The Soviet Union may have disappeared 30 years ago, but some of its industrial legacy is still current. Nothing can best the (sole) Antonov 225’s ability to ferry bulky cargo, no international space program could do without the R-7 rocket, no assault rifle can rival the AK-47 in terms of ruggedness or popularity. In the automotive realm, the Lada Niva is still with us, as is the UAZ-469. But the oldest four-wheeled legacy product, clocking at 55 years and counting, is the UAZ-452.
Aside from the Niva, the common thread among all these (AK-47, An-225, R-7, UAZ-452 & 469), beyond a penchant for hyphenated alphanumerics, is a close link to the military. Our feature bread-loaf van’s olive drab paintwork is not an accident. But I guess the Jeep, fly-by-wire jetliners, GPS and the very Internet itself are basically fortunate by-products of the West’s military-industrial complex as well…
The UAZ-452 van, produced since 1966, was a mild revamp of the 450, made between 1958 and 1966. The UAZ-450 was the first home-grown forward-control design made in the USSR, but the AWD chassis was a known quantity, being that of the GAZ-69 army AWD vehicle (topmost in illustration above). There was also a 451 version, which was a 2WD variant.
The UAZ-450/451/452 family came in four basic models: a minibus (bottom left, an early model 452), a van (colloquially known in Russia as Bukhanka, or “bread loaf,” seen top right as an early production model 450), an ambulance (a.k.a. Tabletka – “pill,” seen top left in the 450’s rather baroque prototype guise, circa 1955) and a pickup (Golovastik – “tadpole,” bottom right, 451 exported to Finland).
In 1985, the whole nomenclature was revised, just like it was for other Soviet vehicle lines, by a four-number system. The basic minibus became UAZ-2206, the pickup became UAZ-3303, the civilian ambulance became UAZ-3962 and so on. Time may have changed some details, but basically the UAZ’s early ‘50s chassis was not messed with.
Probably because it was sturdy enough to do the job… The old 2.4 litre GAZ 4-cyl., also used on the Volga saloons, was ditched some time ago. Present-day UAZ-452s use a 2.7 litre DOHC 4-cyl. that produces a reasonable 117hp.
What we have here is a six-seater minibus with a rear cargo area (rated at 500kg), which makes it the UAZ-3909. This version has been imported to Japan (in minute but constant quantities, apparently) since 2005, along with the 2206 9-passenger minivan. These four-digit model names are a bit too varied and confusing though, so let’s stick to the “452” model name.
The UAZ-452 has a small but loyal following here, so much so that a kit exists to make your white rice Suzuki Every look like the tasty Russian loaf. I’ve seen the kit version more often than the genuine article, but that’s to be expected – Japanese folks are justifiably wary of the quality of Russian-made vehicles. On the other hand, they know that Korean cars are as good as Japanese ones, so you never see those either, but for diametrically opposite reasons.
But judging from my limited and necessarily subjective experience, having only been in this country a couple years, the probability of finding Soviet metal is magnitudes higher than finding a Korean car. This is the third Russian vehicle I’ve spotted in Japan, but I have yet to see a Hyundai here. But then, Russian cars have the advantage of being both exotic and iconic, whereas a Kia would just blend into the crowd.
The rear compartment sure looks cozy, but I suppose it’s been improved upon by its owner. The HVAC on the side there, though, is completely stock and probably only has two settings: hot and very hot.
This particular loaf’s interior has had a few non-standard mods (e.g. the steering wheel), but the basic layout still has a positively Khrushchevian atmosphere. That’s a compliment, by the way. They did change a few bits and bobs on this thing over the decades, but really, very little of consequence.
That applies equally to the exterior, of course. One notable novelty is this side indicator, perched way up there. It doesn’t appear to have been included in the original design, but sprouted in place sometime in the past couple of decades as if it always should have been there.
The UAZ-452 also retains several properly antediluvian features, such as the non-overlapping handclap wipers, harking back to the ’58 design when the windshield still had a partition. Talk about vestigial!
Going back to the rear end, I’m not sure what that reflector/light thing on the roof is for exactly. If it’s a third stop light, it sure looks like they found one designed back in 1970 or so. Either it’s prescient, or it’s a cunning bit of recycling. Seems there’s a camera of some kind up there too. Wired straight up to the KGB, no doubt.
