In 1951 Peltser’s bureau was taken under NAMI wing and became known as NAMI speed cars laboratory. The car, further modified, has also got a new name – Zvezda M NAMI, which got an additional figure in front of ‘M’ depending on engine installed at the moment. 1M index has been given to a car with a new 5P engine – 368cc unit giving out 64hp at 7000rpm and built for racing in 500cc category, the modification for 250cc category with a 246cc engine – 2P capable of 43hp at 7500rpm was called 2M, and finally Zvezda 3M NAMI was a version with a good old 342cc 3P. Apart from two new engines, much time was spent in attempts to increase the reliability of the car.
First start of the new modification took place on May 3, 1952. The car has been entrusted to Alexey Ambrosenkov, NAMI tester, who became a new permanent Zvezda driver. On a 246cc 2M version he ran 156,589kph on a 50 kilometer distance and set up a record for this distance. On May, 17 a 342cc car has exceeded 200kph with a speed of 204,54kph – a new absolute USSR record. May, 28, Zvezda 2M NAMI, 1 kilometer distance and another record in 250cc category – 164,684kph with a flying start, later that day improved to 175,524kph, which was higher than a similar International record. On July, 15 Ambrosenkov on 2M has achieved 189,474kph on 1 kilometer, flying start and 177,389kph on 5 kilometer distance again with a flying start. Next day another record came – 103,836kph on a 3M with a dead start on 1 kilometer distance.
