1949 Taiga 660 Photon 1.0

"It has all the hallmarks of a true luxury cruiser - a V8 engine, four doors, and a sleek, aerodynamic body. However, when you also mention that the 2.6L engine is in the rear and the high-beam headlight is mounted in the middle, you may get some confused looks. Looking like it came from another planet, the 660 Photon was Taiga's, and subsequently the Soviet Union's, attempt at wooing the west with a spaceship for the road. Hop in, crank up "Katyusha", and cruise the galactic highway."

The Soviet Union was one of the major world powers of the 20th century, and as such had a very large export industry. One field they were rarely admired in though, at least internationally, was the auto industry. Sure, there were still some exports here and there - especially come the 1970s - but generally, the conservatively-styled boxy sedans were never too keenly appreciated by much the western world. However, in 1946, all the pieces were set in motion to introduce one of the most radical automotive designs the world had ever seen.



The Taiga 660 Photon was originally meant for one thing, and one thing only - that being to impress the West, and show that the East was a force to be reckoned with on the car market. After some years of prototyping, the Photon entered production and subsequently the Soviet government sphere in 1948. With its polarizing looks, it turned some away - but it was hard to ignore the incredibly futuristic appearance. The Photon quickly became a popular ambassador and diplomat car for Soviet embassies around the world, and drew much attention both in its home country and abroad. It stayed in service as a dipomat car for a few decades, and was on rare occasion given to Soviet government officials and celebrities. It has since become an icon of 1940s late-art-deco design. It is estimated that approx. 880 units were completed in total. Production ended in 1954, due to the high production cost and the impending successor model.



Powered by a 120-hp 2.6L V8, the 660 Photon employs a rear-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. This engine is coupled to a 4-speed wheel-mounted manual transmission. While one would expect this to result in a car that is difficult to drive, the Photon is astoundingly forgiving considering its setup. It will still bite when handled roughly, but it takes quite a lot to make it angry.

The most striking feature of the Photon is certainly its appearance - flowing lines around the grille incorporate a large single high-beam headlight in the middle, along with two low-beam lights and turn signals encased in the grille. The car is full of sleek chrome lines which give it a low-slung, almost bullet-like look. It is certainly sure to draw a crowd no matter where you go.

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Rear-engined cars are some of my favorite, given their unusual-ness. The 660 Photon was a lot of fun to make, and I'm very proud of how it came out. I hope you will enjoy it!