Welcome to namicontracosta.com, providing information and commentary about NAMI and NAMI automobiles, including the first Soviet-made automobile, the NAMI-1. Visit namicontracosta.com to learn about the influence of Russian heritage in Contra Costa County, California and the San Francisco Bay Area. One of the great benefits of living in Contra Costa County is the melting pot of cultures experienced every day. Whether you are jogging around the Lafayette Reservoir or enjoying lunch in Walnut Creek, you will likely hear many languages, Russian being one. Do you know that Russians first settled in the greater San Francisco Bay Area in 1812, settling in an outpost named Fort Ross? Hopefully you have visited beautiful Fort Ross,a California Historical State Park representing Russia’s rich culture. Antique car collecting is a popular hobby throughout the United States; Contra Costa County is no exception. A great find for antique car enthusiasts, representing a glimpse into the history of the former Soviet Union, is the NAMI-1. The NAMI-1 was the first (as identified by the number one behind NAMI) Soviet-made passenger automobile, first built in 1927. Those that remain today are highly desired by collectors. The late 1920s models included a 2 cylinder, 3 gear engine that generated 22 horsepower, and most models weighed in around 700 kg. Quite a bit different than the SUVs of today!
With the end of the Cold War, the cars became somewhat more available in other countries, including the United States, but most NAMI-1 models that remain are found in European museums or private collections. As NAMI automotive production continued, subsequent models were identified by a larger number … perhaps you have seen a NAMI-048, NAMI-049, or even a NAMI-059. In case you haven’t had the pleasure of seeing a NAMI, examples are posted below. NAMI aficionados were disappointed at a 2003 Pleasant Hill, California City Council Meeting. This meeting included a speaker from NAMI, which NAMI aficionados took to mean an expert on Russian automobiles. Alas, this was not to be, so NAMI enthusiasts left early. Although NAMI autos are no longer manufactured, Moscow based Nauchno-issledovatel'skiji avtomobil'niji i avtomotorniji institute – NAMI for short – cooperates with numerous automotive manufacturers to improve the design and engineering of the automotive industry. Oh, by the way, for the English-only speakers out there, Nauchno-issledovatel'skiji avtomobil'niji i avtomotorniji institute (NAMI) is the Moscow based Russian Federation’s Central Automobile and Motor Research Institute . Established in 1918 to assist in the development and regulation of Russia's motor industry, NAMI is one of the oldest scientific organizations in Russia. NAMI continues to play a vital roll in Russia's science community, guiding technological advances in Russia's motor industry that incorporate today's ecological and safety concerns. Thanks for stopping by, and have a nice day.
Circa 1927 NAMI passenger car, pictured on a USSR (Soviet Union) 1973 postage stamp.	NAMI-1 passenger auto from the late 1920s.