These Soviet cars were waited and bought in capitalist countries

It is generally accepted that Soviet cars were not needed by anyone in foreign countries. They say that they were initially inferior to local producers and were not in demand. And the fact that “Volgas”, “Muscovites” and “Zhigulis” went abroad in trains was to the countries of the “socialist camp”. There was nothing of their own there, so the Soviet stuff was joyfully welcomed. All this is logical, but does not correspond to reality. Passenger cars from the USSR were once in high demand in countries such as England, France and Germany. More than half of the Muscovites were sent there. And the Zhiguli sold well in the 70s. And it’s not worth talking about the legendary Niva. It is still sold in the EU, albeit in small quantities.


There are at least several reasons for the popularity of Soviet cars in Europe. Firstly, until the mid-70s they were considered quite modern compared to their local counterparts. Secondly, the build quality of the cars sent for export was much higher. In the 90s, for example, Ladas were actively transported back to Russia and other post-Soviet countries. You can still find them on the used market – these are “export” models. Often in good condition on the body, which hints at its high-quality processing. And thirdly, Soviet cars turned out to be cheaper than their local counterparts. Therefore, they were forgiven for some imperfections in the design. Although, if you remember the German-made “budget” cars from the 70s, they are also the simplest. And the author of the “AUTO HISTORY” channel will tell you about Soviet cars that were massively exported.