Is the UAZ-452 line the oldest vehicle in continuous production? It started life in 1958 as the UAZ-450, and it wasn’t exactly all that new under the skin then as its bread loaf body sat on the chassis of the venerable GAZ-69 four wheel drive truck. In 1965 a slightly revised version arrived, dubbed the -452, which you see here as shot by Roshake77 in Budapest, Hungary. The engine is the UMZ452MI 2.4 L four, rated at 75 hp, and was able to run on gas as low as 72 octane, although it preferred at least 76 octane.
Let’s call it the Soviet Econoline, although it beat it to the market by two years.
I have no idea what year this one is. In 1985, the model line was revised and spun off into separate submodels: 39625, 3962, 3303, 3909 and 2206. The main changes included lighting that met modern international requirements, alarms, a new instrument panel, and a new speedometer. The brakes were redesigned. The engine was also upgraded, and its power output increased to 99 hp.
In the early 2000’s, there were further revisions, including headrests for the seats. And the engine was updated to meet whatever emission standards were in effect at the time. And as a concession to improved safety, the steel steering wheel was replaced by a modern plastic one.
In 2011, another round of improvements ensued, including ABS brakes, power steering, seat belts and Euro-4 emission controls as standard equipment.
Numerous body styles and applications were available, including ambulance, minibus, single and double-cab pickups. Obviously all of these are adapted to the more remote parts of Russia, where they still meet a demand for a highly rugged and capable 4×4 vehicle for a variety of uses.
Here’s a link to their current website, if you’d like to mull over ordering one up for yourself.
Will it make it to 100 years? Only 37 more years to go.
The B-52 of vans!
Quite a piece of history! Thanks, Paul.
Looked it up in the national registry based on the plate, its a 1975 model. Interestingly its also listed as having a 3 liter engine not a 2.4, but that could just be a mistake. Took the pics in january of 2018 (I’m going through and putting up all my old pics on the cohort, over 2k). The vans registration expired in june of the same year and it hasn’t been re-registered since.
“Is the UAZ-452 line the oldest vehicle in continuous production?”
If an airplane is a vehicle then no. Lockheed C-130 production aircraft first delivered in 1956 and prototypes built prior to that. Still in production.
It never occurred to me that these would still be in production. But no longer designated 452 – now simply the UAZ Classic. Definitely deserving of that title.
https://uaz.global/cars/commercial/classic
Fun website! Why can’t a box on wheels stay the same?
Thanks for the link. I will add it to the post.
I could use one of these!
100% agree. In my opinion, if a vehicle meets emissions standards, passenger safety should be up to the individual. It has to be safer than a motorcycle!
I have had a nearly lifetime jones for an Eastern European rig, ARO, UAZ, Zastava Ural, etc. There is just something so absolutely utilitarian and brick like about their designs that appeals to me.
When I was deployed to Bosnia in the late 90’s, I was treated to encountering a wide variety of iron curtain iron in its native environment, including a few 452s. I did get to drive an ARO 244 I rented while on R and R on the Croatian coast, which was (for me) a real treat.
There were a few ARO 244s imported into Canada in the early 80s. In the 2000s There was a plan to sell them here through an independent importer with a Ford 2.8 V6 (at the time Ford had no 4 door Bronco II so no competition for Ford) installed at the US port. BUT Ford canceled the project (Due to the release of the Bronco II 4 door?) at the last minute after about 50 engineless 244s had been imported. There is a website run by an ex-pat in the USA restoring a couple. I found one in Texas for sale about 15 years ago. Customs seized the 50 when the engine deal fell through and they eventually got sold off. Look up ARO USA FB page. I’d like to have one too.
Today I saw an ARO pickup towing a largish trailer. It was in great condition, almost looked restored. This is in south-western Ontario. Over the years I have seen a couple of AROs, but not for many years.
In the Netherlands we have a dealer selling these sturdy 4WD vans, imported new from Russia and adapted a little to Western European standards. One of the models they offer is a fully equipped camper, meant for truly offroad holiday trips. You don’t see them often here, though!
“….and was able to run on gas as low as 72 octane, although it preferred at least 76 octane.”
Can gasoline even have an octane rating that low and still be called gasoline?
Sorry if this is dumb question, but it’s been 44 years since the high school chemistry class where this was covered for me.
Ever heard of “Philips 66”?
66 octane, high enough to brag about at the time. Engines of the time were often flatheads with less than 6:1 compression ratio.
Story I heard was that a few years later, “Union 76” was ten octane numbers higher than the Philips product.
As late as ’46, 70-something octane was common.
I don’t know if the rating method was Research or Motor (or something else.) The two rating methods have a typical spread of 5–7 numbers. In the USA, they’re now combined and averaged, to produce “Pump Octane” or “Anti-Knock Index”; the number posted on the gasoline pump.
Reminds me of a Jeep Forward Control.
And if a motorcycle is a vehicle then the UAZ production lifetime only matches the Honda Super Cub – the most produced vehicle in history.