UAZ Arkhar, Kulan and other interesting models that did not become serial

The UAZ-469 car and all its more modern modifications, like Hunter, are the successors of the old GAZ-69. And the SUV of the new model, which appeared in 1972, was almost ideal for its time.


But the modernization of the UAZ-469 was thought about already in the mid-1970s. As time has shown, this attempt dragged on for decades - until the 1990s, when Simbir, which became the prototype of the Patriot, made its debut.

But all the years of the existence of the Soviet Union tried to make a replacement for the UAZ-469. Today we will tell you about the unique experimental models that could not go into mass production. And the problem in most cases was not the cars themselves, but the lack of funding.



The fact is that the UAZ-469 and its subsequent modifications, like 3151, were perfectly distributed among government agencies and law enforcement agencies. Only the collapse of the USSR forced the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant to look for an approach to the civilian market.

Upgrades

The first attempt to modify the UAZ-469 was recorded in the mid-1970s. Then they decided to simply subject the car to external restyling, as it is now fashionable to say. A model with a slightly modified design was made - the car received a new white grille with headlights in it.



The next upgrade took place in the second half of the 1970s. The car was also able to be embodied in metal.

Differences from the serial UAZ-469:

• ? Hood with embossed UAZ logo
  
• ? Wings of a different shape
  
• ? New front bumper and grille
  
• ? Turn signals with marker lights in a single unit
  

Technically, the novelty was no different from the production car. It was for this reason that it was decided not to launch it in a series - there are too many changes and financial investments.



Given the situation with cars in the USSR, there was no point in carrying out external restyling. All the same, UAZs were not sold to ordinary people, and if they could be bought, no one would pay attention to appearance.

Kulan, Argali and Simbir

Toward the end of the 1970s, the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant, or rather, the design bureau, was finally ripe for the release of new models, and the designers issued two interesting projects - Kulan and Arkhar.

These were three-door short SUVs, a kind of combination of the concept of a classic UAZ and a desert buggy. Already judging by the names, it is safe to say that the new cars were planned to be operated in the hot Soviet republics, where there are deserts and endless steppes.



But the Soviet Union did not need a small three-door SUV on a global scale, so the project did not even go into the layout stage.

I had to create something new - so in the late 1970s the UAZ-3170 Simbir appeared. By the way, in its first incarnation it was just a three-door.



This project was gathering dust for a long time, until in the early 2000s, after the collapse of the USSR, the first small-scale cars appeared. UAZ Patriot is the successor to the very model developed in the late 1970s.

Customization of vehicles for foreign markets

In 1977, the management of the Ulyanovsk plant unexpectedly received an order "from above" - ​​to develop an SUV with a hard top. It was planned to be exported.



The factory workers did not think long. Having had a bad experience with trying to upgrade their UAZ-469, they realized that they were unlikely to be given funds for a new model. Therefore, they approached the issue wisely - they simply made a car with a hard top. Outwardly, it also differed from the production model in a modified radiator grille. The prototype was named UAZ-469B.



But none of the experimental cars ever became serial. The “tops” again decided that there was no point in re-equipping production. Yes, and they changed their minds about selling UAZs abroad, and serial 469 models went perfectly to the countries of the socialist camp.

Waterfowl Jaguar and Cormorant

In addition to trying to refine the basic army SUV, the design bureau of the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant tried to put other unusual models into production. The most interesting development was the amphibian UAZ Jaguar.



They started making this car back in the 1960s, but the first 4 prototypes were made in 1980.



The simple and maintainable design of the Kozlik made it possible to pass tests in the most difficult conditions:

• ? Yakutia at -45 degrees
  
• ? Astrakhan steppes
  
• ? Pamir mountains
  
• ? Mongolia
  

The main feature of the UAZ Jaguar was the automotive layout and design. Looking at the car, many did not even suspect that it was capable of not only sailing, but also transporting about 10 people and 600 kg of cargo, while keeping well on the water and reaching speeds of up to 9 km / h.



The military liked the amphibious SUV, but it never went into production. At first, improvements interfered with this, then Perestroika began in the country. The project was finally curtailed in 1990.

Initially, a special water steering wheel was installed on the UAZ Jaguar, but during the testing process it turned out that there was no need for it. We noticed by chance - this part just fell off by itself.



On the chassis of the experimental UAZ Jaguar, several samples of amphibians for border guards were made. They got the name Cormorant. The main difference is the presence of special equipment on board.

The car turned out to be combat, because it was developed on the instructions of the KGB. The main purpose of the UAZ Baklan was to search for spies illegally crossing the border of the USSR. The amphibious SUV even had a cage for a service dog on board.

How many UAZ Baklan were produced is unknown - the project was classified.

Russian "Geledvagen" and three-axle models

There was an attempt in 1991 to put into production a completely new SUV. It is known as UAZ-3172 Vagon. It was a task from the Ministry of Defense - to create a large vehicle with increased capacity, which could accommodate 10 people with weapons and ammunition.

Appearance is clearly inspired by such legends as Gelandewagen from Mercedes and Land Rover.

Although the release of experimental models in the amount of 9 copies coincided with the collapse of the USSR, they were nevertheless assembled in 1992-1993. On tests, off-road vehicles turned out to be better than all domestic and foreign analogues, and it was the Wagon that eventually pulled them out of the mud.



Unfortunately, the difficult financial situation at the plant and throughout the country put an end to this promising project for its time.

And finally, it is worth briefly mentioning the UAZ-452K - a three-axle bus with 16 seats. There were versions with both 6x4 and 6x6 wheel formulas. This car also did not become serial. These models date back to 1973.

Unexpectedly, the idea was picked up in Georgia, where from 1989 to 1994 similar cars were produced from standard UAZ-452s. The Vezdekhod cooperative was engaged in piece conversion of Loafs into three-axle models for mountain rescuers.

Unfortunately, of all the listed SUVs, only Simbir was lucky. All the rest remained experimental models.