Guys if you like 4x4 vehicles as much as we do I think this video will be interesting
for you.
Today you will see extremely rare experimental 4x4 amphibious USSR cars, incredible cars,
but they had never been produced on the line due to the global crisis of the early 90th.
Stay tuned, we are to start right now!
Lets start with this strange looking vehicle which is called UAZ Jaguar.
First of all this machine stands out because of the very peculiar look.
I think many of us painted such cars in our childhood, didn’t you?
But such a design resulted from the fact that this vehicle is a real amphibian.
It was designed in 1976 and 14 experimental units had been produced by 1990.
Under the hood we see here a regular 4 cylinder petrol engine – nothing interesting.
But there are other interesting solutions.
There are two screw propellers next to the rear axle, you may see them now.
And the front wheels are used like a rudder on water.
As a result on water this car can accelerate up to 10 km/h, that is not bad for an amphibian.
Besides there are other features: the mechanical winch driven by the engine, waterproof body
,extraction pump and so on.
The vehicle managed to pass numerous severest tests.
It was used in the toughest conditions, it went through the heat and snow, mountains
and swamps.
It proved to be a very effective all terrain vehicle, but unfortunately it had never been
produced on the line due to the collapse of the state.
So few people in the world know what this model is.
This is experimental USSR project which is called NIVA River.
Looking at the car It is really hard to believe that this vehicle is also amphibious!
The base here is the legendary USSR 4x4 vehicle Niva, its extremely popular offroader throughout
the world!
And the engineers managed even to improve the car, by making it amphibious.
I think if this vehicle had ever been serial produced it would have been a real offroading
masterpiece!
Unlike the previous car, the construction of this vehicle is not very complicated and
expensive.
In fact its almost the same legendary NIva with insane offroading capabilities , but
this one is amphibious.
The body, gearbox and transfer case are waterproof and also there is a special dumper that makes
an engine a waterproof too.
But there are no any screw propellers, so it can move on water only by rotating of the
wheels, so the speed is not very impressive about 4 km/h.
The interior is mostly standard, its functional and well considered.
By the way it is a convertible car, a soft roof can be removed in warm weather.
The project passed through the numerous tests, results were so successful, it even was approved
by government for serial production.
But again the same story, it remained in history only as a project due to the collapse of the
state.
And again we have here the victim of hard times of the USSR history.
It is so called LUAZ 1901.
For civilians it was presented at the exhibition in Kiev in 1998.
But initially it was constructed for military purposes in early 70th.
This project was a last chance for the manufactory to avoid the bankruptcy.
Unfortunately it was too late.
But the project itself is gorgeous.
The all six wheels drive.
The independent suspension for each wheel.
The tests proved that the vehicle is extremely effective on rough terrain, besides its rather
smooth for the passengers, due to the advanced suspension.
Moreover the wheel base is rather long so the car is able to climb the ascent of 58
degrees, so impressive result!
There is a diesel 3 cylinders engine 1,5 liters capacity and 51 horse power, that provides
the maximum speed 60 km/h.
It is not astonishing speed, but on the other hand it is also a real amphibious vehicle.
It moves on water by rotating of 6 wheels with the speed 5 km/h.
The interior wasn’t completely designed, but we can see here inside the care huge space
for many passengers or equipment.
Totally it was produced only 8 units, and nowadays this unit is possibly the last one.
And this is one of the most ambitious USSR project in car industry!
Engineers were going to make one of the most popular 4x4 vehicle not only in the country
but in the whole world!
And I should say that the vehicle has all the features to became an extremely successful
offroader!
Meet the UAX Wagon – a classic oldscool 4wheeler!
Why is it interesting?
The point is that the engineers tried to apply the best solutions of all the huge experience
of ussr military car industry.
Durable solid frame, the body made of the high quality steel, decent design for that
times.
It even was the possibility to choose the engine.
There were two variants Gas engine 2.9 liters capacity and 105 hp or diesel one.
Hydraulic power steering, quite moderate fuel consumption about 11 liters per 100 km, decent
speed 120 km/h.
Inside the car we can see nice and functional interior and a lot of room.
But the most important another features.
Its offroading capabilities!
There were numerous tests on a rough terrain and absolutely all of them turned to be very
successful!
Such bright capabilities resulted from the portal axles.
That is why the ground clearance is huge, it is 330 mm!
And the wheel track is 1460 mm!
Besides even the standard model has s snorkel so it can move in water with depth 1,5 meter.
After successful passing of all the tests this project was approved for serial production
by all the official channels.
But again the same story and it was produced only 9 units totally.
Well guys all these machines were going to be serial produced but for the state crysis,
and I am so interested to know how successful would have they been?
Maybe now all our 4x4 vehicles would be and amphibious machines as a standard option.
Please post in the comments your thoughts, if amphibious offroaders are worth to be serial
produced?
And one more question, please give us your opinions if you want to see on this channel
more videos about various rarest machines like these ones.
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