Jalopnik
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celebrity cars
Vladimir Putin's Lada Niva Is Totally Bad-Ass
The Lada Niva is the coolest Soviet-era vehicle still in production. Given that, it makes sense Russia's alpha-male "not-president" Vladimir Putin has purchased a totally awesome camouflaged and off-road-ready version. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by engineerd: Big deal. We have a communist in the US with a cool truck, too. 10 Responses | Other threads
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Planelopnik
Parking With a Gatling Gun
XKCD issue #562 depicts a scene dear to everyone’s heart who has ever witnessed a moron fail egregiously at parking. Let’s advance the idea and move from blowtorches to rotary cannons. More »
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By Peter OroszComment by How Wankelin' Got His Sig Back: For reference, the Avenger cannon: [img] [upload.wikimedia.org] [/img] 16 Responses | Other threads
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racing
Yes, There Was Plenty Of Paint-Tradin' Race Action Behind The Iron Curtain
Have we ever mentioned that we love English Russia? It's like they knew we were going to review Cars Of The Soviet Union and put up this collection of vintage Soviet racing photos for us! More » -
Jalopnik Book Reviews
Cars Of The Soviet Union: The Definitive History, by Andy Thompson
Whether you're wrenching on a flying Spitfire or a leaking Spitfire, Haynes has a shop manual for you. Very useful, but hardly the sort of thing you'd keep on your coffee table. More »
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Comment by Armand: I was going to buy this book, but then Murilee called the Hillman Imp "wretched." As a Rootes Group... 4 Responses | Other threads
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down on the street bonus edition
Even More Old Cars Down On The Cuban Street
It turns out that many Jalopnik readers have been to Cuba, and now we're adding another set of Cuban car photos to the ones shot by AcaciaBogdan and Fantasygoat. More »
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Comment by brandegee: Beautiful shots. I think he captured the world's only plate restrictor Lada. And someone please ID the blue car with the... 5 Responses | Other threads
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down on the street bonus edition
¡Abajo En La Calle De Cuba!
The ghost of Fulgencio Batista won't allow Americans to visit Cuba, but those commie-lovin' Canadians are free to doff their tuques and enjoy the presence of the world's largest concentration of pre-1960 Detroit iron. More »
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Comment by dmdukejr: Random question - how do you get parts for these 50+ year old cars? Does the embargo not apply... 9 Responses | Other threads
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24 hours of lemons
Comrades! All Hail The First-Ever Soviet 24 Hours Of LeMons Car!
You know what's been missing from all the 24 Hours Of LeMons races so far? That's right- Soviet-made cars! It's been tough watching all those races without the accomplishments of Lenin, Stalin,and Trotskybeing represented on the track, but that's all going to change at the Detroit event next year, because Teargas has braved the wilds of Canada to bring back a genuine, made-in-the-USSR 1987 Lada Signet! You may remember this car from Project Car Hell Cold War Edition a while back, and making the jump will get you the rest of the story. More »
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Comment by mechimike: Also, there may be a problem with this rule: "2.1: Vehicle Eligibility: Entry limited to mass-produced, four-wheeled vehicles legal for US... 12 Responses | Other threads
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project car hell
Project Car Hell, Cold War Edition: Dodge Power Wagon Town Wagon or Lada Signet?
Welcome to Project Car Hell, where you choose your eternity by selecting the project that's the coolest... and the most hellish! In our last foray into the Burning Garage O'Pain™, the Buick Reatta beat the Olds Troféo by a 53% to 47% poll split. We've had unifying vehicular themes for most of our Hell Challenges recently, but sometimes you need to choose between two totally different eternities- say, one in which St. Helena earwigs colonize your bile ducts, and another in which you are stuck in an Amway PowerPoint presentation 24/7. And, just for fun, we're going Warsaw Pact versus NATO, with one machine from the hottest period of the Cold War and the other from the wild and crazy endgame.
