Among the many types of car bodies that have appeared in the history of the global automotive industry, the so-called "woody" stands apart. This term referred to cars in which only the hood, fenders, and engine shield were made of metal, while the doors and side panels were made of wood. Moreover, wood served not only as a facing material — it also formed the power base of the body. Such cars were most widespread in the USA, but similar designs were also created in the USSR. The most famous domestic representative was the "Moskvich-422".
The question of the origin of the first "Moskvich" is still a matter of debate among historians. According to one version, almost all production equipment was taken out of Germany from the Opel plant as a trophy. Supporters of an alternative point of view recognize the fact of partial removal of equipment, but argue that the documentation and stamps for the body were developed in the Soviet Union — by the joint efforts of German and Soviet engineers. Be that as it may, in December 1946, the Moscow Small Car Factory (MZMA) presented its first model — the "Moskvich-400".
Several body options were immediately chosen for mass production: a four-door sedan, a convertible, and a cargo van with wooden panels. The appearance of the latter was largely due to post-war conditions. The country was experiencing an acute shortage of high-quality sheet metal, while there was enough wood, as well as specialists who knew how to work with it. For this reason, wood was actively used in various segments of the automotive industry: it was used to make platforms for flatbed trucks, cabs for ZIS-5, MAZ-200 and early GAZ-51, as well as frames for bus bodies and various vans.
Serial production of the "Moskvich-400-422" started in 1948. In its design, the power base was a stamped steel base, additionally reinforced with crossbars. The body frame itself was made of birch, and the openings were sheathed with plywood impregnated with bakelite varnish. The roof was a system of thin longitudinal slats, on top of which felt insulation and an outer coating of leatherette were laid. As a result, only individual elements remained completely metal: the plumage, engine shield, floor, windshield pillars, rear fenders, fuel tank and chassis side members.
From a technical point of view, the 422 van almost completely repeated the basic "Moskvich-401". Under the hood was a lower-valve four-cylinder engine with a volume of 1 liter, developing 23 horsepower. It worked in tandem with a three-speed manual gearbox, which transmitted torque to the rear wheels. The front suspension was independent, of the "Dubonnet" type, with two inclined helical cylindrical springs, while a classic leaf spring scheme was used at the rear. The braking system was progressive for its time — hydraulic mechanisms were installed on all four wheels. The model's carrying capacity was 250 kilograms.
A passenger version was also planned in parallel — index 421, with a glazed body and a rear sofa. However, the launch of this modification into the series was subsequently abandoned.
Interestingly, the "Moskvich-422" lasted longer on the assembly line than the basic model. The production of the "Moskvich-401" was completed in April 1956, while the "wooden" van was produced until December of the same year. Despite this, the design of the wooden body itself was not very durable. Over time, the geometry of the door openings was disturbed, and the panels and leatherette roof lost their original appearance. Nevertheless, the chassis was reliable, spare parts remained available, and body repairs were inexpensive and did not require high qualifications.
In the central regions of the country, such cars could be found on the roads until the 1970s. Only a few copies have survived to this day, and they are all in private collections of Moscow retro-technology enthusiasts.