Welcome again on Airborne Motor Group’s stand!
Part 1 - ND4SPD Concept: There you go
1967 RZ Hrvatska Sport
info from Djordje Zeniković, creator of the car
History
Airborne Motor Company since it’s beginning in 1947 was having a serious trouble getting in one market - Eastern one, controlled by USSR because the company itself was born actually in USA and some people (including folks at manufacturer called PZS) took Airborne as betrayers who try to lie to people that they’re polish meanwhile they don’t have anything in Eastern Bloc. Meanwhile, those ignorants did not know that Airborne had a deal with Stalin; the founder and all the staff won’t have any problems until they won’t bother to get into markets controlled by USSR.
However, as we know, Joseph Stalin died in 1953 and destalinizing was started. Airborne Motor Company was striken out of the list of USSR’s deadliest opponents, therefore importing cars could be possible. A dealership in Poland, where you wouldn’t need any kind of papers for the cars was planned to be opened in 1957, however some economic interruptions happened.
During 60s there were no chances of opening dealership network in northern bloc part, so Airborne attacked Yugoslavia instead - successfully. You could buy a new Airborne in Rijeka from 1964 to 1966. However, when the dealership was closed it’s boss, Djordje Zeniković was left unemployed with building and service ready. He transformed Airborne Hrvatska into RZ (Rijeka Zeniković) and started designing his own sports car.
In middle 1967 the car was born under the name of RZ Hrvatska Sport. It was very basic and primitive in comparison to Airbornes. It was also very slow - 32.5 seconds to 100 km/h for a sports car is an abysmal score. However, the car had some advantages - pretty good quality (even for western standards!), reliability through the roof, targa roof and excellent handling. It’s often compared to Lotus Seven in terms of it’s destination, since it’s pretty simple sports car for everyone.
Sadly enough, the car haven’t made it to larger audience. People didn’t wanted practical sports car, because they couldn’t pack their families (or illegal luggage) into it, so there were only 6 Hrvatska Sports sold ever and this is the only remaining unit - Djordje’s personal car through all those years. It has mileage of 650.000 km and still runs fine!
But, back to reasons why this thing hasn’t sold - it would have basicly no competitors. Closest thing to this RZ was bonkers Melkus RS1000 and it’s possible competitior from 1960, FSO Syrena Sport was never entered into production.
RZ Hrvatska Sport still reminds hoever as a symbol of true communist sports car and it has so large fanbase that the company is actually developing it’s successor. All we know is fact that HS’s successor will be not very fast, but excellently handling little sports car with lots of tuning potential.
Technicals
As the car is primitive communist contruction, it was adapted to ride on local tough roads and low quality fuel. In the end an 800cc inline 3 that was put in generates about 32 horsepower, which is enough to launch the car to 100 km/h in 32.5 seconds and reach 125 km/h. It was slow, however due to weight of only 602 kilograms HS had excellent braking power and was very easy to drive and did not even need power steering.
The engine runs on simple carburettors and pushrod top-end system and is all cast iron.
There are hard long life tyres installed to comply with quality of Yugoslavian roads as well the suspension was strengthened.
That’s all for RZ Hrvatska Sport, visit us at next review!