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Comment by Mad_Science: I'm having a good day today. I'd like to point out that the Mrs. just informed me she wants that Dodge.... 6 Responses | Other threads
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paris auto show
Lada Reveals A Supercar Concept! Wait, What?
Everyone's favorite communist-era carmaker and automotive laughing-stock on safety has just revealed a supercar concept here at the Paris Motor Show. Best part? It's called the Lada Revolution 3. Apparently the first two must have had something to do with forcing the Bolsheviks from power. Anyway, it's theoretically equipped with a Renault two-liter four cylinder able to make a 0-to-62 run in 5.9 seconds with a top end speed of 155 MPH. Stopping is done via two-piece 315 mm rotors and four-piston calipers. This would be the fastest Lada ever built, which begs a question. Would you really feel comfortable cruising Russia's roadways at 155 MPH in this Supercar? There's just something about a supercar with a Renault engine and the Lada name proudly emblazoned on the steering wheel that makes us shudder at the thought. Hold onto your buttskies, folks! Hit the jump to see how it would fit in with the rest of the Lada lineup. More » -
custom cars
Lada Niva Transformed With Martini Livery
Call it amusing, call it ridiculous, but whatever you call it, reader James has applied the classic Martini livery to his Lada Niva weekend toy, and we call it awesome. The little Ruskie brute wears the vinyl graphics with all the class and sophistication of the rally and race cars of yore. Check out the complete application process in the gallery below, and sit back imagining a weekend bombing around the rugged countryside in this pocket-sized beast. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by layabout returns: I cant believe a Lada is an object of desire to some people,they have such a poor name in Europe... 3 Responses | Other threads
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question of the day
What's The Worst Car Name?
Perhaps out of a fear of naming confusions or reinterpretations, a la the BMW Gina and Pontiac Aztek, many companies seem to be going towards alphanumericism (though that presents trouble in China, where the number "4" conjures up the sound of "death"). People fault the Chevy Nova for its Spanish translation, but we still like the name. The Japanese have all sorts of strange and awful naming conventions, aka the Mitsubishi Delica Space Gear and Daihatsu Naked. The Russians created the Lada brand because the original name, Zhiguli, sounded too much like "gigolo." More »
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Comment by stos: I always thought that something about the Suzuki "Esteem" didn't sit right with me. I second the Ford "Escort." And what was... more » | Other threads
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novelties
Save The Princess In A Lada Zhiguli
Found over yonder in Russia-land is this variant of the Fiat 124, presumably the Lada Zhiguli. What makes this Lada stand out among the millions of them is the matte black rims—not really, it's the amazingly accurate and detailed Mario paint job. The mural contains Goombas, pipes, coins, blocks, red-shelled Koopas and of course, Mario-himself. More »
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Comment by Mazda Eric: the downside to this car having to hum the original mario theme over and over while driving "do-do do, do-do do...do...." more » | Other threads
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novelties
Astroturf-Covered Lada Niva Brings New Meaning To Driving Range
We're not so sure how we feel about grass-covered cars. Sure you can make the argument that they're eco-friendly or whatever, but it just seems like so much upkeep. We would much rather have to wash and wax our car than fertilize and mow it. But what if you covered your ride with grass-like astroturf? And what if your ride was an old Lada Niva? More »
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By Mark ArnoldComment by Naturally Exasperated: Now with even more chrome.: this is so.....COOL!! i wonder if it gets used off-road! more » | Other threads
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racing news
Lada Takes To The Track, Beware The Bears Of May
When we told you about the Lada WTCC entrant we wondered if someone wasn't trying to play with our love of all things Russian. Would someone really square a Lada against Bimmers, SEATs, Hondas and Chevys? The answer is yes. And we have the video above to prove it. SEAT is currently leading the Manufacturer Championship, but they better watch their back as these two Ladas will be on their tail and sporting Opel power. More »
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Comment by J-2-da-B: OMG!!! @ last, the russians r back! :D *sorry, but i drove a LADA 2104 station wagon alot in my life, so... more » | Other threads
