Classic cars from Russia and the Soviet Union

Unless you’re something of an expert in classic cars, motor vehicles that came from the Soviet Union, officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), probably haven’t appeared on your radar.

For much of the Soviet Union was in existence (1922 to 1991), motor cars weren’t a priority, with rail the main source of transport.

Road traffic of goods and passengers combined was only 14% of the volume of rail transport, and it was only late in its existence that the Soviet authorities put emphasis on road construction and maintenance.

From 1924 to 1971, the USSR only manufactured one million vehicles. But it still managed to produce some memorable cars, albeit often heavily influenced by Western manufacturers. In this article, we’re going to take a look at the best of them.

If you’re already the owner of a classic from the Soviet Union and in need of some classic car insurance, speak to Lancaster. We can offer you cover which comes with a number of unique benefits.

If you’re intrigued by what the Soviet regime offered up, here are some cars to whet your appetite.

Moskvich-400

As we’ve already touched on, the cars that came out of the Soviet Union – at least in the relatively early days – were often clones of Western vehicles; that’s so clearly the case with the Moskvich-400.

If you’ve ever seen an Opel Kadett K38, you’ll notice more than one or two similarities with the Moskvich-400. It’s no coincidence.

Prior to World War II, the Soviet Union was focused on producing cars for the middle and higher classes – the average working man or woman was not given much thought. But, having seen the Western world had made motoring accessible for the masses with their range of compact city cars, the Soviet Union decided it should follow suit.

The USSR’s first attempt came in 1940 in the shape of the KIM-10 and its modification KIM-10-51, which were based on the British Ford Prefect. However, just 450 of these cars were produced, with WWII requiring production to be halted as efforts shifted to focus on manufacturing military vehicles.

A visit by a delegation of the Soviet engineers to Germany in 1945 changed everything. On their visit, the engineers took some copies of the cars for the presentation to their leader, Joseph Stalin.

Stalin, keen not to create anything too similar to the KIM cars, took a fancy to the Kadett K38. In 1946, it’s reported that he had an entire Opel factory dismantled, transported out of Germany, and into the USSR.

Given that the result was the Moskvich-400, we can quite believe it.

The Moskvich-400 had a 1.1-litre engine – giving it a top speed of 90 km/h – and independent front suspension going for it in its favour, but had a series of shortcomings which were a consequence of its cheap build such as a poor-quality interior and the tendency to corrode.

These issues were cleared up in the next iteration of the car three years later when it also got an improved gearstick near the steering wheel.

It was to be superseded by the Moskvich-401 in 1954, with new advances in technology having proved a game-changer. By that time, a total of 216,000 sedans and 17,000 cabriolets had been made. Not bad for a rip-off Kadett K38!

GAZ Volga M21

Where the Moskvich-400 was designed to be the cheapest car money could buy, the GAZ Volga M21 became the “biggest and most luxurious car officially sold to individual owners in the USSR in large quantities”.

Arriving in 1956, the Volga M21 put the Moskvich-400 and 401 in the shade with its new 2.4 litre “Big Four” OHV engine and suspension that could cope with the demands of the worst of the USSR road network.

This made it popular with everybody who could afford one – from taxi drivers to KGB agents! The radio and cigarette lighter, fitted as standard, were also big draws, as was the promise of it being ‘rustproof’ (unheard of in the 1950s).

Its origin dates back to 1953, with the Soviets determined to design a car that could compete with the American automobiles. The car’s designer, Lev Eremeyevl was inspired by the likes of the Chevrolet Bel Air, Plymouth Savoy and, in particular, the Ford Mainline.

The car made its on-the-road debut in 1955, on a demonstration drive from Moscow to the Crimea. But it wasn’t until 1956 that it went into production, and only two years later the Series II came along featuring a more elaborate radiator grille.

The final incarnation of the Volga, produced from 1963 to 1970, is probably the best known of the range having been made available to the Benelux market, with the cars often powered by another manufacturer’s engine.

GAZ also built a handful of 5.4-litre V8 engine M-23s for “efficient pursuit, escort and other special missions” i.e., the secret police, but they were said to be so hot to handle that even the KGB was reluctant to get behind the wheel.

The M21 was available in the UK from late 1959 onwards, with Brits taken by features such as a reclining front bench seat. To this day, Volga is much sought after by collectors around the world, and it is very easy to see why.

A total of 639,478 M21 were produced in total – but there are now only believed to be as few as 20 left in the UK! If you find one, get insured with classic car insurance pronto, as it could be worth a pretty penny.

Tatra 603

The Tatra 603 is a rare beast – and not just because it has three headlights! Just 20,422 were built during its 20-year production run, although this number is much-disputed and it could be as low as 6,000.

Built in the former country of Czechoslovakia, Tatra were inspired by trains when designing the 603, hence the third headlight connected to the front wheels.

