510? Not!

[68DSU]

I saw this car on a recent trip. I thought, at first glance, that it was a 510. I started seeing more and more of them around the city and finally got a close look at this one.
Can anyone guess what it is?

[bikermike]

It looks like a Russian Lada based on a Fiat design.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VAZ-2101

[ChrisS]

Yep- looks like a Lada. First car I ever rented. Italy in 1980. Was about half the price of any other rental (and they rented it to college students under 21). Weighs about 2000 pounds and has about 50 hp. Add 4 college kids and beer/food for a long weekend and it did 0 to 50 in just over an hour and handled the Alps like a barge. That picture brings back memories. Can't believe that there are any of these left outside of Cuba.

The earlier models actually had a hand crank (according to Wiki)!

[spl310]

Add 4 college kids and beer/food for a long weekend and it did 0 to 50 in just over an hour and handled the Alps like a barge.

That is an AWESOME description! I had a good laugh off of that. Thanks!

[68DSU]

You are too good!
I thought I could stump you with that one. It is indeed a Lada in Havana and It sounded like it had a go kart engine. What you could hear above the rattles.

[ChrisS]

Yeah, I remember me and my buddy threatening to pull a Barney and Fred, cut a hole in the floorboards, and start running. It was so tedious that we let the girls drive!

On a related note, did you see some cool 50's American and German cars in Havana? Haven't been, but have heard that there are really interesting transformer FrankenCheveyLincolnCadyFords running there. I'm wondering if, when the country opens up, the major industry will be exporting 50's auto technology. Heard from a friend who has been a number of times that it is really not rare that a family has kept a Chevy running continuously for 50 to 60 years! Three generations of continuous use!

[68DSU]

I'd say about a third of the cars are 50's American. At least they started that way. A lot of them have been converted to diesel (gas costs about what it does here but their income is miles behind.) and most don't pass a close up inspection. A lot of sidecars on motorcycles too.