Moskvitch

Design work for the Moskvitch 408 started in 1959 and the first prototype appeared in March 1961. Its official debut was in October 1964 when it became available as a four-door saloon, five-door station wagon and a three-door van. The car had modern features for 1964: a squared-off body with flat roof panel and sharp tailfins, panoramic rear window and semi-panoramic windshield. It was powered by a 1,357 cc four-cylinder engine. The car sold well in both the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries and was sold for export. The 408 was also assembled by Scaldia-Volga SA in Brussels, Belgium, where it was sold as the Scaldia 1300/1400.

The Moskvitch 412 was introduced in 1967. It was derived from the 408, differing in a more powerful 1,478 cc engine. Initially, the 412 was designed as a replacement for the 408, but they ended up being built together at the same plant. The decision to keep 408 in production was that it was more suited to harsh conditions than the 412; it could tolerate 75 octane fuel and could work with lower grade oils. Between 1967 and 1969, the only difference between 408 and 412 was usually a badge, placed on the rear of the car trunk lid, on the front fenders or on the front radiator grill. The badge was usually 412, but sometimes it was also 1500, depending on version and market. In 1969, both the 412 and the related 408 had their bodies redesigned, now featuring rectangular headlights and horizontal rear lights, replacing round headlights and vertical rear lights.