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racing news
Lada To Race In World Touring Car Championship, We're Too Stunned To Make Russian Jokes
Normally, when you see a Lada on these pages it's because it is driving in the subway or has been transformed into a monster. But this time we've got a full fledged race version of the tough Lada 110 that's hoping to compete in the WTCC series opposite 3-series bimmers and Euro-spec Accords. If this is a joke we're biting down hard because we want to believe. More »
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Comment by EuropaBambaataa: Russian Bears entered three Accords in a few WTCC rounds last year. 6 to 10 seconds off the pace, depending... more » | Other threads
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By Mark ArnoldComment by Torque: Aaah, crap. Caught by the same problem. Use the special characters for the left and right tag brackets: & lt;... more » | Other threads
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custom cars
Lada Oka Transformed Into Mini Monster
The standard Lada Oka is your typical eastern European econobox; humble transportation that makes a Tata Nano feel macho. But apparently there are some Russians who look at the poor little thing and see the perfect starting point for an all-terrain monster. We have no idea what the thought process was that led up to the creation of such an awesome machine. Given the choice between this and a Jeep or a Hummer, we'd take this every time. Check out the gallery below and see what it originally looked like here. [English Russia] More »
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By Mark ArnoldComment by felis_concolor: Darnit, I don't need to see more fun ideas like that. When the ground is no longer solid enough... more » | Other threads
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maximum wagon day
In Russia, Wagons Maximize Your Day
Who needs a Subaru Outback or a Suzuki SX4 when you could have a... well... whatever these are. At least two of them seem to be variations of the Lada/AvtoVAZ 2100 series wagons set up for some serious on-roading (on-roading on Russian roads is equivalent to off-roading anywhere else). These unique wagons all appear to be stylish enough, in the Russian sense, to cruise the strada in St. Petersburg one day and then camp along the pristine shores of Lake Baikal the next. More »
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Comment by dr.chophoppers coz mr. wont cut it: Always loved these vehicles. They remind me a bit of the Dangel Peugeots of yore: [www.multimania.com] Maybe "dangelized" can become a new... more » | Other threads
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novelties
Lada, Like You Have Never Seen Before
Our love for EnglishRussia is well established, but sometimes you miss solid gold during the occasional auto show mad house. Yes, that is a Lada in the above photo, there is no attached information other than that. We're not sure what the best part is; all that custom body work, the stick on hood scoop, the home fabbed side windows, or the white walled spare tire strapped to the back of the car. Sometimes Russian weirdness has it's moments of greatness. More »
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By Ben WojdylaComment by Stoatmaster: @POLAR: There you go with the Mad reference again. I can see this in Spy V Spy, complete with anguished expression and... more » | Other threads
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offbeat news
In Mother Russia, Lada Stops Concrete Walls!
The post on Russian satellite navigation standards earlier this morning made us remember to check out our favorite site filled with all sorts of borscht. How could we forget to head over to English Russia, the only web site where we're able to find pictures of a Lada going straight through a brick wall with the only explanation for why being: More » -
engine swap
Engine Swap of the Day: Fiat DOHC Into a Lada 2101
Say you're a young hoon in a former Iron Curtain nation chock full of old Russian cars, and you want to do a low-buck engine upgrade. What to do? Well, one easy route is to start with an old rear-wheel-drive Lada and then stuff a readily-available Fiat Twin-Cam engine in it. Since the Lada is based on the Fiat 124, it's reasonably close to a bolt-in deal (though a certain amount of bash-to-fit engineering is needed, due to the whole "based on" business). This Hungarian site has the swap pretty well documented, in case you're tired of the Soviet-style power in your Lada and want to upgrade. [zsiguli.hu]
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Comment by dr.chophoppers coz mr. wont cut it: I used to drive a Polski-Fiat 125p Pickup as a trash truck in Greece (I was bartending there), but it... more » | Other threads
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retro
In Russia, Fiat Ladas YOU!
