On April 20, 1956 it was the start of the serial production of «Moskvich-402». It came as a replacement to its morally and technically outdated predecessor – «Moskvich-400». But the new model kept the engine with a slight upgrade, as well as the gearbox and the gear speed reducer. In all the rest aspects it was an absolutely different car – a modern cabin, more comfortable and spacious and equipped with bent glasses, the heater, blinking turn signals with the turn handle automatically going back to the initial position, the radio and a separate trunk opening from the cabin. The front wheel suspension was independent and there was 12-volt electrical equipment. For the first time in the country, a passenger car received telescopic shock absorbers. On the basis of «402» other modifications were produced: «Moskvich-423» — the first car in the USSR with a station wagon body and «Moskvich-410» — an all-wheel drive version. But a weak, outdated 1.2-liter engine with only 35 hp. became the main reason for the short conveyor life of the 402nd model. In 1958, it was replaced by «Moskvich-407» which received an updated 45-horsepower 1.4-liter engine, new four-speed gearbox and rear axle gear. In just two years, about 90 thousand 402s were produced, and Moskvich-407 lasted until 1963 (about 360 thousand copies).
