Just about the whole lot manufactured within the Soviet Union was stouter however cruder than their Western counterparts. Immediately’s Good Worth or No Cube GAZ-69 permits us to expertise that firsthand. We’ll must see simply how a lot of a capitalist one would must be to purchase it.
Having a fecal-ton of mileage underneath its belt isn’t all that problematic when the automobile in query is an outdated Volvo just like the 1985 245DL we checked out yesterday. Extra elements in that Swedish wagon’s favor had been its guide gearbox and a respectably low $3,600 asking value. All collectively, that resulted in a stable 82 % Good Worth win.
Within the aftermath of WWII, efforts had been undertaken by nations across the globe to revive their economies, and a big a part of that was rebuilding the transportation infrastructure to engender native and cross-border commerce. To that finish, many international locations’ automobile producers launched small, fuel-efficient vehicles, which gave us the likes of the Fiat 500, BMW Isetta, and Citroën 2CV.
In Russia, one of many first post-war vehicles was the GAZ M20 Pobeda (Victory), constructed by the Gorky Avto Zazod (Gorky Automobile Manufacturing unit) in Nizhny Novgorod, situated within the Volga area of central Russia. Out of that automobile was developed a 4X4 truck referred to as the GAZ-69, which was supposed to function the Soviet Army’s main light-duty all-terrain utility. Manufacturing of the GAZ-69 started in 1953 and resulted in 1972. Throughout that run, manufacturing shifted to UAZ (Ulyanovsky Avtomobilny Zavod) in 1956, however the truck nonetheless stored the GAZ identify.
This 1972 GAZ-69 pickup is from that remaining 12 months of UAZ manufacturing and is claimed to have had a frame-off restoration “a few years in the past.” In response to the outline within the advert, it has been in storage in a transport container for greater than a decade since. Nonetheless, seeing as these had been designed to be military-tough, there most likely wasn’t a lot degradation over that point whereas squirreled away.
With its canary over black two-tone paint scheme, it actually presents as extra of a classic farm truck than a army truck, however that’s only a skinny patina over a rough-hewn base. This one does have Volvo seats and, surprisingly sufficient, a Sony stereo, so driving it gained’t precisely be like bare-backing a Kalashnikov, but it surely ought to provide many of the anticipated expertise.
Energy for the 69 (and sure, that quantity won’t ever not be humorous), is made by a 2.1-liter fuel 4 mated to a three-speed guide gearbox and two-speed (excessive/low) switch case. The 4WD system is rudimentary however efficient, and with simply 55 horsepower on faucet, it’s most likely extra enjoyable to slog this GAZ offroad than right-lane it down the freeway.
Both of these actions must wait as the vendor notes that the brake grasp has been yanked out because of a leak, making the truck unsafe (and even much less protected, relying in your viewpoint) to drive. Amazingly, brake masters are available on eBay and are comparatively low cost in addition. On the plus aspect, this GAZ does include a clear title, and the vendor’s boast that it rides higher than any modern Jeep. The asking value is $7,000.
What can we consider this bizarre, and weirdly great, Soviet-era 4X4 and that $7,000 value of possession entry? Does that really feel like a good deal to 4X4 the Borscht Belt? Or is it too oddball to ask that a lot?
You resolve!
Portland, Oregon, Craigslist, or go right here if the advert disappears.
H/T to Invoice Wright for the hookup!
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