The Fiat juggernaut of the 1960s rolled into the USSR mid-decade, in the form of a new factory built along the Volga river. An industrial city that sprang up around the plant was named Togliatti, in honor of an Italian communist exiled by the fascists. From there, Fiat's joint venture knocked out Lada 2101s by the score. They appeared to be clones of the Fiat 124 — a disposable crapbox produced in astounding number, sporting flawlessly modernist styling and a perky engine. Its construction wasn't quite fit for the harsh Russian landscape, however, and so the Lada version was reworked to include aluminum brake drums, an overhead-cam engine, higher ground clearance and more robust steel body. It also had a starting handle, which assumed the battery situation would be iffy at best in the Siberian cold. Owing to those reinforcements and a brisk market for spare parts, Lada 2101s have survived decades to become a cult classic — a kind of Datsun 510 for the vodka-slugging set. Exactly how they've survived has often been a matter for the sometimes, let's say, overzealous aftermarket suppliers, for better or worse. Enjoy. [Comedy.ru via Photofile.ru] -
custom cars
In Russia, Zen Is Going To Find You!
This turkey (spotted by the eagle-eyed Seth L) is based on the teeny Lada Niva 4x4. Don't know the Niva? Imagine a Honda 600 Coupe crossbred with a Yugo. The Niva was Soviet Russia's attempt at a bar bones Subaru. Of course we're hoping our yellow friend here is based off the Cossack model. Also, nice roof rack/brush guard, dork. Enjoy! Update: Another jacked up Niva! [englishrussia.com] More »
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Comment by RoninianHoon: WHAT! Bigfoot and a Ford Escort had sex? OMG the world is going to end... more » | Other threads
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low-cost lambo
In Russia, Devil Runs With YOU!
Allegedly, this modified Lada 2108 is supposed to look like a Diablo, but to us, it carries a distinctly Espada vibe. Or maybe that of an Islero. Whatever the case, it's yet another wonderful depiction as to what can happen to a man when armed only with a Lada, too much time on his hands, a set of tools from Gorky's House of Discount Wrenches and a case of bathtub vodka. [English Russia]
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Comment by lascauxcaveman: @graviton: Started with this guy: [en.wikipedia.org] more » | Other threads
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in russia, vaz tweaks you!
Heavily Tweaked Lada
English Russia once again comes through with evidence of capitalism's impact on the former Soviet Union. East, meet west. West, meet East. Now add turbochargers and scissor doors. The yikes factor is strong with this one; it's even got a head-up display! We have to admit, we're not entirely sure about the styling but well, it does kinda grab you by the face and yank. Yes comrades, we'll give it that. [English Russia]
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Comment by yellofury :bigger longer and more yellow: @Vintage Racer: Renault 5 turbo (ala Le Car) had some serious box flares too bad its was a Renault more » | Other threads
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the constant variety of soviets
On Globe, Soviet Cars Span YOU!
