1972 Delfin Concept

The Delfin (Дельфин, meaning "Dolphin") was a concept car designed in 1972 in Tajikistan, based on the Russian ZAZ 965. The design featured an open-roof cabriolet layout and presented a unique aesthetic that resembled a small, sleek sports car, a departure from the ZAZ's typically utilitarian designs. The cutaway drawings of the Delfin reveal a rear-mounted engine, likely the 746cc air-cooled V4 engine used in the original ZAZ 965, producing around 23 horsepower. This engine was reliable and compact, which made it suitable for the rear-engine layout. However, it appears that the Delfin concept never advanced beyond a few illustrative sketches and cutaways, leaving it as an intriguing "what-if" in Soviet-era automotive history.