saw one today and it's a sad tale :(

[thereverendbill]

today was yard running day.  Started out with a trip a couple towns over on a tip from a fellow nester (and directions ) 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

here is an excellent condition 1982 2 door with no rust on the frame rails and very solid under the opera windows

a hornet that is now missing a grill, headlight buckets, and headlight surrounds


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   

[thereverendbill]

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

[Whuntmore]

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.

[ericarmstrong]

Is this the place off of I79 in PA?

[thereverendbill]

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

[dkoug]

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

[SleepsUnderCars]

@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..

[truckboy13]

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

[Hawk258]

It looks like a Yugo. Though that shouldn't be a surprise.

[IowaEagle]

I was thinking it might have its roots with Fiat.  The Yugo did.

[truckboy13]

Yea it does look kinda like a yugo or however you spell it.  are they rare i wonder?

[thereverendbill]

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)   

[shanebo]

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.

[thereverendbill]

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

[shanebo]

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.