Izh Comby

Izh 2125 "Comby" (Russian: Комби, short for "combination", also transliterated as Komby and Kombi) is a small family car produced by the Soviet automotive maker IZH from 1973 to 1997. It was based on an Izhevsk-modified Moskvitch 412, with the first prototype released in 1972 to meet small family needs. Although considered by many to be the first Soviet hatchback (released about a decade before the well-known Lada Samara), the car actually possessed a station wagon body. The back did not profit from weight reduction, which would position the model rather in the liftback family. For the same reason, the car was given the "Comby" nickname, which in a way alludes to the Combi coupé.

The Comby knew a notable success in sales within USSR between 1974 and 1980, however, due to absence of upmarket components, export models were never produced and the car did not sell outside the country. In 1982, when Izh 412 was discontinued, the Comby received a redesigned Moskvitch 2140 body and was then rebranded as 21251. Among notable features, the car borrowed a dashboard from the 2140, featured improved seats and headrests were now installed. Besides the initial hatchback body, the new Comby also took over Izh 2715 panel van variant that also got facelifted in the same year.

Both versions sold into the 1990s. As the Soviet Union collapsed, IZH was first privatized as "OAO Izhevsk" and slowly started converting their automotive production lines to other kinds of produce, such as firearms. In 1995—96, when AZLK's revenue decreased drastically, the company was partially reacquired by AutoVAZ and renamed "IzhAuto". Vaz then discontinued all of IZH's previous models and run their own ones into production. A new hatchback version, based on Lada instead, was branded Izh 2126 and ultimately replaced the Comby.