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Bought a Lada Niva!

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78Z

78Z

Darth Vader
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I've always wanted a Lada Niva and finally acquired one - a '95 Niva. Needs some work - wiring, windshield and tires.

happy with it so far.

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was full of crap and filthy inside

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Random duck sits on the dash. Sadly he hit the trash can shortly after.

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The Niva came with these tools - bonus.

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1.7L four cylinder with fuel injection using GM parts.

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I figured out how to out the rear hatch - there is a tiny lever behind the driver's seat. Struts don't hold it up anymore.

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Back was so full of crap I neglected to notice the rear seat was missing. Belts are there though.

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The interior after a quick clean. I've got quite a few interior panels that where tossed in the rear. Not sure if I have all. The heater area was hacked when someone stole the steoro so I'll need to source that at some point. I do have the driver's side kick panel to cover that mess.

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The engine is a modified Fiat one. The brakes and such are shared with Lada saloons (thus Fiat roots). The gearbox is a Fiat four speed design where they stuff a fiftieth gear into the same casing causing 5th gear pop out issues. Otherwise it is all Russian. Very rugged and basic.
 
Cool! I love those things
 
Bring back the duck!!!! hehehehehe.
Pretty neat. I've never seen one. (The Niva, not the duck)
 
I think that those are cool,but are they
reliable,or do they have the same reputation
as other Russian vehicles (Lada?).

- Doug
 
I reconsidered and did bring back the duck. Nivas generally have a better reputation than other Ladas. They are considered tough and crude. They aren't a Toyota by any means but reasonable.

After some wiring fixed and modifications (dash was smashed and hacked when someone stole the stereo) I got mine up and running. All the electricals are back in place and work except high beams but with switches and buttons I had lying around. I just need to source some brake pads (two where missing) and I'll see how it drives on the driveway at least. Then after that I need to spend some actual money on it (tires and windshield) - at less than a $100 all in so far.

video of it starting for the first time in who knows how long - https://www.flickr.com/photos/daveseven/4670415599/in/set-72157624167832684/

little gallery of photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/daveseven/sets/72157624167832684/
 
And, yeah, they had the same reputation. I remember buying a die cast one for a friend and the hood on that wouldn't open properly - appropriate somehow.
 
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