I always wanted one of these back in the 80's when they were being imported into Canada. They still had a back up hand crank start! But they were just like the Ural, WWID (what would Ivan do) when it comes to repairs, the first tool is the big hammer. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/glob...sia-in-a-lada-bring-a-hammer/article16922297/
I drove one once when I was stationed in Germany. A friend had an early 80s model that was still running. It was much akin to the Ural, and I liked it in a bastard child sort of way. Sent from the voices in my head and transcribed by their drinking buddy...
Don't bash those Lada's. They were very popular in the wooded hills with farmers and gamekeepers. Way better than all the competition combined and cheaper too. What else would one expect from a car that came with a button on the dash reading vodka.
My old man was a Lada dealer way back when. He had them as a sideline amongst his other franchised brands. He sold the Lada Niva for a few years until they were dropped as an import here in Australia. I had the pleasure of taking a mate's Lada for a 'test drive', and it was surprising where it would go with very little trouble or effort. Yes, the Uralist's 'other' transport!
My buddy and I would go to our local car show back in the early to mid nineties. This was the car that would always get me going.. Why, because I was cheap, it was cheap and it actually looked decent.. I think back then it cost 9-12K$ Cdn. They rusted to shit everything was loose, but man it had character! (hmmm character and hammers are great bed fellows) However my JK doesnt need a hammer.....
