Friday 23rd September 2011

SOTW: Lada Niva Cossack

They called it the Russian Range Rover. Apparently...

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We're used to thinking that consumer products which sprang from the other side of the Iron Curtain as backward, slipshod affairs that lag behind their more sophisticated Western counterparts.

This is especially true of the Eastern Bloc and Russian cars that trickled across the ideological divide during the 20th century. And if you're looking at Lada Rivas, Samaras, Yugos, FSO Polonezes and the like you'd have to say that the preconception stands up. These are, without exception, miserable cars.

But the Lada Niva is different. We would even go so far as to say it was ahead of its time. When it was launched in 1977 it was AvtoVAZ's (Lada's) first design that wasn't based on a Fiat. So, although it carried many Fiat mechanicals, the body, 4WD system and front suspension were Lada's own.

Most significant was the fact that this was one of the first mass-produced 4x4s to feature unibody construction and independent front suspension in a compact body, thereby making itself the precursor to the modern soft-roader.

There was (we should say 'is' as the car is actually still in production) nothing 'soft' about the Niva, however - this is a car that was designed to withstand Russian winters, so it's pretty much as tough and durable as they come.

It was even quite popular in the UK for a while, especially 'Cossack' models such as this, which were tarted-up by the importers with body decals, 15-inch alloys, and even occasionally a sunroof and bull bars (as here).

These days, the numbers of Nivas left alive in the UK have dwindled somewhat (How Many Left? suggests that there are fewer than 100 trundling around), and the vendor's alarming admission that jacking the car up has caused one of the sills to disintegrate implies that rot may be a possible cause for that, but as an automotive off-road curiosity this 49k-miler is still pretty intriguing.

Although it is possibly telling that the seller would consider a part-exchange of a Land Rover...

Advert is reproduced below

lada niva cossack (1991)
49,000 miles £900

white alloys, bull barr, crank handle,
The car is taxed until next year and mot until sept 2012,There are some bad point it dose has rust in a few places eg.front wings and now drivers side sil,
It needs a rear wheel bearing and now some welding work on the sil because i jack it up and the jack went in a bit.

[johnpeat]

Oh dear...

At least you could actually use it AS a Shed I suppose?

[johnpeat]

On the topic of (ex) Monster Trucks, someone locally has taken to using an old Nissan pickup as his daily which has clearly been a semi-monster at some point (it has about 18" of suspension travel but almost 'normal' wheels now!!).

It's rusty and battered and he pootles around town in it - but the NOISE - I cannot fully explain the NOISE! You can hear this thing coming from maybe 1.5miles away in the day and probably 3miles at night - in that time he'll use a gallon of fuel I guess.

It's a weird sort of cool and it's evading my attempts to get a pic (or better, a video!!)

[johnpeat]

300bhp/ton said:

And I think that sums it up fully. It does exactly what is says on the tin, nothing more, nothing less.

That's not untrue BUT there are some issues (which are largely shared with the Defender tbh)

The interior is cramped in a way which defies belief - I've NO idea what shape the designer and his family and friends were but they were NOT regular 'walk on 2 legs' humans

The fitments are basic in a "will snap/drop off or simply not work at all" way - and the endearing side of that wears-off quite quickly

A mate used to have a Niva and a Fourtrak but offroad funs and, at the end of the day, the Niva was used for pulling the Fourtrak out of really bad holes and then everyone would get back into the Fourtrak

[johnpeat]

plasticpig said:

You can buy them new in the UK for £11K. I quite fancy one and can't think of another proper 4x4 that can be had for £11K brand new.

Oh my...

Color: "Depths of the Sea" - for once I think they may not be kidding

"Mechanical Warranty" - for as long as you own the vehicle. There are some farmers who'll be holding them to that in 2035...

and it's £8-and-a-bit as a 2-seat CDV (no VAT)!! - http://www.markkey.co.uk/nivavan.html