Soviet cars of the 80s imported to the uk

[Clifford Chambers]

I remember the Lada, and FSO, wasn't there another brand too?

Racking my brain.

[bristolracer]

Moskovich, and Skoda was also an iron curtain export

[andrewcliffe]

Moskvich?

[Clifford Chambers]

Thanks yes Moskvitch that's the fella Thx.

In the 70s a college pal had a production racing lada (I think) apparently quite competitive. I always hankered after a Ural Cossack.

Edited by Clifford Chambers on Tuesday 16th February 21:31

[finlo]

Clifford Chambers said:

I remember the Lada, and FSO, wasn't there another brand

Racking my brain.

FSO are Polish.

Edited by finlo on Tuesday 16th February 23:30

[Mk_berks]

Wartburg 2 stroke.

[plasticpig]

The Tatra 613 was also imported to the UK. IiRC there were a few RHD models produced but it didn’t sell at all.

[pidsy]

Someone posted in the yearning for unusual cars thread - it was a link to a website selling and importing Russian brands into the UK today. There was some interesting stuff on there.

I’ll try and find it.

Found it:

http://www.madeinrussia.cz/en/cars-for-immediate-s...

New Lada anyone?

[finlo]

Wartburg were German and Tatra were Czechoslovakian!

[plasticpig]

finlo said:

Wartburg were German and Tatra were Czechoslovakian!

Soviet does not equal Russia. East Germany and Czechoslovakia were both part of the Soviet bloc. If someone had said Yugo you would have a point.

[Bigends]

My dad had a brand new Moskvich M reg. They were a popular import for a while but following publicity over some brake problems - sales plummeted

Edited by Bigends on Tuesday 16th February 23:02

[anonymous-user]

If you're interested in Soviet cars this book is a "must have",
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cars-Soviet-Union-Definit...

[CanAm]

Clifford Chambers said:

Thanks yes Moskvitch that's the fella Thx.

In the 70s a college pal had a production racing lada (I think) apparently quite competitive. I always hankered after a Ural Cossack.

Edited by Clifford Chambers on Tuesday 16th February 21:31

I think that was the era when the classes in Production Saloon racing were based on list price. Being dirt cheap, the Moskvitch had a much bigger engine than British/European saloons in the same class.

[MikeT66]

pidsy said:

Someone posted in the yearning for unusual cars thread - it was a link to a website selling and importing Russian brands into the UK today. There was some interesting stuff on there.

I’ll try and find it.

Found it:

http://www.madeinrussia.cz/en/cars-for-immediate-s...

New Lada anyone?

There's some fantastic cars on there. Particularly love the 3-dood Nivas...



...and the UAZ 2206 AMC...



I'm sure I read from a poster on PHs that those Nivas are incredibly capable in poor terrain. I just might worry a little about crash protection, but if this year has taught me anything it is (in the words of Shawshank Redemption) 'get busy living, or get busy dying'.

[Tyre Smoke]

MZ motorcycles, Simson motorcycles, shame they never officially exported Trabants to the UK, but they did send them all over the Eastern Bloc.

Dacia were imported after Renault bought them. FSO Polonez (Polish Fiats) and Zastava Yugo from err, Yugoslavia were also brought over.

[AlecT]

Lada are owned by Renault now, I believe.

[EthanSmale]

plasticpig said:

Soviet does not equal Russia. East Germany and Czechoslovakia were both part of the Soviet bloc. If someone had said Yugo you would have a point.

The German Democratic Republic and Czechoslovakia were Soviet? They may have been under Soviet influence but were sovereign states, like Yugoslavia or Romania

[plasticpig]

EthanSmale said:

plasticpig said:

Soviet does not equal Russia. East Germany and Czechoslovakia were both part of the Soviet bloc. If someone had said Yugo you would have a point.

The German Democratic Republic and Czechoslovakia were Soviet? They may have been under Soviet influence but were sovereign states, like Yugoslavia or Romania

I said Soviet Bloc. That's just another term for Eastern Bloc or Communist Bloc: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/soviet-bloc#:~:t...

[Clifford Chambers]

CanAm said:

Clifford Chambers said:

Thanks yes Moskvitch that's the fella Thx.

In the 70s a college pal had a production racing lada (I think) apparently quite competitive. I always hankered after a Ural Cossack.

Edited by Clifford Chambers on Tuesday 16th February 21:31

I think that was the era when the classes in Production Saloon racing were based on list price. Being dirt cheap, the Moskvitch had a much bigger engine than British/European saloons in the same class.

Yes that's it, probably a Moskvitch mid 70s. Not sure he ever raced it but a cool thing in college, complete with 4 point harness and a roll cage.

My dad had a pit in his garage, so the lad came round one day to do a gearbox or clutch swap.

[pidsy]

MikeT66 said:

pidsy said:

Someone posted in the yearning for unusual cars thread - it was a link to a website selling and importing Russian brands into the UK today. There was some interesting stuff on there.

I’ll try and find it.

Found it:

http://www.madeinrussia.cz/en/cars-for-immediate-s...

New Lada anyone?

There's some fantastic cars on there. Particularly love the 3-dood Nivas...



...and the UAZ 2206 AMC...



I'm sure I read from a poster on PHs that those Nivas are incredibly capable in poor terrain. I just might worry a little about crash protection, but if this year has taught me anything it is (in the words of Shawshank Redemption) 'get busy living, or get busy dying'.

Particularly like the Putin edition Niva.

I’d be very tempted if there was some back up in the UK although presumably they’re not complex machines.