today was yard running day. Started out with a trip a couple towns over on a tip from a fellow nester (and directions ;D) and i pulled up to a garage that looks straight out of the late 80s. Out front where about 6 FSJs (full size jeeps) about 7 matadors, an eagle wagon, 2 gremlins (newer than my kammback :( ) a pacer, and tucked in the back a Spirit AMX complete with rear window louvers. We hung around there for about 30 min looking at stuff and hoping that someone would show up but noone did.
After that we decided to head back into town and check out a u-pull it yard that a friend recommended and we came across a few AMCs
(http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j261/thereverendbill/20110409115943.jpg)
here is an excellent condition 1982 2 door with no rust on the frame rails and very solid under the opera windows
(http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j261/thereverendbill/20110409120058.jpg)
a hornet that is now missing a grill, headlight buckets, and headlight surrounds
(http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j261/thereverendbill/20110409121017.jpg)
(http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j261/thereverendbill/20110409121033.jpg)
and this thing that i have no clue what it is. the only thing that i remember and it stuck out to me was it was made in the USSR
Quote from: carver on April 09, 2011, 05:35:30 PM
That is a Lada Niva. Actually a good little 4x4.
it looked pretty nice, coil springs all the way around, 5 speed manual, twin stick xfer case (1 stick for range another stick to lock the xfer case). i would have loved to have seen it before it went to the salvage yard because it would be yet another reason for my wife to be mad at me ;D
one of the interesting things about the Niva, is it uses bushings - Instead of roller bearings in the axles. Same type bushings (bearings) that are in the crank of an engine.
Is this the place off of I79 in PA?
Quote from: ericarmstrong on April 09, 2011, 08:56:06 PM
Is this the place off of I79 in PA?
I don't think so, the first place was in the back country of johnstown and the salvage yard was on mill road
Lada Niva
Almost unstoppable!!!!!!!!!!! In South Africa they would walk pass all the stuck and broken Land Rovers etc.
Back in the nineties a new one cost between 6500.00 and 9500.00 including 3 years road side warranty.
Down side was no automatic, no carpeting, no power anything. Met a Russian who was going to buy one soon as he graduated from EMS course. Why- back home they went hunting/fishing and nothing stop it.
Hooked a ride with an oil field worker. His story was all the big fancy 4 x4 trucker at the rig site would catch a ride with him because their 60,000 rides could not make it to the rig site.
Would love one in real good condition.
dkoug
@ericarmstrong- can u pm me info on location off i-79
@rev - told you it should be worth your gas to head over there. thats the problem driving this darn semi, i have a parking issue and cant get to places i see..
The hornet and 2 door sedan look like they are in great shape. this is also the first time i have ever seen a lada niva. they look kinda cool
It looks like a Yugo. Though that shouldn't be a surprise.
I was thinking it might have its roots with Fiat. The Yugo did.
Yea it does look kinda like a yugo or however you spell it. are they rare i wonder?
some interesting knowledge for ya from a time in my life that i was a Subaru buff. Malcom Bricklin was the person we all get to thank for the import of Subarus into the US and he is also the father of the Yugo in the US. latter in his life he had a canadian built car that bared his name the Bricklin SV1 (Safety Vehicle 1)
I love that 2 door sedan...How was the interior in it bill...both look to be pretty restorable!!
Good ol Soviet engineering! Ill bet that Lada Niva would be a fun one to get parts for...you know there is a Lada Niva fan somewhere who would give a kidney for that parts car.
Heck I know a few guys that would probably give a kindey for that coupe. ;D
the front seats are going to be comming out of it and going into my kammback and i am also going to be taking anything that swaps over because a blue interior car is a pain to find replacement parts for
It does seem like the majority of the ones I see have either nutmeg or honey interiors...Im glad to hear that eagle will render some useful parts for your Kammy...Are the back seats in the Kambacks like the sx4's?...Ive never actually had the liberty of getting that close to one.
