Test Drive UAZ 469 1972 - HB SUV

Red proletarian

What prompted suddenly to write about anything in a whole not a remarkable, familiar from childhood by car? The main thing - turned 35 years since the beginning of his serial release. Well, probably, the fact that there is no aesthetics in this life, the carrier of which is the 408th - the characteristic singing of his unlock, but the travelers is already rare when you hear in a modern transport stream.
The capacity of 50 or 55 forces (depending on this - the index e in the engine marking) in 1358 cubes of volume - not achievement even at that time. The design of the motor with its roots is still in the pre-warning era - the inner (in the block) camshaft, which is driven by a textolite gear, the rod drive of the valves, a cast-iron block, a three-sample crankshaft, non-trap-threaded separate oil filtration ... in general - the day before yesterday. However, the car successfully performed in its class in the international rally and enjoyed good demand abroad. The secret is in endurance, not peculiar to foreign classmates (and characterized by many Soviet cars).
Muscovite 408 is a conservative and exceptionally strong car compared to the then Ford, Renault, Fiat and other passenger cars. For the first time in the Soviet aircraft in the design, 13 wheels were applied, the hood with a hinge on the front loops, the K126 P carburetor with a launched semi-automatic heating and the insanity of the cabin is completely from synthetic materials.
Compared with previous models 407 and 403, the car looks significantly more stylish. An illuminatious machine seems more elongated than in fact - the reason in different sizes of the wheel arches and a significant number of smooth, drop-down from the transfer to the des, lines.
There was a version of the design of the front with four headlights instead of two, which made this quite solid on the view of the car even more solid. Unfortunately, in our time, such a Muscovite will almost not meet - most of them in their time went to export. To get a four-plane could only selected Soviet citizens - according to the checks of the Vesseltor.
The car cost significantly cheaper than his foreign analogues, and the equipment was where as richer - it included a complete toolkit, decorative elements added to external solidity, and a transistor receiver AT 64 with a half-meter telescopic antenna. In addition to receiving the ranges of DV and SV receiver, it also provided the tone adjustment!
Inside the car - the domination of the Soviet stagerocosmic design. The main place in the interior is the instrument shield that allows you to control all the main parameters of the engine operation. Two hand switches: On the left - turn signs, on the right - control of the gearbox. As a result, a solid sofa in front (on the first releases of the car, until 1967).
The salon seems very spacious due to successful color solutions, good and ergonomics. Rear passengers, however, are somewhat deprived by comfort (a small base of the car is affected), nevertheless people are medium-sized back from behind free. Over your head there is also enough space. Huge panoramic windshield and rear windows, as well as thin body racks contribute to an excellent review. Pedals and levers do not require the efforts of the legs of the cyclist or hands of a bodybuilder. The secret of the ease of the steering wheel - in the cordless rotary racks of the front suspension.
The mileage of the car provided to us is 29.000 km, the state of international classification is the first category. Summer exploitation, lack of a pardon and as a result of a trailer with full load - here are the reasons for such a convincing appearance. All units and nodes are native, the size of the cylinders is naturally denominated, 76 mm.
With my left hand turn the ignition key, at the same time the right foot comes slightly on the accelerator. The engine comes to life and as heated becomes silent. I configure the rear view mirror in the cabin and go. The algorithm of work with a steering wheel lever - as well as at the outdoor location of the control mechanism, with the only difference that the move in the neutral position is parallel with the steering column. The movement moves of the Great gear are a feature of all classic Muscovites with four-stage transmissions. The boxes are weak structurally - as possible in such a small carger to manage to shove such a number of shafts, gears and synchronizers, for what? The answer is simple - for greater unification of aggregates of different models and minimal alterations when installing subsequent units to previous models. After all, it is known that many years in the USSR did not have a developed network of service, and there are no roads now.
The eighth with ease is gaining momentum, and here I am already moving on a straight fourth gear. Even in a small speed, you can steer with one hand, rolling it along the ram, thin and considerable in diameter. The thumb, the usual case lies on the ring of the beep. The factory emblem who changed over the years of the car was recessed deeply in the center of the steering wheel. Sound signal cutting, you will not think better. On a solid sofa, you can fall apart very implicit, no seat belts interfere ...
Car brakes do not have an amplifier, but enough sharp. Already in those years, Muscovites had a system of self-regulation of gaps between pads and drums. Dealers of autoxport (in Finland - Konela, in Belgium - Scaldia) independently put hydraulic brake amplifiers, but this device will appear only on the 412 model in 1969. It is curious that the car was coming under the brand of ELITE 1360 - a very stylish stainless steel signboard was manufactured for it. Other decor attributes were installed for dealers, such as ventilation grilles on the rear body racks, additional rear cataphoths in massive metal housings. Yes, and the factory number of chrome and anodized elements was considerable.
The rotation radius of the Muscovite 408 is small and allows you to maneuver in very limited spaces. Strong multi-dimensional front and spring rear suspensions are well combined with our roads. In the front bridge you need to syringe only four points (instead of 19 in GAZ-21), and even then - after 50 thousand km of mileage. People who exploited Muscovite 408 in the countryside, praised him for an outstanding permeability and excellent traction at low revs, and athletes celebrated a good engine performance in extreme conditions. Muscovites 408 often performed in various international rally and brought good results. For the country, the car was the bestseller of auto-export and the symbol of international recognition, and for the people - the subject of lust and the reason for perennial queues ...
Stay. The pensioner is suitable - surprises the preservation of the car and flashes about his same, broken down by the unborn son and which year standing in the garage ...
They say that Peugeot and Porsche were suused due to the use of the last patented designation of models with a three-digit number with zero in the middle. The USSR did not pay attention to such little things and calmly sent four hundred eighth to exports. At some point, Dinky's model firm released Muscovite 408 on a scale of 1:43 - it was the first large-scale model of the Soviet car. The French in the 60s were big friends of the USSR ...
JSC Moskvich is friendly with the French and now. It is a pity that the quality of the current products is not a comparison with the then models ...
Congratulations to all owners of Muscovites 408 with the thirty-five-year-old anniversary of the car.
The author expresses his appreciation to Ms. N.M.Pryshkova for the car provided for filming.
Egor Carpunin

  

A source: Motor magazine [№11 / 1999]