This thing is really neat. Me thinks it's too valuable to do anything but restore it and show it. Cant wait to see what a 78 model looks like. What country do they come from. Give us some history on where you got yours. It kinda reminds me of some early 70's VW rabbit from the rear view.
It's a Russian thing sold as Lada Niva, AVtoVaZ 2121 and lada 4x4 and Lada taiga
1600 carb 4 cylinder
VW 1.9 diesel
1700 fuel injected petrol
4 speed manual until 1993 when they put a 5 speed manual in
Permanent 4 wheel drive diff locks
Hand Crank start, which is still a thing on 2019 models
They can climb a 60% gradient (yes that suprised me they actually can) they can wade over 3ft in water, air intake is top of stomach high and I'm 6ft.
They come from the factory with tractor tyres
They started production in 77
Imported to 60 countries ish in 1978
Still make them identically to day except modern ones have heated seats power folding mirrors and EVERY thing you could imagine. They are still the same shape the only difference is grill-bumper-vertical tail lights.
I bought this one from a scrap yard in febuary it had been sitting there for 15 years but the owner of the scrap yard was adamant it was to good to get crushed- I paid £400 or $500 I think.
IT has 44k miles on the clock and started up on the key with 20 year old petrol with a new battery. EVERYTHING works. The 93 is quite special though the only RHD 1600cc 1993 left in Europe and the only cossack of its year because cossack finished the year before. but it was unregistered by the dealer till later that year but got all the post 93 parts added by the dealer such a cloth seats and sunroof.
The 78 I imported from Hungaria in 2006.