UAZ-452 - The cute post-apocalyptic RV
The "Buchanka" (loaf of bread) is one of the many Eastern Bloc military vehicles that are still a feature of the streetscape in (Eastern) Germany.
The production of the 452 was started in 1965 and amazingly this model is still being built by Ulyanovsky Avtomobilny Zavod (Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant) today.
The rugged 4x4 was powered by a 2.4l inline four that was engineered to run on gasoline as low as 72 octane. While earlier versions only had 76hp the engine was upgraded in 1985 to deliver 99 spirited horses. Based on the historic license plate, the vehicle I saw parked in the streets of Berlin could be an 85 model, but the number could also be a deceiving coincidence.
The current version is powered by a 2.7l engine and in 2011 the 452 even received the newest safety features like seat belts and ABS brakes. I bet the Buchanka die-hards threw a hissy fit like the Defender purists are right now because their precious motor carriage was turned into a lifestyle accessory.
Eastern Bloc and NATO military surplus vehicles like this ambulance are a fairly common sight in Germany and I treat those old military vehicles as a grim reminder to be excellent to each other. They make great RVs though...
Join In
Comments (32)
It's a horrible vehicle. It gets there, but there are many vehicles that also get there and aren't horrible inside. If there is a fan club for these, it should be in some kind of dark web corner, with a 18+ warning.
Hehe, vicious. But also fair. ;-)
I think it’s cute
Ummm
Haha :-D
It appears they made the axles without measuring the width of the vehicle?
They remind me of the old Commer vans.
Sweeeet! :-)