Russian Classic Cars

Cold War Comrade: 1969 GAZ-69A

The Second World War made abundantly clear the huge advantage held by a truly mechanized military, and few machines demonstrated this as effectively as the humble Jeep. A light, four-wheel drive vehicle with a legendary reputation for durability, it… more»

Survivor Or Restored? 1954 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight

And now, time for something different. Not a barn find, not a muscle car, not a rare high dollar foreign wreck, not a custom, and not something indescribable. Nope, just a car, an ordinary mid-century four-door sedan in the… more»

1974 Moskvitch 408 Survivor

Since the end of the Cold War, more and more former Soviet Bloc cars have made their way westward. One such car was the Moskvitch 408. This specific example, a 1974 sedan-version, was imported from the Czech Republic a… more»

Not Seen Everyday: 2018 Christy Hovercraft

Lately, I’ve been thinking about alternative vehicles that would be interesting to own. I’ve never really been drawn to motorcycles and I worry about them fighting for space on our traffic-choked roads that are dominated by distracted drivers. Private… more»

Would You Drive It? 1991 Lada Samara 1500S

When it comes to model cycles, there was a world of difference between the philosophies of Western manufacturers and those of Communist countries. Where Western manufacturers generally approach these cycles on a 3-to-5 year basis, for countries such as… more»

WWII Survivor: GAZ-A Truck Rescue

A story appeared on Facebook recently with some fairly dramatic photos showing a river rescue of a Russian-built GAZ-A truck. The GAZ-A was a shameless copy of the iconic Ford Model-A, and this one was used in WWII as… more»

From Russia With Love: 1954 Moskvitch 400

It is amazing to consider that a nation like the Soviet Union could beat the rest of the World into space, but the mass production of the motor vehicle caused the country no end of confusion. The Moskvitch 400… more»

468 Genuine Miles! 1988 Yugo GV

Somewhere out there is a person who aspired to own a new Yugo GV back in 1988, but circumstances meant that they missed their chance. Well, fear not, because a second chance is now at hand. Barn Finder Roger… more»

No Jokes, I Promise: 1987 Yugo GV

The Yugo GV has spent the majority of its life being the butt of innumerable jokes, so I’ve decided to avoid them here. This Yugo was found in a storage locker, and the owner has done a fair amount… more»

Yugo Through Mud: 1988 Yugo GV

If your heart’s desire is to own something different in the way of an automobile, then have I got the car for you. This 1988 Yugo has been modified to compete in off-road rally competitions, and as a left-field,… more»

40k Original Miles: 1987 Yugo GV

Some cars are named by the manufacturer to reflect their characteristics or their intended purpose. The Mini and the Land Rover are good examples. Some are named for irony. A good example is the Cony Giant. It does seem… more»

1986 Yugo GV Garage Find With Only 1,803 Miles?

It’s hard to believe based on the photos, but the seller of this Yugo GV claims there’s just over 1,800 original miles on the clock. The information in the listing is scattered at best, and the current condition of… more»

Whole Lada Love: 1985 Lada Niva 4×4

I used to think that the Mercedes 300E that I had in the late-80s was special because it had headlight wipers, and then along comes a 1985 Lada Niva 4×4 that also has headlight wipers and it’s even older and much… more»

Russian Ride: 1987 SMZ S-3D

We have featured a couple of these unusual Soviet-era “invalid cars” here before at Barn Finds. Needless to say, they’re among the most unusual vehicles to be shown here, brought to you by the most unusual person here (me). Here’s… more»