Luxury? Nyet! The seven-seat UAZ is a nuts ‘if bolts car. In fact, bolts are in plain view on the rounded ’50s chassis. As William Anderson Jr., head of UAZ of America, brags: “You won’t find any computers under these hoods. They’re made the way cars used to be made.” Down to a Model T-like hand crank in case the battery dies. The UAZ’s four-cylinder engine runs on 76 octane gas (vodka might do), but will be retooled to meet EPA codes and raise its 18-mpg fuel efficiency.
The ride? Volga smooth. City driving is hard with a gearshift as balky as a planned economy, but the UAZ does best off-road in four-wheel drive. At $10,000, it’s a cheap alternative to the $40,000 U.S. Humvee. Victory for the proletariat!