The Tatra 603 didn’t see the light of day until 1956, but the foundations were being put in place as far back as 1934, when Tatra presented the model 77.

It was an oddity at the time, with its 60hp V8 engine (located at the back) and aerodynamic body meaning it could reach speeds of up to 150km/h. Not bad for a car that weighed almost two tonnes!

But the car would go through two more iterations – first the 77A (cue the extra headlight) and then the 87 with its huge fin-like rear wing, added as a way of stabilising the car during strong winds – before the 603 came about.

Bigger, more comfortable and more spacious than its predecessors, Tetra had somehow managed to make the 603 lighter than its predecessors. The air-cooled 2.5-litre V8 was capable of producing 95hp and weighed only 180kg (400 pounds), cutting total weight to 1.4 tonnes.

This took top speed up to around 160km/h – not that your average citizen would get an opportunity to try one out for size.

The Tetra was built solely for Czechoslovakian government officials who wanted a special and unique car that they could use domestically. They got that, and some.

The Series 1 603 stayed in production until 1962, when it was usurped by the 603-2 with its 105hp and top speed of 170km/h. This also – sadly – saw the demise of the iconic three headlamps, with an additional one chucked in to accommodate tow oval grilles.

The most famous Tatra 603 owner was former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who had a white 603-2 II with air-conditioning.

It was a mighty car. If you’re lucky to find one in good condition on these shores today, you’re looking at around £35,000 - £50,000.

Lada Riva

The Lada Riva is one of the most derided cars of all time, regularly featuring in ‘worst car ever’ lists. And yet, it still managed to sell in huge numbers – 20 million worldwide no less.

In terms of numbers, it’s the most successful Soviet vehicle ever produced, with two-thirds of Ladas going on to be sold outside of Russia – 300,000 of which were scooped up by British buyers between 1977 and 1997.

The Lada was nothing to look at. Modelled on the 1966 Fiat 124 saloon, it had a boxy appearance which nobody would harbour after.

But it was cheap as hell and extremely practical, as the ClassicCarsForSale website explains: “Rear passengers are treated to seats softer than most beds, and there’s enough room for five people. You can even buy a Riva estate. Everything is designed to be easy to fix too. Open up the forwarding tilting bonnet and you’ll find an OHC 1.2-, 1.3-, 1.5-, or 1.6-litre engine. Lada toolboxes even came with everything you needed to service the car yourself.”

Ladas are all but extinct on UK roads now, but those that are still around are said to be rising in value.

This is put down to there being “nothing like it on the road”. Perhaps its reputation will improve in time, too. If you do end up owning one, just expect the odd sarcastic comment should you take it to a car show!

Melkus RS 1000

Not all of the Soviet cars were big and bulky. Enter the Melkus RS 1000, which was dubbed the “Ferrari of the Soviet Bloc”. With some models capable of a top speed of more than 109 miles per hour (175km/h), it was a proper sports car.

Assembled out of a factory in Dresden, East Germany, from 1969 to 1979, the Melkus RS 1000 was manufactured in a highly limited production run of only 101 copies, under the supervision of race driver Heinz Melkus.

The Melkus might not have looked all that on paper – most of the RS 1000s featured a modest 1.0-litre two-stroke three-cylinder petrol engine with 70hp (51 kilowatts), with only a select few getting the bigger 1.2-liter unit – but it was ahead of its time when it came to engineering.

Benefiting from a fiberglass body, wrapped around a traditional ladder frame with a roll bar integrated into the windscreen, the car’s weight was kept down to a paltry 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms). This enabled the 1.0 two-stroke engine to carry the car from 0 to 62 in little over 10 seconds.

It might not quite be Ferrari 250 GTO-levels of speed, but it bears quite a few similarities to the world’s most expensive car – namely the headlight shape, the wheel arches, and the swooping roofline.

Melkus might be no more, having gone out of business in 1986, but with the RS 1000 they created something that will stand the test of time.

Protect your investment with classic car insurance

If you fall for the unique charms of a classic car from the Soviet era, you’ll need the right classic car insurance to protect it.

Knowing that it’s fully protected will give you the confidence to drive it as the makers intended, be that out on the road, on the track or paraded at classic car shows.

We are specialists at arranging insurance for all manner of retro and historic vehicles including classic cars, campervans, 4x4s and everything else in between.

Certain classic car club members will be able to enjoy up to 25% discount on their premium as well as cover for static shows and historic rallies, so you can show off your classic around the country. You won’t find yourself having to compete with too many other Soviet classics, that’s for sure!

Policies can also include salvage retention and up to 90 days EU cover if you’re planning on travelling abroad. Limited mileage discounts are also available if your pride and joy only comes out on special occasions.

With a 24-hour claims helpline based in the UK, we’re here when you need us most.

Get a quote for classic car insurance today.

Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.