Solved: GTE 491 - GAZ-M20 based special by the Soviet Armed Forces, 1956

[Oguerrerob]

команды Вооруженных сол (Armed Force Team) at Molotov Plant?

[gte4289]

команды Вооруженных сол (Armed Force Team) at Molotov Plant?

Well found!

This is a GAZ-M20 Pobeda-based special (ASC/ACK/автомобиль спортивный самодельный/homemade sports car) built by the Soviet Armed Forces, which competed in the USSR Motor Racing Championship in 1956, 1957, and 1958 as follows:

1956 September 8
Drivers: A. Scherbakov and A. Nazarov
6th place

1957 September 8
Drivers: Dmitry Borisov and Anatoly Avdeev
1st place

1958 September 7
Drivers: Anatoly Avdeev and Nikolai Gerasimov
Race #20
3rd place

The puzzle photo was taken at the 1956 event.

By the way, you can see that the car lost its central headlight at some point during the race, presumably removed to provide access for the insertion of a panel to block the radiator. But in September? Do Russian winters really start that early?

[Oguerrerob]

Thank you!!