Topic: SOLVED: WTH # 303 - 1971 Moskvitch 427 Estate with model Julie Desmond

[sixtee5cuda]

For one point, please identify the car and the young lady.

[sixtee5cuda]

Expert time!

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[WayneB]

The car is a 1971 Moskvitch 427 Estate made in the old  Soviet Union, the model's name is Julie Desmond.

I believe the photo was taken at the 1971 Earls Court Motor Show in London, England.

If you were lucky enough to get on press and trade day, it was common to see scantily dressed and even topless models draped over the cars, but sadly they were all gone the days the general public were allowed admittance.

A teacher at my old school drove one of these Moskvitches (van version) which at the time was one of the cheapest (If not the cheapest) cars you could buy new in the UK.

I also remember the UK Moskvitch importers Satra Motors sponsored a racing version of the Moskvitch sedan that was driven by Tony Lanfranchi.

[sixtee5cuda]

And the point goes to WayneB for the correct answer.  Inching painfully closer to Pro status.

[D-type]

They had a touring car championship for Group 1 cars with classes based on price and points awarded for class performances.  Tony Lanfranchi spotted that the Moskvitch came into the lowest price class and had the legs of the base model Mini, Fiat 600 etc.  He also realised that a class full of closely matched Escort GTs, Lotus-Cortinas or Dolomite Sprints would take pionts off each other.  The result was that Lanfranchi in the Moskvitch took the championship.