GAZ- 31105 (2004–2009)

From GAZ-3110 to 31105: what GAZ changed

GAZ treated the 31105 as the second phase of a programme that started with the GAZ-3110 in 1997, not as an all-new car. The body shell, rear-drive layout and 2,800 mm (110.2 in) wheelbase stayed. What changed was the face of the car, the cabin and, step by step, the engine range.

The chassis work came first. Transitional 2003 cars already had the ball-joint front suspension, anti-roll bar and double-synchro gearbox, so the 31105 badge mostly marked the visual and interior update that followed in January 2004. German-language Wikipedia adds that the newer front axle no longer needed regular greasing, a small but welcome change for anyone who had maintained an older Volga.

Updates did not arrive all at once. English-language Wikipedia notes that some exterior changes came in separate production batches and were standard on some and optional on others, so two 31105s from the same year can differ in detail. The GAZ-3110 overview explains the earlier phase and where the whole family sits in the Volga line.

Styling, cabin and the 2007 update

The quickest way to spot a 31105 is the front. The bonnet now drops down and merges with the grille into one unit, and the block headlights were inspired by the Volga-3111, the small-run luxury saloon built by GAZ. Plastic door handles replaced the metal ones of the 3110.

Inside, the changes targeted comfort and space:

• A digital instrument cluster replaced the older dials.
• The steering column was set at a flatter, more horizontal angle.
• Thinner front seats gave more headroom and, according to German sources, more legroom for rear passengers.
• Wood trim became standard from 2007.

The 2007 update brought completely new tail lamps and conversion to the Euro III emissions standard. It also changed the engine line-up, as the older ZMZ engines were phased out in favour of the Euro III ZMZ-40525. Only the saloon carried the new styling. The estate continued with the GAZ-3110 look, so there is no 31105 estate as such.

ZMZ, Chrysler and diesel: the 31105 engine range

The 31105 used four petrol engines over its life and a diesel that appears in the lists without production dates. Outputs below are given in kW first, with the metric PS or the source's bhp figure. Where sources do not agree on power, no figure is printed.

The Chrysler engine phase

The Chrysler unit is the 31105's most unusual feature. English-language Wikipedia lists the 2.4-litre EDZ as a standard option from 2006, while Chrysler's own engine records place the Volga application in 2008–2010, so the start date depends on the source. German-language Wikipedia reports that GAZ expected to sell about 51,000 Volgas in 2006, nearly a quarter of them with Chrysler engines. The link with Chrysler went further: in 2006 GAZ also bought the design of the Chrysler Sebring, which became the Volga Siber of 2008.

Gearboxes and performance

Every 31105 drives the rear wheels. A 5-speed manual was standard, and a 4-speed Aisin Warner automatic is listed from 2004. UK spec listings quote 13.5 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h for both the 2.3 and the ZMZ-40525, with top speeds of 172 km/h (107 mph) and 185 km/h (115 mph) respectively. The carburettor 2.5 is far slower, at 140 km/h (87 mph) and about 19 seconds. These are aggregator figures, not factory data.

GAZ-31105 dimensions and the long-wheelbase 311055

The standard saloon measures about 50 mm (2.0 in) more in length than the 3110, on the same wheelbase. The figures below are for the regular wheelbase car; capacities marked as approximate come from a single UK spec listing.

The GAZ-311055 was the executive version. Introduced in 2005, it stretched the wheelbase by 300 mm (11.8 in) and had its own interior with wood trim. Sources also mention pick-up and panel-van conversions built in small numbers by outside companies rather than by GAZ itself.

Crash testing and safety equipment

We found no published crash-test result for the GAZ-31105 from Euro NCAP or any other programme we could verify. Safety equipment is not documented by version in the sources we used, so we do not list airbags or ABS as standard.

For context, the structure dates back to a car designed in the 1960s, and the 31105 shares its body shell with the GAZ-3110. Buyers should treat it as a classic in safety terms rather than compare it with saloons of its own era.

Choosing a GAZ-31105 today

Pin down the engine and build date before anything else, because they decide parts supply and value more than trim does. Reliability data from independent surveys does not exist for this model, so the checks below are about identification and condition.

• Chrysler or ZMZ: the Chrysler 2.4 needs different parts and expertise from the ZMZ engines; check the engine number against the documents.
• Pre- or post-2007: new tail lamps and wood trim point to the 2007 update and the Euro III engines.
• Gearbox: an automatic car is unusual; confirm the Aisin Warner unit works smoothly through all four gears.
• Long wheelbase: a 311055 should show its 3,100 mm wheelbase and the wood-trimmed interior; check the papers rather than trusting badges.
• Body: inspect sills, floor, door bottoms and wheel arches for corrosion, as on any steel saloon of this age.

To compare it with earlier Volgas, see the GAZ-24, browse all GAZ models or look through other saloons.