Iconic Soviet cars collectors must have
What do the Sultan of Brunei, Jay Leno, Jamiroquai, Ralph Lauren, and Nick Mason of Pink Floyd have in common?
All these men are avid car collectors and are among the top collectors in the world. Their collection of Bugatti, Aston Martin, Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, Bentley, Jaguar, Mercedes, Rolls Royce, Lamborghini, Maserati, Corvette, Mustangs and the list goes on are worth a fortune.
The Sultan of Brunei alone has amassed a staggering 7,000 cars in his collection. Jay Leno counts a 1962 Volga GAZ-21, a Soviet antique car, in his collection of 286 vehicles.
Only a privileged few however can have an impressive car collection as these guys do. Don’t despair. Even without a fortune, people who are passionate about cars have collected cars that speak to their keen sense and eye for detail. And for some car collectors, collecting classic Soviet cars can be a pretty exciting hobby.
Soviet cars are mostly unfamiliar to Americans. They have unique designs. And if you’re getting into collecting them, unlike the cars collected by top collectors, Soviet cars do not cost a fortune. Vintage Soviet cars are novelty items and are definitely eye-catching and interesting conversation pieces. Plus, there are a variety of Soviet cars for sale to choose from.
Vintage, antique, classic: what’s the difference?
But before we get into those cars, here’s a quick note: did you know that vintage, antique, and classic actually mean different things? There is a general thinking that vintage, antique, and classic cars are all old cars. But a useful general guideline to determine whether a Soviet car is vintage, antique, or classic relates to the period of years when they were manufactured.
For example, a car is vintage if it was produced between 1919 – 1930. There is also such as thing as a post-vintage car. These were cars manufactured before 1945. This overlaps with an antique car or those that were manufactured prior to 1975. A classic car too might overlap with an antique car as it is understood to be a car that was manufactured before 1990.
If you are a car collector and might be interested in acquiring Soviet cars, these automobiles are worth a second look and are a great addition to your collection, whether they are vintage, classic, or antique.
Lada 2101 and Niva
The Lada is the ultimate symbol of the Soviet automotive industry. The first six Ladas were assembled and released to the public in 1970. Two were black and the rest were cherry red. Under the hood were 1.2-liter 64 HP engines.
Demand by the Soviets for the Lada was so huge that by 1973, a million cars were manufactured. But even then, it was hard enough to supply the growing demand for the popular car in the Soviet Union.
Lada cars were also exported to Yugoslavia and the United Kingdom. In the British market, the Lada had to be modified as a right-hand drive vehicle which nowadays is extremely rare. If you find one, that’s definitely something worth keeping!
Another iconic and enduring Lada model is the Lada Niva, the Soviet version of a sports utility vehicle (SUV). Manufactured beginning in 1977, the Lada Niva is a classic Soviet car that became one of the most popular vehicles among Soviets and many Europeans as well.
Including a Lada in your collection is a good choice. You might be wondering though if you will be able to find a Lada for sale since it’s not being produced anymore. Good news: it’s fairly easy to find a Lada car for sale or a Lada Niva for sale in the USA.
ZAZ Zaporozhets
The Zaporozhets, also called Zapos for short, became the Soviet people’s car. Produced from 1960 to 1994, the Zaporozhets became an iconic Soviet car, much like the Beetle for West Germany.
The first-generation Zapos were the models ZAZ 965 and 965A. The compact cars featured rounded bodywork with air intake on the sides for an air-cooled rear engine. It was a simple enough car that most Soviets who owned a Zapo learned how to service the vehicle themselves.
The second-generation Zaporozhets were the ZAZ 966 and 968. Both models had been trimmed down from the rounded body of the first generation 965. The Zapos now had distinct angular bodies. Compared to the 966, the 968 featured a more powerful engine.
The Zaporozhet is an antique Soviet car that has that distinct Soviet character to it. If you want to add it to your car collection, a quick online search will take you to sites that have Zaporozhets for sale in the USA.
Moskvich
Before the Zaporozhet became the Soviet people’s car, the most sought-after car was the Moskvich. Produced beginning in 1946 until the 1960s, the Moskvich was still quite expensive but was the first to be within reach of ordinary Soviets.
The earlier versions, Moskvich 400 and 401, were rounded and rather bulky automobiles. Still, they were well-equipped cars that were comfortable. The Moskvich 401 even got an engine upgrade with a higher-capacity motor. This car model was very popular and was also exported to other countries.
The Moskvich 407, the next-generation model, became a hit car for its manufacturer. It still featured a rounded body but it had a more modern stylish design with an even more powerful motor, capable of reaching a top speed of 115km/hr. The car was so popular not just in the Soviet but also in countries in Western Europe.
Another upgrade produced the Moskvich 408. It had a sleeker, more modern design that was very pleasing to the eye. Unlike its predecessors, the Moskvich 408 was more angular but it retained the comfort, power, and reliability of its predecessors. It continued the Moskvich tradition of popularity both in the Soviet Union and other European countries.
Volga
The Volga is a luxury car made for the Soviet elite. It was large, spacious, comfortable, and, of course, luxurious. Ordinary Soviets could not afford this car. It was mainly reserved for politicians and rich Soviets. Despite its limited market, orders for the Volga were reserved in advance and showed how popular it was to its elite market.
The Volga series began in 1956 with GAZ-21. It was used mainly by state officials and the cultural elites. Here’s a little trivia: the black Volga became synonymous with the KGB, more popularly known as Russia’s secret police. The GAZ 24-24 was one of the fastest cars with a top speed of 170kph and became very popular with State agents.
The Volga is one of the most enduring Soviet cars as production of the Volga Siber continued until 2010.
Add that iconic Soviet car to your collection today!
Whether you are searching for a vintage, antique, or classic Soviet car for your car collection, there’s only one place to look: here at Soviet Cars for Sale. Be it a Lada for sale in the USA or a Zaporozhet for sale that you want, we have it! And if you need parts, we have those too!
Let us know what you need – contact us anytime, and we’d be more than happy to help you!