The oldest bit of the UAZ AWD design is the chassis, which is fast approaching 70 years of age. If any vehicle is going to beat the VW Type 1’s longevity record, it’s probably going to be a tough-as-nails Soviet 4×4 like this one. Quite fitting, as the UAZ factory was founded in 1941 as a direct result of the German invasion – some of which came via Kübelwagen. It’s the loaf of bread and butterfly effect.
Related posts:
Cohort Pic(k) Of The Day: UAZ-452 – Model Year Sometime Between 1958 And 2021 – A Living Dinosaur, by PN
Curbside Classic: 2017 UAZ-469 Hunter Classic Jubilee Edition – From Russia With Gloves, by T87
It’s funny that you chose this UAZ to profile today because UAZ in partnership with an Italian company called Bremach are bringing modified for the USA UAZ Patriot SUVs and trucks to sell. Apparently, parts will be delivered to CA to avoid the dreaded “chicken tax” and final assembly will happen there in CA, USA.
https://www.thedrive.com/news/43307/uaz-in-the-usa-rugged-russian-suv-will-be-sold-here-for-around-26k
I have an incredibly hard time believing the Patriot will be able to pass any sort of US crash testing standards and/or not receive some kind of horrific 0/5 star rating. And for the purported price of $26k…. yeesh I’d rather just hunt down a used Xterra or something if I wanted a new-ish rough and tumble midsize SUV (assuming a 4Runner is simply too polished and nice), and not deal with UAZ “quality,” now with the added complexity of their attempts to modernize it with some electronic safety aids and various cheesy interior bits. I’d rather someone import the basic 469 style Jeep and sell it as a dedicated offroader ala Roxor.
Wow, I can’t believe that I’m the only person excited about the Bremachs. It’s everything the Jalops claim they want.
Body-on-frame, manual transmission, SUV or truck with low bed. Probably the closest thing to the Chevy S-10 and Blazer twins in the US since 2004. Loaded with modern tech sourced mostly from GM and Bosch for $26K. I think that is an awesome deal!
I hope someone starts a business swapping the 4-cyl for a V8 though. That’s the holy grail for me. If somebody can do the whole swap and keep total cost under $30K, I’m in! Just remind me to immediately vinyl wrap it in brown to (hopefully) prevent rust and spring for the undercoating. LOL.
Pictured for comparison 2000-2004 Chevy S-10 Crew Cab.
Believe me when I say those older S10s were vastly better engineered and built than any UAZ, that that any way you wish lol
@gtemnykh I’ve been around enough S10s to say they’re probably the closest thing to Soviet build quality you can get from a domestic maker, especially on the interior front. Never had random handles and switches snap off in any other car, except an S10
Sometimes a man just wants a hammer, and when he wants a hammer, he doesn’t want anything fancy…in fact sometimes something as simple as a brick will do the job.
These remain incredibly popular in the Russian “glubinka” (“deep” rural area). They combine maximum utility and maximum repairability, at minimum cost. What you don’t get? Quality. Assembly quality is notoriously awful, in particular the welding on the body, and the fantastically poor corrosion resistance. It needs to “ripen” with its new owner after it comes home from the dealership. IE keeping a close eye for loose bolts, fluid leaks, smells, adding additional rustproofing and splash shields. They are from an era of the Soviet understanding of car ownership where the owner is expected to be his own mechanic and knows his way around every bit and bolt on the car. I love ’em.
I’ve long wondered why anyone used non-overlapping handclap wipers when they don’t seem to have any price advantage over parallel or overlapping wipers, and leave a large unwiped area in the middle of the windshield. it never occurred to me they were leftovers from when split windshields were the norm.
I think Ive had one possibly two cars with hand clap wipers both were PA series Vauxhall Veloxes overlapping wipers were one of the upgrades for 1962 and I had 60 & 61 models nothing else in a hundred or so cars spring to mind
It’s interesting that there seems to never have been a 2wd “bukhanka” for use as a city delivery van. There also never seems to have been an RAF cargo van, at that.
In a planned economy that probably would have put it in competition with another vehicle – can’t have competition, that’s Western….. 😉
A couple of months ago I visited a buddy in Kiev. The number of UAZs in use was
a treat, along with vintage and modern Ladas, etc. I like my vehicles basic, and wish
that modern equivalents were available in the states. By that I mean a simple, rugged
platform that meets emissions and crash standards, but lacks the electronic gingerbread
that encrusts things nowadays.
I like this basic truck too .
