The Russian UAZ sells a number of very old off-roaders, of which the currently ‘Classic’ baptized 452 is one. It is that archaic Russian that has now presented an extra rugged version.
The 452 is a very simplistic ‘delivery van’ from the Russian UAZ, a brand named after the Ulyanovsk Automobile Plant where it builds its cars. The 452 appeared for the first time in 1965, an off-road van standing high on the legs that was and is being used by the Russian military police, among others. Over the years, the 452 has been modernized at detail level, including in 1985 and 2011. Although the car started its life as 452, UAZ currently uses various model codes. There is, among other things, a variant with an open chassis, a version with an open body with single or double cab, a variant with a closed structure and several passenger versions, including the Combi. It is this Combi, the ‘3909’, of which an adventurous version has now been presented.
The UAZ Combi offers space for six passengers and can carry up to 450 kilos of cargo. This new, extra rugged variant is on 16-inch steel wheels with all-terrain tires folded around it. In addition, this rugged version has steel bumpers, an electric winch and a towbar. On the roof an roof rack is given a place that you can reach via the ladder placed on the butt. Not unimportant for a car with which you should be able to defy the Siberian cold: UAZ reports the presence of heated front seats.
More or less between the front seats is a 112 hp and just under 200 Nm strong 2.7, a four-cylinder petrol engine that is linked to a manual five-speed gearbox. The four-wheel-driven adventurer has to cost more than € 14,000 in Russia. The starting price of the Combi is at a modest € 10,600. Nice detail: in Russia the primitive bus is affectionately called ‘bread’ (Bukhanka) because the shape is reminiscent of that in a certain sense.
Fun fact: the various flavors of UAZ’s very old bus are also for sale in the Netherlands!