February 16: Happy Birthday UAZ 452!

Here's one vehicle that the Chinese won't copy........

These are pics of an old Russian van that came out in 1958. Special? Depends on how you look at it. It was a true 4x4, but that's not its claim to fame. Actually it's not bad looking for a van way back sixty years ago. Just your standard van design that looks like a loaf of bread. So much so, that the slang name for it in Russian is bukhanka, the "loaf".

Interesting in that this van is still made in Russia. Want to see the new one?

Surprise, surprise. Basically the same as the one from '58 and therein lies its claim to fame. The good old "loaf" is now sixty years old with the same design and underpinnings for all those many years. With all the positive changes in Russian vehicles since the early '90's, the old UAZ 452 is still trucking (vanning?) right along with its tough as nails, go anywhere reputation.

A few GAZ 452's in working guise........

The military and the local police services love these tough little vehicles. When I was in Russia in 2015, old Communist era cars were scarce, but of course, the place was crawling with loaves. And not just as vans, as these trucks are made in a variety of configurations......

Why opt for a modern family van when you can indulge in pre-glasnost nostalgia with a family oriented loaf at your disposal........

Ah, this is the life, away from the prying eyes of Putin's thugs in your go anywhere UAZ 452. And with this being a true 4x4, I do mean go anywhere, but there are always exceptions. Such as when Dmitri fails to comprehend the word "limitations", but maybe that open bottle of Russia's finest explains it.......

So let's celebrate the 60th birthday of the intrepid little UAZ 452. Maybe take that exciting cross country trip you've been planning and share this little suv's longevity with the world...........

"We don't need no stinkin' highways, comrade!"

Until next time.......