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In the 1930s, as cars were reaching higher speeds, the need to study aerodynamics became evident. In the Soviet Union, remarkable progress was made in 1934 when the first domestic streamlined car, the experimental GAZ-A-Aero, was developed by designer Alexei Osipovich Nikitin. The project was initiated by the automobile department of the Military Academy of Mechanization and Motorization of the Red Army (VAMM RKKA) in collaboration with other organizations. Extensive theoretical studies and wind tunnel tests resulted in four streamlined body designs that were applied to the GAZ-A chassis to create the GAZ-A-Aero prototype. The new streamlined body showcased curved steel sheets on a wooden frame, teardrop-shaped wing coverings, and a V-shaped windshield. The GAZ-A-Aero demonstrated significant advantages over the standard GAZ-A model, with higher speeds, better dynamics, and improved fuel efficiency. Despite limitations due to the chassis design, the GAZ-A-Aero proved the benefits of streamlined bodies in increasing performance. This pioneering work set the foundation for future advancements in automotive aerodynamics and contributed to the development of modern, streamlined cars in the post-war era.
