LuAZ - small and daring so much that UAZ will bypass

LuAZ SUVs were not popular with the people. They were called ridiculous, "collective farm" and ugly even in the Soviet Union, where any car was considered prestigious. But those who had the chance to drive a LuAZ knew very well that the vehicle could surprise off-road.


Today we will talk about LuAZ - the Soviet "rogue", outwardly resembling an army amphibian. And this comparison is given for a reason!

From military to civilian

Korean War 1950-53 unofficially became a conflict between the US and the USSR. How is this related to the appearance of LuAZ? It's simple - the Americans had a leading edge conveyor with the M-274 index, better known by the army nickname "Mechanical Mule".



There was no such equipment in the Soviet Union; GAZ SUVs turned out to be too heavy for the jungles of Korea. I had to develop my own TPK.

A leading edge conveyor was created, called LuAZ-967. The funny thing is that this technique began to be mass-produced since 1975. And the civilian version of the LuAZ-969 was put on the conveyor since 1966, having developed a prototype in 1964.

First version

Initially, the SUV was called ZAZ-969V and a prototype was assembled at the Kommunar plant. Serial assembly was carried out in Lutsk.
They were front wheel drive. This SUV was assembled until 1969. After solving problems with components, a full-fledged LuAZik appeared, as many still remember it.

The car turned out great.

• ? Lightweight body in the shape of a boat (a tribute to the relationship with the amphibian)
  
• ? Independent suspension
  
• ? The bottom is flat
  
• ? Drives with gearboxes
  
• ? Downshift
  
• ? Clearance of 283 mm with wheels of the 13th radius
  

The ridiculous appearance of the box and the weak engine from ZAZ spoiled the whole impression.

There was no need to talk about any comfort inside this off-road miracle - this is a typical military vehicle with bench seats and steel panels. The tented body was not airtight, which was facilitated by poor build quality.



The engine hardly accelerated the SUV to 65 km / h, some parts of the car did not differ in reliability. But on the other hand, hunters, foresters, tourists and other summer residents quickly appreciated the cross-country ability. It was worth taking a LuAZ-696 off-road ride once and falling in love with it. This car really did not care where and how to go!

Upgrades

Numerous complaints never spurred Soviet automakers to refine their models. Why - there are not enough cars for everyone, there are queues for them, which means they will be taken away in any form! But "from above" they demanded the introduction of new models or the modernization of old ones. Therefore, in 1975, the LuAZ-696 was finalized.

The changes mainly affected the engine - the old 30-horsepower motor was replaced with a more modern unit with a working volume of 1,2 liters, developing as much as 40 liters. With. LuAZ-696A could now accelerate to 85 km / h on the highway, although keeping this pace for a long time was detrimental to the engine.

In 1979, a large-scale modernization was carried out, which changed the appearance of the SUV and its technical characteristics.
The engine remained the same, but the front end received a different design.

Other changes:

• ? New windshield and headlights
  
• ? Separate brake drive
  
• ? Door locks that didn't exist before
  
• ? Seats from Zhiguli
  
• ? Safety steering column
  
• ? Side windows with vents
  

Of course, the air-cooled engine literally screamed that it was hopelessly outdated, but then the Soviet industry could not offer another engine for LuAZ.



1991 was the best year for the SUV - it was upgraded once again, putting a new liquid-cooled engine with a capacity of 53 hp under the hood. With. from Tavria.

The further destiny

The prospects for the development of the Lutsk SUV in 1991 were wide - after the installation of the new engine, external modernization was to follow. The car could become something like Tavria - modern. But at the same time created on the same off-road platform that has military roots.


Now it’s easy to buy such an SUV - they ask for an average of 80 rubles for them, although you can find a car on the go for 000. The problem is that for the minimum cost and the condition will be appropriate.

Of course, driving on the highway and in the city on a LuAZ is a dubious pleasure. But in the countryside, for hunting, fishing and just trips through forests and fields - this is a great option.

Is it worth buying LuAZ now?

The first thing that stops buyers of Lutsk SUVs is age. Indeed, even if you find the “freshest” car of 2002, it will be 20 years old. But I would like to note right away that most of the models on the market come from the USSR. And this is at least 30 years ago.



The second minus of LuAZ is the build quality and units. If the future owner is accustomed to foreign cars, which he himself never repairs, then the Lutsk SUV is unlikely to suit him. The car will have to be repaired periodically, and it can be finalized almost forever.

To put up with a low-powered and problematic motor is also somehow necessary. There is an option to put a power unit and a gearbox from a foreign car there, but this is already the level of an auto mechanic or a serious financial investment.

But the cost of the car more than compensates for all the shortcomings and flaws in the assembly. What other SUV can you buy for 80? You can’t even buy a normal UAZ or a Niva for this money! And what is the difference between scratching in the forest and drowning in the mud? The cheaper, the less “toad strangles”, which means you can have fun without fear of damaging the car!

Pricing for LuAZs is chaotic, sometimes you can find an excellent copy for 50 rubles. In any case, paying more than 000 for such an SUV is pointless, unless the car is already powered by a diesel engine from a foreign car.



Repairs will become the periodic responsibility of the LuAZ owner. Usually the car reaches its destination, but sometimes it will have to be helped by the simplest tools, among which a sledgehammer and wrenches will take pride of place.

It is difficult to find original new spare parts for LuAZ, you need to get the hang of getting them on specialized forums, through classifieds sites. Well, you will also have to “collective farm” from other models.

But what a toy for a man! Some use Soviet-made cars to introduce children to technology. Many boys are happy to put their gadgets aside and dig into cars with rapture for hours!

It is possible to modernize the Lutsk SUV so that it will not only be passable, but also high-speed! But the best option in terms of price / quality ratio is the introduction of a diesel engine from the second generation Volkswagen Golf.



Many get rid of the autonomous stove, which migrated to LuAZ from Zaporozhets, although the “native” heater heats up well. But someone is annoyed by such a design - it seems dangerous.

But the cross-country ability of LuAZ, even in stock condition, is amazing. If you need an inexpensive car for a forest or field that you don’t mind scratching, the Lutsk SUV will suit this role.

For some, LuAZ is a memory of childhood or youth. Here, no logic works anymore, and the car is purchased as a “time capsule”, transferring the owner to the past with each trip.