Blanco Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 Prompted by Smego's comment in the Jimney thread I am reminded that I tried a while back to find one of Lada's finest as a temporary runabout, (small engine = cheap road tax over here) and failed miserably, did they really all get shipped back to Poland/Russia/Latvia etc.? I know they rusted badly but even so........ those that are left seem to command RRC money which seems well OTT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 I can't remember when I last saw one on the road. I imagine most have dissolved by now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 Same as the Ford Sierra, every man and his dog had one back in th 80's.... Haven't seen one anywhere for as long as i can remember!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 Betcha they're still making them in Russia if you can find someone to import one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 I saw an article about then recently but i can't remember whether it said they were still making them or they had just ceased production. Either way they've done well. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynic-al Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 There was a company still importing them a few years ago, they brought one to KORC for a photo shoot. Can't say I've seen one for a while though. There's a big insurance write off auction near where I work and a big proportion of those go to Eastern Europe so I wouldn't be surprised if they have gone that way, especially if they were a bit rusty as they could still make use of the mechanicals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickeyw Posted October 1, 2018 Share Posted October 1, 2018 Looks like it's still in production, largely unchanged. https://www.lada.ru/en/cars/4x4/3dv/about.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffR Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 There's one just driven past my house this morning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L19MUD Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 On 10/1/2018 at 1:06 PM, mickeyw said: Looks like it's still in production, largely unchanged. https://www.lada.ru/en/cars/4x4/3dv/about.html I like the 'Bronto' version translates to approx. £7k! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted October 2, 2018 Share Posted October 2, 2018 I think I'd go for an Uaz 469, Uaz 452 or Gaz 69 as they're far more common and waaaay cooler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanco Posted October 2, 2018 Author Share Posted October 2, 2018 Strewth, that uaz 452 takes me back, my Dad was looking for 'value' 4x4 tipper and some crowd in Glasgow was importing a civvy version, we went to look see, I must have been 11 or 12! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_CSK Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 On 10/1/2018 at 9:13 AM, Happyoldgit said: I can't remember when I last saw one on the road. I can answer that very easily. Yesterday. I am currently in Russia in the moutains aroud Sochi (was at the Grand Prix at the weekend). I even saw a long wheelbased version with 4 doors and thought to myself that looks different. The Lada brand is still very much alive in Russia it is just that it doesn't meet Western European emmissions. I will see if I can get some photos however I am starting my journey home this morning so don;t know what oportunites this will present. Certainly my (Russian) wife will be happier that I stop pointing out every Land Rover or Range Rover that I see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanco Posted October 3, 2018 Author Share Posted October 3, 2018 Well jealous of the GP, been a while since we did one,... shame about the Mercedes 'team' strategy on that one. Took the pleasure out of it for most I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 A mate of mine has been to the Lada factory on business, they are still making the original Lada there plus most of the others since! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallfry Posted October 3, 2018 Share Posted October 3, 2018 11 hours ago, Blanco said: Well jealous of the GP, been a while since we did one,... shame about the Mercedes 'team' strategy on that one. Took the pleasure out of it for most I think. Off Topic I know, but I think that was a disgrace. If I were Bottas, I would have resigned. We have a Niva belonging to a local landowner still about here. VERY tatty now though. I nearly bought a brand new one once, but changed my mind after a good test drive. S0 harsh and vibratory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanco Posted October 3, 2018 Author Share Posted October 3, 2018 The thing is I have always thought them too small for a daily drive, but I always saw potential in that littte divorced transfer box, I imagined that in my dotage (fast approaching) that there would be plenty rusty ones about as donors for projects, sadly it seems not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted October 4, 2018 Share Posted October 4, 2018 I owned two back in the '80's both bought secondhand and ran them alongside various Land Rovers. The SWB and coils ensured they were both capable enough offroad and always managed to carry a limited amount of gear to where I needed to be, I don't recall getting stuck once. The first was as rough of old boots on the road and this was mainly due to the shimming under the mounts of the transfer box. I managed to make the on road ride a little better by faffing with the shims, replacing the mounts and adjusting the location of the transfer box and checking everything else but it was never 100% right. A lot of the interior trim resembled vacuum formed yoghurt pots and was about as durable. The second Niva was a totally different kettle of fish in terms of harshness and vibration and was fairly smooth and quiet. Everything else was the same though, ghastly trim and quirky electrics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_CSK Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 On 10/3/2018 at 9:45 AM, Blanco said: Well jealous of the GP, been a while since we did one,... shame about the Mercedes 'team' strategy on that one. Took the pleasure out of it for most I think. Did the British in 94,95,96. After my first marriage I didn't get the chance however in 2016 with a Russian GF it was convient to meet in Budapest so we got the Hungarian Grand Prix. Last year before I was to fly to Moscow for my wedding (no 2) I was watching the Azerbijan (Dyslexic so no spelling comments please) and looked at the date for the next one. Turned out to be Austria on July 9th and I knew my honeymoon was in Austria until July 11th. Asked my soon to be wife if I/we could go and result as long as we were under a roof and only went on race day she agreed. She then let me take my youngest son to the British GP the following weekend. This year did the British then the Russian. Sorry about Bottas but team orders are team orders and I fully understand where Toto was coming from. Because Putin turned up (cavalcade passed right in front of us) I got a chance to go on to the track to see the award and champagne fight. Moving back to the Niva 🤣🤣 on the drive back to Sochi (30 miles) we followed a tricked up Niva but I didn't get the chance to get a photo. Again saw lots of them but couldn't get a photo. I have got a photo from the Sochi car meseum which I have posted along with some cracking cars. If you thought British Leyland made some cracking mistakes then you should certaily see the Russian efforts. BL were design gurus by comparision (That is my chance of any future Russian Visa gone) I was hoping to find one at the airport but the only thing I saw was a Freelander 2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_CSK Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_CSK Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_CSK Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_CSK Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 Sorry Mods for going off topic. But by showing it I am demonstrating how good Land Rovers really are. I'll get my coat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanco Posted October 5, 2018 Author Share Posted October 5, 2018 Great added interest, no problem with wandering OT, ...... so it seems likely that all the Nivas have gone back behind the rusty curtain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon_CSK Posted October 5, 2018 Share Posted October 5, 2018 Most of ours did. In the 90's after the collapse of the Iron Curtain people were importing rusty cars back for spares in Russia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted October 6, 2018 Share Posted October 6, 2018 @Simon_CSK Thanks for sharing 😊👍🏻 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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