The MeMZ-965 was a Soviet automobile engine, built by the Melitopolski Motor Plant (MeMZ).
Originally known as the NAMI-G (for the Soviet National Automotive Institute),Thompson, Andy. Cars of the Soviet Union (Haynes Publishing, Somerset, UK, 2008), p.369. the MeMZ-965 was designed for use in the LuAZ-967.Thompson, p.90. It was a air-cooled 90° V4,ZAZ-965/965A, Avtolegendy SSSR Nr.17, DeAgostini 2009, ISSN 2071-095X, producing .Thompson, p.92. It had had characteristics not common for automobile engines, including a magnesium alloy engine block, accessories mounted high (to assist in case of crossing rivers), and a rear-mounted oil cooler.
When the initial MD-65 engine proposed for the ZAZ-965 proved inadequate, the MeMZ engine was selected, thanks in part to it being air-cooled, like the successful VW Type 1's boxer engine.Thompson, p.89. It would be developed into the MeMZ-966Thompson, p.200. and the MeMZ-968.Thompson, p.201.
The MeMZ-968 was offered in the ZAZ-968M in three performance levels: MeMZ-968E (, carbureted, low-compression for 76-octane fuel); MeMZ-968GE (, dual carburettor); or MeMZ-968BE (, 8.4:1 compression, for 93-octane).Thompson, p.203.
In addition, the MeMZ-965 would serve as a prototype vee-twin (half an MeMZ-965), for the prototype NAMI 086.
Applications: LuAZ-967 ZAZ-969 ZAZ-965 ZAZ-965A ZAZ-966 ZAZ-968 ZAZ-968M
Notes
Sources Thompson, Andy. Cars of the Soviet Union. Somerset, UK: Haynes Publishing, 2008. ZAZ-965/965A, Avtolegendy SSSR Nr.17, DeAgostini 2009. ISSN 2071-095X.