In motion by Richard Webb
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cars were only available to top professionals, party oďŹƒcials, scientists, by looking back to 1906
when a Russian engineer, Boris Lutskoy assembled Mercedes cars
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academics, other VIPs and of course, the feared KGB. Curiously, citizens were only allowed to rent Chaikas for weddings.
1 Lada 2 Renault 3 Chevrolet 4 Kia 5 Hyundai
6 Volkswagen 7 Nissan 8 Toyota 9 Ford 10 Skoda
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See previous page to view the R14,7m Impression.
for the Russian market. Around that same time another car ‒ the
In later years, a proletariat special was available in the form of a
pride of Russia ‒ the Russo-Balt was made from entirely foreign
Moskvitch (meaning Muscovite). Produced between 1945 and 2002,
parts. (see side bar). The October revolution of 1917 created a
this unlovely car was basically an Opel Kadette straight o the their
To mark its 100th anniversary, the Russian Russo-Balt brand
convenient Russian myth that all things had been invented in
production line and formed part of WWII reparations. Moskvitch cars
is said to be returning to the market with this coupe,
Russia. Revolutionary communists considered Russia to be the most
were never meant to be a fashion statement, but were stubbornly
the Impression. The Russian revolution brought an end to the
progressive country in the world. This led to indulgent plagiarism
sturdy, reliable and aordable. The 1960s and early 1970s were their
production with only three complete examples still surviving.
and ten years later, the very ďŹ rst Soviet car, the NAMI-1, a blatant
glory days, when the cars were exported to many countries
copy of the Czech Tatra-11 was available.
throughout the world. Bizarrely, the demand always exceeded
Central African wood, Zebrano. Mechanical bits from a
The dash is hand-made from one single piece of exotic
In 1929, with America hit by The Great Depression , Chevrolet
production, giving them cachĂŠ. The fall of the centralised Soviet
Mercedes CL63 AMG will help it drive reasonably, one
and Ford halved their production. Both ďŹ rms oered their
economy and subsequent below-par quality, coupled with inadequate
suspects, but at R14,7m, don t expect to see one on the N1.
production skills to the Soviet government and the GAZ badged
management ultimately brought the factory to bankruptcy.
Or on any other road, for that matter.
Ford cars were ďŹ rst to leave the factory in December 1932. These Soviet Fords bombed due to the lack of a boot and roof.
To this day the factory remains idle and abandoned, everything left
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as it was in 2002. UnďŹ nished bodyshells remain on the production line
Over time, most Soviet leaders, including Leonid Brezhnev,
in various stages of completion, while furniture, computers, oďŹƒce
travelled in locally designed and produced ZiL cars. After the collapse
supplies, and documents remain in the plant s administration building.
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of the Soviet Union the factory was practically shut down. They now
Next up, the Lada brand became extremely popular in Russia and
currently produce a handful of limousines for the Russian government
Eastern Europe during the last two decades of the Soviet era, it was
each year. If you really must have a ZIL, be prepared to pay similar
a symbol of city life. Lada made its name by selling the Fiat 124 in
that a monk, Isidore, created the ďŹ rst vodka recipe inside the
money to a Rolls Royce, Bentley or Aston Martin. Best not to bother.
large quantities during the 1980s. It used outdated technology, had
Kremlin in 1430. Since then, choice has grown to a dizzying
The Chaika (which means gull ) ultimately was the car favored by
poor fuel economy and horrid roadholding, but it gained popularity
30,000 brands if you include bootleg varieties. Russian car
Kremlin oďŹƒcials, Soviet heads of state, and senior KGB oďŹƒcers. To
thanks to its ruggedness, spacious interior, massive boot and low
brands have gone the opposite direction, dwindling to a
the average Russian, though, these cars became sinister symbols of
price, a particular consideration during the recession of the 1980s.
handful of indigenous makes. Some Vodkas are preposterously expensive like Russo-
the terrible power of the state. The large rear seat made it easy for
From 1979 Lada produced the Niva, a four-wheel drive vehicle,
the KGB to simply pull up beside their citizens drag them into the
which was signiďŹ cantly cheaper than its rivals. The Renault-Nissan
Baltique? It lays claim to being the worlds most expensive
car and take them on a trip to who knows where.
alliance recently agreed to take a controlling stake in Lada so its
Vodka, costing a stupendous $1.3 million per bottle.
Nikita Sergeyevich Khruschev, who led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War, was known to have two Chaikas for oďŹƒcial
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future looks brighter. Today, 95% of Kremlin oďŹƒcials use foreign cars assembled in Russia.
The Vodka comes in a ask shaped like a replica of the radiator grill on Russo-Balt cars. Made from gold
duties and one for his summer retreats. Russian policy dictated that
Ford, GM, Fiat and other foreign carmakers are conďŹ dent about Russia
coins minted between 1908 and 1912,
the oďŹƒcial cars were destroyed at the end of their duty cycle, so very
as they clamour to build new factories and revamp the old ones.
around the time the company manufactured its ďŹ rst car, the ask cap is
few survive today. The Mark 1 Chaika was produced from 1959 to
Foreign cars assembled in Russia accounted for 40 percent of their
1981 and was a direct clone of the 1955 Packard Patrician. The 5.5L V8
new car sales last year. Consisting mostly of vehicles from either the
made from white and yellow gold. It
engine wheezed out just 145 kW and mustered only 158km/h. These
Hyundai plant outside St. Petersburg, Renaults from Moscow,
contains a diamond-encrusted replica
Volkswagens from outside Kaluga or Chevrolet Nivas from Tolyatti.
of the Russian Imperial Eagle.
Top to Bottom: ZIS-110 was a limousine from ZIL introduced in 1946 which was developed from the reverse engineering of a 1942 Packard Super Eight during 1944. GAZ-13 Chaika. The Moskvitch 412. The Lada Niva
Directives have been issued from State bureaucracy that oďŹƒcial
The bottle itself is made of
vehicles should be manufactured on Russian soil. The appetite,
bulletproof glass 30
however, for glamorous European brands will have this directive
centimeters thick, so not a
take some beating.
single precious drop will
It would seem that there s a far greater appetite for evolution
escape if you are caught in any
rather than revolution regarding their own Russian vehicles, in this
crossďŹ re. Splendidly ridiculous.
day and age. 4 www.topsatspar.co.za
SepÂŚOct 2012 Vol 02
SepÂŚOct 2012 Vol 02
www.topsatspar.co.za 5