I wonder if it’d be any good as a dune or remote tourist attraction : go bounding through the forest or dunes…
The CHMSL is a real relic ~ it dates back to the WWII German Motocycles and is still sold to enthusiasts who use them on their hobby Dnpirs and Urals, really tiny and unless you use an LED bulb pretty much useless if cute .
Notice it has a bottom window to illuminate the license tag .
I also like the GAZ-69 Jeep looking thing, if you get the chance, look at the dashboard ~ the gauge holding stamping is from the Ford ‘A’ model plant Henry built and they never paid for .
-Nate
Got to love it.
But it’ll never quite beat the Beetle in longevity as its modern engine rather disqualifies it, in relative terms.
Right now it is possible to buy these breads street legal in the EU. There is an importer in the Netherlands who would load it with nice camper van equipment, upgrade some well know unreliable parts, repaints it, add some pounds of cavity wax and your’e ready to go! You get sufficient space, rigidness and enough Power to climb the Alps. What else does one need?
Not much, from my point of view, but the VW spare parts policy (any part within 24 h) would be nice to have!
If CC is to provide the irresistible temptation of titling articles with inexpensively-made puns, then I feel entitled to say to the maker of this vehicle that in the case of this horrid product, whatever UAZ, u can keep.
Seeing one of these anywhere outside of Russia is a strange experience. They are so uniquely Soviet/Russian that I can’t imagine seeing them in any other environment. I had a few rides in them in Moscow in the early 90s, and I vividly recall the uneasy feeling of sitting in the front passenger seat with the front axle beneath you, only sheet metal between your feet and the cars in front of you, and squealing brakes and the knowledge of those incredibly narrow tires making you ready to brace for impact at any moment. It inspired fear as effectively as a Zaporozhets inspired discomfort.
Having owned my own garage business in the 1990s which specialised in mainly Citroens, working on one of these commercial vehicles in 1998 was a change. They really aren’t too bad when compared to the few other Eastern Euro and Russian vehicles I have worked on. The thing that really stands out as BAD are those brakes: everything on the one I drove was brand new. They stop OK going forward, but try manoeuvring whilst going backwards down the mildest of gradient and you have a BIG problem. Those front drum brakes with their twin-leading brake shoes are simply terrible.
My next door neighbours at the garage were quite successful Heroin Dealers: though that didn’t stop them from stealing all all of my gear-tools- that is 🙂 a few months earlier, so maybe not too successful?
On the last Christmas eve of the last millennium I was parking cars before doing a few finishing touches to a nearly new Xantia. The UAZ needed shifting to let me take the Xantia off the 4-post ramp. It was very early (6:30AM) and the UAZ didn’t have the exhaust connected at the manifold. So to awaken my Junky chums I raced the very LOUD Soviet van in reverse towards the Citroen. I forgot about those brakes and hit the Xantia so hard that it visibly lifted off the ground. I spent the rest of the day searching for a green metallic bumper for the car.
The van? Totally unharmed. Not even a scratch. Happy days when life was surely better?
Living on in a rather Land Rover Defender way, but without all that indulgent western development the Land Rover had.
And I commend the owner on a very clean chassis.
I suspect it’s me, but there’re some BMC commercial overtones to parts of the styling the rear doors, windscreen shape
@ Don ;
Life is good, very good although we’re living through some rather weird times right now .
Roger : I agree ~ it looks very BMC-ish to me too .
I have three Ural Motocycles, made in Russia, all three have been very good to me in spite of being rather crudely made .
-Nate
In a strange literary variation of Curbside Classic Effect, I enjoyed this article when it was posted a couple of weeks ago, and was amused by the “bread loaf” reference.
Yesterday I was reading The Apollo Murders by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, and found the following:
“They were a strange little group.
Three men, a woman and a boy dozed on the bench seats of two battered vehicles. Another man was awake, outside leaning on the rusting square bumper of his olive-green ZIL-157 truck, staring at the sky. Occasionally he would glance at his aged watch and raise a pair of powerful binoculars, peering intently at the western horizon.
A good time to rest. The hard work would start soon.
His six-wheeled truck had a heavy winch mounted on the bumper, and strapped into the covered rear flatbed was an assortment of acetylene tanks, torches, cutting tools, hammers and wrenches.
The second vehicle was a four-wheel-drive UAZ-452 camper van, called a “Bukhanka” for its homely resemblance to a loaf of bread. It had basic cooking facilities and fold-down cots, plus a heater for the cold nights.”
By the way, I’m enjoying the book, and recommend it, with the caveat that I’m an old space nerd.