More hosannas and praise are to be heaped upon the glorious celebration of state and culture formally known as English Russia. Here they've wrassled up a plethora of Soviet-era vehicles from around the planet. We're still bitter about not being able to pick up a Lada Niva in California, but we're gonna yell over to Andrei to fire up the jukebox and rock out to some Stravinsky. That and the vodka gimlets should ease the pain. [English Russia] -
may day
Mayday! Mayday! Drive To A Groovy Socialist Utopia In Your Lada 1500S
Dig, comrades, the mindblowing far-outness of the glorious workers' car: the Lada 1500S! More »
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Comment by andy_f: Yup, that's Finnish alright and I would know since i live just a few miles from the Swedish-Finnish border:) After the... more » | Other threads
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hoon of the day
Hoon of the Day: Lada Versus Volvo Norwegian Jumpstravaganza
First of all, congratulations to the hoons who brought us Sprint Jumping, as they've won our first-ever Hoon of the Week award! The Eldorado Versus Camper hoons come in with a strong second place in our poll; looks like jumping hoonage outranks crashing hoonage. So, with that in mind, here's a video of some hoons in Norway pounding the crap out of a Lada and a Volvo in an appropriately leaden-skied frozen Scandinavian setting. They don't get much hang time with their cars, but they pick up 3 bonus points for the 80s Alice Cooper soundtrack (which complements rather than replaces the sound of screaming engines and rending metal- you paying attention, hoons?), 5 points for the idiotic positioning of the cameraman where he'll be splattered straight to Valhalla if a car loses control after a jump, and another 10 points just because a Lada is involved. Hoon-O-Meter reading: 34 points. More »
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Comment by imoody: Yeah. Driving both cars until they're utterly destroyed should net them at least 5 extra points. Oh, and did I... more » | Other threads
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concept cars
Geneva Showcase: Lada C
Lada, the venerable AutoVAZ brand that was once a Soviet-era clearinghouse for ten-year-old Fiats, is on the move. And by "the move," we mean they're building brand new cars of 1990s vintage. And to show off its new direction, Lada showed up in Geneva with the Lada C, a prototype of a car it probably has no intention to build, but that looks like a rally hatch version of Mitsubishi's Concept X. Sure, it's probably just a fiberglass body dropped over a Fiat 124 chassis. But dammit, it shows they've got pluck, like the crew of the Battleship Potemkin. Or those guys from "Weekend at Bernie's." More »
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Comment by B_Hydяa: Looks a bit like someone left the GT-R prototype in the dryer for too long... more » | Other threads
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retro
Celtic Lada Dorifto Fun!
Man, it's times like this that we really, really, wish we had a Lada Riva. People tell us we don't really want one. But we really think we do. With a turbo. And Panasports. And a snorkel and a wheelie bar and a deployable oil slick that lights on fire. And a hammerhead shark to ride shotgun with us. Oh, and like 80 KC Daylighters mounted everywhere. More »
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Comment by Elhigh: Don't much care about Ladas one way or the other, but that's an excellent vid: Irish stepdancing, Russian crapbox style. more » | Other threads
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news: new cars
In Russia, Lada 2107 Updates YOU!
Ah, the wascally wags of AvtoVAZ. Hewing to some Marxist hangover dictate to give the people what they want, they've brought back an updated, all-new version of the dubiously-classic, yet highly symbolic Lada 2107. Now that you've done that, VAZzers, how 'bout a new Niva? Please? Pretty-as-you-please, please? More »
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Comment by nicjasno: At first i thought it's a variant of the ford ranger, before i looked a bit better. more » | Other threads
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news: industry news
In Jordan, Lada Builds YOU!
Ivan looked over Jordan, and what did he see? A place to call a Lada plant home. Ol' King Abdullah was agreein' with he, a Lada plant will call Jordan home. Swing low, sweet AvtoVaz, you'll have a place to call a Lada plant home. Swing low, sweet AvtoVaz, you a place to call a Lada plant home. More »
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Comment by jpegger: I don't think they'll be building the Niva though:( Too bad... They're great! I've always wanted one! more » | Other threads
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top gear
Classic Top Gear: Lotus Pimps a Lada!
We figure this will provide you with a nice break in the Motown action wherein Hammond gets the Lotus boys to drop 100,000 worth of British Bruce on a lowly Lada owned by the world's geekiest dweeb. Of course, Clarkson the cruel does get the guy on his belly. Until tomorrow... [Mr. Gold, keep the tips coming] More »
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Comment by thnikkamax: a hundred thousand quid, ey? And he doesn't even get a touch screen SatNav, or an LCD gauge cluster?... more » | Other threads
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retro
Hoons of the Day: Lada Stunt Team
Oh man, not the old taking-off-the-rims-while-rolling-on-two-wheels trick again. [Thanks to Keith for the tip.] More » -
retro
Pesto! Calzone! Gnocchi! Borscht! Paella! The Fiat 124!
