Wanted Strange Desires: Hindustan Ambassador/DAF/FSO/Polski Fiat, blahblahblah

[Urban_Paranoia]

For some reason, now that I’m over 50, my thoughts are turning to vehicles which - in my younger years - would have been the cause for much derision...

 

Hindustan Ambassador

DAF

FSO

Lada

Polski Fiat

Trabant

Wartburg

Etc

 

I can’t work out if it’s the onset of early dementia or a growing affection for the previously unloved corners of automotive transport.

 

On a serious note, I know that many of the above (and similar) have a big following nowadays, so I’m not entirely alone.

 

So...specifications:

 

•Cheap-ish

•Quirky

*A bit naff

•Not entirely water-soluble

•Fun to own*

•Preferably not a total basket case**

 

*This may not be possible.

**This may also not be possible.

[worldofceri]

FOAD has a nice Lada Riva for sale, I believe.

[Split_Pin]

CYANIDE_STEVE would be your man for FSO knowledge although I dont know if he is still on here ad he hasnt posted for a fair while.

[Junkman]

I'm afraid all the ones listed are desirable classics for the mainstream collectors and have thus long since left Autoshite territory.

It's because all those over 50s are suddenly hankering after them thinking it would make them appear somewhat strange.

The real underdogs of the Cold War era are from the exact opposite of the spectrum - posh Western saloons.

Those are avoided like the clap, so that would be the truly strange desire.

[purplebargeken]

I know where Daf's are for sale. PM me if interested

[DodgyBastard]

http://autoshite.com/topic/31863-lada-riva-1500-fife-scotland-£1200/?fromsearch=1

 

Sent from my G3311 using Tapatalk

[320touring]

If you don't want a total basketcase, then no Hindustan ambassador for you, young fellamilad

[dollywobbler]

Not entirely water soluble probably rules out most of them.

[MorrisItalSLX]

A Trabbi would be the best fit for your criteria, if you find a nice one.

 

Looking forward to more eastern bloc chod on here.

[skoda_fan]

I say go for it and go for something from your list. I've owned two FSO's and one Lada in the past and loved them.

[fordperv]

Here you go on the bay of e a ready to drive trabbi comes with a trabbi combi for free, you could be a winner drive the main one while restoring the combi

https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Trabant-601/163025228144?hash=item25f50f9170:g:77QAAOSwLnBawSJ7

[Sigmund Fraud]

•Cheap-ish

•Quirky

*A bit naff

•Not entirely water-soluble

•Fun to own*

•Preferably not a total basket case**

 

*This may not be possible.

**This may also not be possible.

 

DAFs tick all those boxes.

 

They're still the cheapest possible way into 1970s motoring, and I really don't understand why. They're well-built, nice to drive and easy to fix with excellent spares support.

[vulgalour]

Instead of the popular Hindustan Ambassador, get yourself a highly undesireable and much rarer Austin Ambassador.  Derision is guaranteed.  They are never expensive, definitely quirky, absolutely a bit naff, surprisingly rot resistant, can be fun to own (they handle better than you'd expect), and there are examples out there that aren't total basket cases.  Don't get the older Princess, though, they're gaining in popularity and price in a way the Ambassador - an ostensibly better car in every regard - just isn't.

[Felly Magic]

Tidy Ladas & FSOs are now commanding silly money, same goes for Skoda Estelles, Yugos aren't though, and I had great fun driving a Yugo 45A that had barely 15,000 miles on and was mint.and didn't cost the owner very much at all

[AnthonyG]

Lada Samara and Skoda Favorit are still cheapish and early versions of both are still very Warsaw Pact. Also Yugo Sana, although finding one might be tricky. Yugo 45 is a good call, basically a Fiat 127 in a sharp suit.

 

These used to be everywhere in the West Midlands, a dealer called Swithland Motors was wealthy enough to blanket Central TV with ads for them. Then they all disappeared overnight in about 1994.

 

EDIT: forget all the above, just buy whatever shonky Dacia DW and Cats manage to drive back from the Balkans!!!

[fordperv]

why Reg ?

It just happens to be that year

[Sigmund Fraud]

Yugo 45 is a good call, basically a Fiat 127 in a sharp suit.

 

Yugos are a bizarre mix of 127 and 128, both in terms of panels and in terms of running gear. Compared to their Italian relatives, they're (even more) poorly built and feel rather agricultural to drive, but there is a definitive "iron curtain" charm about them !

[Simon M]

These used to be everywhere in the West Midlands, a dealer called Swithland Motors was wealthy enough to blanket Central TV with ads for them.

 

 

Why do they sniff Wally before he faints?