Are those Marchall fog lights on the 2-door? You should go back and grab them if they are.
Quote from: MontanaEagle on April 11, 2011, 11:39:10 AM
Are those Marchall fog lights on the 2-door? You should go back and grab them if they are.
They where marchalls but someone took a bat or something to the right one
Huh, read about this late !
Lada Niva, yes. It has its roots in FIAT, indeed. They used to buy designs and technology from FIAT back in the '70s and 80s, and produced "rugged" versions of Fiat models (mid-size sedans, basically). In the former USSR, 80% of taxi cabs were Ladas. Among the "improvements" were massive anti-rust treatments, boosted cabin heating (for obvious reasons ;) ) and some transmssion and suspension adjustments (italian roads used to be bad, but russian ones were even worst).
The Niva was equipped with a 1.6L I4 DOHC engine, that claimed to be virtually undestructable, and is it indeed. You just have to keep an eye on oil and coolant, and it will serve you for several hundred thousands miles...
The two-tone paint scheme on that two-door is interesting. I don't think I've seen that particular treatment on an Eagle before. It looks very restorable based on that picture. So does the Hornet, for that matter.
IIRC the Yugos had rear window defrosters to keep your hands warm while pushing it. ;)
Quote from: philotomy on June 15, 2011, 10:04:31 PM
IIRC the Yugos had rear window defrosters to keep your hands warm while pushing it. ;)
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
with the discovery of those spirit limited brochures I have been in serious talks with a local upholstry shop in town to get the buckets and rear seat of the kammback redone in blue pillow top leather. If this goes any farther than just talks is anyone's guess because i am just so overwhelmed with how to restore this kammback, go done stock just like AMC intended the car to be or go a resto with added options that make the car look like it was placed in the dealer showroom like that
As cool as "all original" is....Leather seats would be even cooler....especially if its done like those spirit limited ones....and technically they are still the original seats....just wrapped bit nicer ;D
I been really liking the VAM interiors in the Mexican versions
Ive been reading alot about the VAM models lately....I wonder how many of those are still around in Mexico....There might be a gold mine down there as the rust issue does not exist...in land atleast...and Mexico doesnt have that throw away mentality...people tend to hang on to their cars instead of junking them. My buddy Horacio has alot of family in mexico and they all have old cars...60's and 70's models that were purchaced new...but they are very well taken care of.
Quote from: shanebo on June 16, 2011, 01:16:24 AM
Ive been reading alot about the VAM models lately....I wonder how many of those are still around in Mexico....There might be a gold mine down there as the rust issue does not exist...in land atleast...and Mexico doesnt have that throw away mentality...people tend to hang on to their cars instead of junking them. My buddy Horacio has alot of family in mexico and they all have old cars...60's and 70's models that were purchaced new...but they are very well taken care of.
So do Eagle owners :hello2:
well... now the 6 degrees of separation is here... Fiat Owns Chrysler and Chrysler bought AMC... if you get a chance take a look at the new avenger, That thing has the roomiest engine bay I have ever seen, And they kept it clean, All the wires are wrapped and it looks like there is plenty of room for upgrades and custom work.
They are dropping the Avenger name plate for 2013.
Dang... Cause those look like they have potential for sooo much more. Fiat should snag up the bodies. If you get a chance go and take a look, if they thought out the design they could use the avenger body to bring the Eagle back with NO sacrifices to what made the eagle the eagle. if they borrowed some components from the liberty or Patriot they could convert it.
(http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2008/01/08/074604.1-lg.jpg)
(http://file.kelleybluebookimages.com/kbb//vehicleimage/evoxseo/cp/m/6630/2010-dodge-caliber-side_6630_001_580x435_ps2.png)
Though they are still lacking a 2 door option, hatchback, convertible, and Diesel option.
eagle was never offered as a convertible. Griffin did the conversions to make the sun dancer.
I do believe the Griffin conversion was done for the factory making it a factory production vehicle even if it was modify some place ells.