Yes, it's the Fiat 124, the car that didn't outlast the Beetle or the Mini, but nevertheless jumpstarted a number of automotive industries, including those of the Rodina (Lada Riva), Spain, (SEAT 124), India (Premier 118NE), Bulgaria (Pirin-Fiat) and Turkey. Meanwhile, we're really missing that prepackaged, boil-in-pack Indian food we found abandoned in our Apart-Hotel room in Paris, and hating the construction workers across the street who are using something that sounds roughly like a TIE Fighter sans Doppler effect. If a gat were handy, a gat would be at hand. More » -
retro
Clarkson Euthanizes a Lada
We make no bones about our love for Communist-era cars from Eastern Europe. And much as Stalin was to Hoxha, the Lada of its day was unquestionably king of the hill, lording it over such brands as Skoda and Wartburg with an iron fist that stretched beyond the Iron Curtain. Clarkson, however, doesn't like the Lada. In fact, he loathes the plucky little Russian beastie. Loathes it enough to employ it in a stunt involving earth-moving equipment and pyrotechnic charges, in fact. More »
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Comment by Peter Orosz: Ladas are cool. My parents had a Lada. Two, in fact. Our company limo is a 1976 Lada 1200 (slightly... more » | Other threads
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clips
Partition Number One! Retro Russian Lada Ad
Back in the 1990s, as the Russian military was re-orienting to the post-Cold War world, work was scarce. Many soldiers were forced to take jobs in the entertainment industry just to put boiled root vegetables on the table. Lucky for them Lada, which was getting its capitalism on by selling cars based on a design from the 1970s, needed cheap "talent" for its ads. It seemed like a perfect match, until that time Yatzi drank too much vodka and mistook his clarinet for a Kalashnikov. Or was that the other way around? More »
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Comment by Pete Gaines: OK, I got the scoop on this. The song was a cheesy Russian pop song in the early 90s, and... more » | Other threads
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commentary
Jalopnik Poll: Car of the Girl of Your Dreams
So I was e-mailing with a gal-pal this morning about her latest dating experience. She'd mentioned all the things about said guy that were right; that he seemed great on paper, but she just wasn't that into him. And then she mentioned the deal-breaker. He'd rather have a bicycle than an Aston Martin. Now, said gal-pal is not a money-grubber or a gold-digger, but she does have rather good taste in vehicles, and I got to thinking (and this is a thought I'd had for years) that a girl who can really pull off an Aston is the sort of girl I want to date, as in Aston, specifically. More »
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Comment by iamjames: Lamborghini Countach sexiest.... car.... EVER and you know any girl that would be driving that would have to be smoking hot and... more » | Other threads
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retro
Better Than Everything at SEMA This Year: The Lada Samara
On its own, a Lamborghini Murcielago kicks the crap out of it. But as soon as you bolt a pair of amythyst-encrusted dubs on the damn thing, the Samara leaps to the forefront of awesomeness faster than Carl Lewis with a General Electric turbofan wedged in his booty and JATO units strapped to his considerable biceps. And you know for a fact that Asanti, Lexani, P. Diddy, or Shaniqua will do just that in the mammoth tire-and-wheel pukefest at this year's SEMA Show. More » -
custom cars/hot rods
Holiest of Holies! The Ladacamino!
Look. I, Davey G. Johnson, supposedly of sound mind and body, know that Mike Austin is supposed to fulfill the role of the smartass El Camino-fetishist who somehow ended up being occasionally smooth with the ladies while I take a much-needed rest. And so far, he's doing well. But goddammit, reader "Regards" Mattias just sent in a Ladacamino. It's rusted. It's dented. Mister Jalopy would probably trade his girlfriend for it. It is homebrew, Eastern-Bloc style desperation at its finest. Its dilapidated sheer radness brings tears. You know? Screwit. Screw R&R and redecorating and whatnot. An emo Ladacamino? That shit's a job for one man, and one man alone. That's worth interrupting a sabbatical for. More »
lada
Detroit, 12:23 AM
Sat Jul 11
28 posts in the last 24 hours
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