output of 90 hp from ‘GAZ’ or in Western language as ‘Gorkier Automobilwerk’.

His privately built convertible was heavily inspired by the U.S. automobile industry. Historically, a fact that was usually frowned in the former USSR. However, the designer was still permitted to use his extraordinary car on public roads, as historical photos prove.