THE BEGINNING - THE 1947 ARVA SERIES P20 “NACHALNYK”
1947 ARVA P21
The first model in the P20 series was the 1947 P21 4 door sedan. A somewhat more compact model than the earlier Vaughn based models, this was of course still considered a luxury, for the chosen few that was a little more equal than the others…
That also meant that for an Archanan car, not only was the semi-ponton styling amazingly modern for 1947, they had not spared on ornamentation either, with chrome and whitewalls.
Technology was on a rather “normal” level for 1947, with a ladder frame, independent front suspension, and a leaf sprung rear axle.
The engine was a 2.4 litre OHV 4 cylinder, that on the low grade archanan fuel managed a modest power output of 56 hp. Rumours said that it was just a Vaughn inline 6 with two cylinders lopped off, but truth is that even though bore and stroke was kept from the earlier Vaughn powered models, there was hardly any parts interchangeability between the engines.
The gearbox was a floor shifted 3 speed manual, with synchromesh on the two top gears.
This first year P21 could be had in either black with a green/yellow interior, or grey with a red/grey interior. More alternatives was going to be offered later on.
Even the interior styling was fully up to date for 1947, and it even offered luxuries such as a radio and heater.
Even though the interior of course was a bit cramped for six people, bench seats meant that after all you could still fit them.
This was before the vinyl era, so of course the interior was finished entirely in cloth.
The P21 is maybe the most important model in the history of ARVA - the first totally independent development, and the first one to gain any production numbers to speak of.