AvtoVAZ recalled the world record of the VAZ-2131 at an altitude of 5726 meters
Quick Look
- The AvtoVAZ press service recalled that on September 16, 1999, the VAZ-2131 model set a world record by rising to a height of 5,726 meters above sea level on the Tibetan Plateau without using a winch.
- The expedition began a year earlier with an attempt to reach Everest Base Camp at 5,200 meters, and preparations included modifying the vehicles for high-altitude conditions.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
In 1998, the crew led by Georgy Kotov in a VAZ-2131 reached the base camp on Everest at an altitude of 5200 meters, which demonstrated the vehicle's capabilities in high mountains and led to a new challenge - to climb even higher without a winch.
The AvtoVAZ press service in the official Telegram channel recalled a unique achievement - a world record that was set on September 16, 1999 by the VAZ-2131 model. On this day 27 years ago, the car rose 5726 meters above sea level on the Tibetan plateau. Until this moment, no car in the world had reached such a height under its own power.
But the story of this “ascent” began a year earlier. In 1998, a crew led by climber Georgy Kotov in a VAZ-2131 reached the base camp located on Everest at an altitude of 5200 meters. This race demonstrated the vehicle's capabilities in high altitudes, and a new challenge arose - to climb even higher without the use of winches.
Preparations began in February 1999. The cars were modified for the difficult route and high mountain conditions. Pipes-boxes were welded into the cabin to protect the crew in case of a possible capsize; installed an additional cooling fan for crossing the desert; The windows were tinted to protect from the heat. In addition, the vehicles were equipped with walkie-talkies, strengthened suspensions and installed aluminum shields to protect the bottom.
The expedition started on August 19 from Palace Square in St. Petersburg. It included two long-wheelbase VAZ-2131 and a minivan VAZ-2120. All three cars reached the 5500 meter mark. The minivan, which was originally intended to transport equipment, reached an altitude of 5,500 meters on the Tibetan plateau under its own power. This came as a great surprise to all members of the expedition. But only one Niva reached a record height.
The ascent was accompanied by heavy physical exertion. At an altitude of more than five thousand meters, the amount of oxygen in the air is halved. The leader of the expedition, Georgy Kotov, wrote: “You take a deep breath and drive a hundred meters. Then green spots begin to float before your eyes, you suffocate, and you simply fall out of the car.”
Despite all the difficulties of the route, on September 16, 1999 at 16:27, the VAZ-2131 independently (without the help of a winch) reached 5726 meters.
Open Questions
- What specific modifications were made to the VAZ-2131 for high altitudes?
- What was the fuel consumption during the ascent to 5726 meters?
- Is there independent confirmation of the record from international organizations?
