MeMZ
Encyclopedia
MeMZ is short for "Melitopol Engine Plant" (Ukrainian: "Мелітопольський моторний завод"). The factory was founded in 1908 by a Mennonite entrepreneur by the name of Zaferman. Until 1925 the factory focused mainly on diesel engine
s specifically for applications in agricultural machinery and fishing ships. In the maelstrom of events occurring in Soviet Union
and the world, the small factory was forced to slow down production, until completely evacuating the plant in 1941.
was freed from Nazi occupation in 1944, at which time the National Committee of USSR ordered the factory to resume operations.
In 1958 the factory was renamed MeMZ and started developing micro car engines for ZAZ
. In 1960 MeMZ released the first gasoline
powered engine - the MeMZ-965. The original engine had a peak power output of 23 horsepower
, roughly 17 kilowatts. Despite being small, the engine produced a great-deal of heat, all of which could not be effectively dissipated by an air-cooling system. In 1963 the initial design saw some improvements and the new MeMZ-966 model was released into mass production.
The factory was incorporated into AvtoZAZ
holding in 1975.
(often referred to as Zaporozhets) - short for Zaporozhia Automotive Factory. The ZAZ model-line cars were intended to be affordable, therefore they were neither safe nor reliable; nevertheless they were a success since people would rather have some means of transportation as opposed to none at all. MeMZ continued to upgrade its engines, which eventually found uses in other vehicles.
The engine looks a bit like the VW
air cooled boxer four, except that the two cylinder banks are at a 90 degree angle. As Russian car owners were expected to do much of the servicing themselves, and auto workshops were in short supply anyway, this layout was more practical.
in 2002.
MeMZ 307/3071 are fuel injected
versions of 301/3011
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
s specifically for applications in agricultural machinery and fishing ships. In the maelstrom of events occurring in Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and the world, the small factory was forced to slow down production, until completely evacuating the plant in 1941.
Post-war
The large industrial city of MelitopolMelitopol
Melitopol is a city in the Zaporizhia Oblast of the southeastern Ukraine. It is situated on the Molochna River that flows through the eastern edge of the city and into the Molochnyi Liman, which eventually joins the Sea of Azov....
was freed from Nazi occupation in 1944, at which time the National Committee of USSR ordered the factory to resume operations.
In 1958 the factory was renamed MeMZ and started developing micro car engines for ZAZ
ZAZ
ZAZ or Zaporizhia Automobile Building Plant is the main automobile-manufacturer of Ukraine, based in the south-eastern city of Zaporizhia. It is also known for its former mother company name, AvtoZAZ...
. In 1960 MeMZ released the first gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
powered engine - the MeMZ-965. The original engine had a peak power output of 23 horsepower
Horsepower
Horsepower is the name of several units of measurement of power. The most common definitions equal between 735.5 and 750 watts.Horsepower was originally defined to compare the output of steam engines with the power of draft horses in continuous operation. The unit was widely adopted to measure the...
, roughly 17 kilowatts. Despite being small, the engine produced a great-deal of heat, all of which could not be effectively dissipated by an air-cooling system. In 1963 the initial design saw some improvements and the new MeMZ-966 model was released into mass production.
The factory was incorporated into AvtoZAZ
AvtoZAZ
AvtoZAZ is an automotive manufacturing company in Ukraine. It was founded in 1975 as Industrial Association, а holding that incorporated ZAZ, MeMZ, Illichivsk Automobile Parts Plant and a number of other automobile-production facilities in Lutzk and Kherson...
holding in 1975.
MeMZ-966 engine
The MeMZ-966 was an economy model; underpowered, but quite cheap to produce. As a result it was implemented in what the Soviet government hoped to be the first "National" vehicle; the ZAZZAZ
ZAZ or Zaporizhia Automobile Building Plant is the main automobile-manufacturer of Ukraine, based in the south-eastern city of Zaporizhia. It is also known for its former mother company name, AvtoZAZ...
(often referred to as Zaporozhets) - short for Zaporozhia Automotive Factory. The ZAZ model-line cars were intended to be affordable, therefore they were neither safe nor reliable; nevertheless they were a success since people would rather have some means of transportation as opposed to none at all. MeMZ continued to upgrade its engines, which eventually found uses in other vehicles.
The engine looks a bit like the VW
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
air cooled boxer four, except that the two cylinder banks are at a 90 degree angle. As Russian car owners were expected to do much of the servicing themselves, and auto workshops were in short supply anyway, this layout was more practical.
Merger
With the establishment of AutoZAZ-Daewoo in 1998, the factory was renamed AutoZAZ-Motor, and then incorporated into the ZAZZAZ
ZAZ or Zaporizhia Automobile Building Plant is the main automobile-manufacturer of Ukraine, based in the south-eastern city of Zaporizhia. It is also known for its former mother company name, AvtoZAZ...
in 2002.
Engine Models
| Model | MeMZ965 | 965A/966 | 968 | 2471/2477 | 301/3011 | 307/3071 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | OHV V4 | OHV V4 | OHV V4 | I4 | I4 | I4 |
| Volume | 746 cc | 887 cc | 1.2 L | 1.091/1.197 L | 1.299 L | 1.299 L |
| Power | 23 hp | 27 hp | 42 hp | 51 hp | 63 hp | 64 hp |
| Cooling | Air Air-cooled engine Air-cooled engines rely on the circulation of air directly over hot parts of the engine to cool them.-Introduction:Most modern internal combustion engines are cooled by a closed circuit carrying liquid coolant through channels in the engine block and cylinder head, where the coolant absorbs heat,... |
Air | Air | Water | Water | Water |
| Used in | ZAZ-965 Zaporozhets | ZAZ-965A/966 Zaporožec | ZAZ-968 Zaporožec | ZAZ-1102 Tavria ZAZ Tavria ZAZ Tavria is a range of front wheel drive subcompact cars made by Ukrainian ZAZ. ZAZ-1102 Tavria and subsequent ZAZ-1105 Dana and ZAZ-1103 Slavuta replaced rear wheel drive Zaporozhets in the product lineup.-ZAZ-1102 Tavria:... , ZAZ-1105 Dana/Slavuta, Daewoo Sens |
||
MeMZ 307/3071 are fuel injected
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
versions of 301/3011