Lot number | 164 |
---|---|
Hammer value | £550 |
Description | ZAZ 968A |
Registration | N/A |
Year | c.1971 |
Colour | Red |
Engine size | 1,196 cc |
Chassis No. | 454999 |
Engine No. | 225324 |
Documents | No documents |
One of three Ukrainian-built Zaporozhets machines in Mr Bremner’s collection, this ZAZ 968 is thought to date from 1971 and is the successor to the very similar 966 with sleeker front-end styling, an improved dash layout and better front brakes.
Said to have been running recently, it has a 1,196cc, V4 rear-engine and is reputedly endowed with as much as 40bhp on a good day, although it is fair to say that the best days of this example may be behind it, requiring, as it does, a degree of titivation. It is showing 74,330km on the odometer (46,200 miles) which could well be correct – who knows? The car was imported from Lithuania in 2016 and, as you have probably guessed by now, it comes with no documentation.
There is a real cult following for these Soviet-era oddballs, and there are those who would argue that they were no worse than the Skoda or Wartburg of the day. The British motoring scene was only the poorer for not having them. This car may not be to everyone’s taste but the members of the Unloved Socialist and Soviet Register Car Club (it really does exist, honest) will fall on you with open arms and cries of “tovarisch!” if you roll up to one of their gatherings aboard it.