Many wealthy Chinese citizens today dream of getting a black "Volga" from those years as a collectible exhibit, symbolizing the era of developed socialism. It seems that nostalgia for the times when such a car seemed the height of luxury is the reason for this unusual interest in the GAZ-24.
It is worth noting that personal cars became available to ordinary Chinese relatively recently. Until the end of the nineties, Soviet cars, of which there were few, remained the ultimate dream for most residents of the PRC.
Collectors are especially thrilled by the pinnacle of Soviet engineers' ingenuity — the GAZ-24-34 model. This car was equipped with a 5.5-liter V8 engine, which was created specifically for the needs of the KGB. Almost 200 horsepower, an automatic transmission, and a top speed of about 182 km/h still delight the Chinese, who are well acquainted with the realities of an era of all sorts of prohibitions.
The rarity depicted in the photo is looking for its owner and is currently located near the Beijing Classic Car Museum. This specimen requires restoration, but for its age and considering the body painting technologies of that time, it looks quite decent.
On the topic, you can also read the materials "Back in the USSR: which Soviet cars are worth their weight in gold abroad" and "how to choose a used GAZ-24".
