Yes ours has the cool Jetsons-looking side scoops. Those are what earned the 966 its nickname “ushastiy” or “big-eared one.” They have adjustable flaps in the engine bay to restrict air flow in the winter.

I can’t recall compression ratio off the top of my head, but it is quite low, because the fuel used back in the…

I think most people under-appreciate just how advanced the Niva was for its era (which, to be fair, was in 1977):

It was the first SUV that I’m aware of to marry a unibody construction with a smooth car like ride (independent front suspension, coil sprung 5-link rear axle borrowed from the Lada aka Fiat 124), with a…

It’s more like “Zaporozhetsi”

Source: I’m a Russian whose family owns a запорожец

My family’s ZAZ 966 sitting in a garage co-op in Siberia:

Was it not worth mentioning that a US airstrike obliterated a Syrian Army position not too long ago? Or that Israel has conducted a number of strikes targeting Syrian govt forces throughout the war?

Or does that not jibe with things?

Correction: only one of the pilots from the SU-24 died, the other was rescued in a operation by Syrian special forces. The Russians lost a marine when a landed Mi-8 participating in the rescue operation was hit by an ATGM.

Not mentioned in this article is Trump slipping a busboy serving his table (a Latino kid, oh my!) a $100 bill.

Take that for what it’s worth, echo chamber.

Funny they didn’t mention what the wheel travel of the older solid rear axle truck was to compare to new. The “real” ground clearance of the gen 1 was definitely better, visible just at a glance (yes it nominally may have improved one gen 2 because there isn’t a rear diff in line with the rear wheel axis any more). …

A succinct and realistic take on things (IMO), kniga.

The Ukraine had initially deployed aircraft (primarily helicopter gunships, but a few Su25s as well I think). The implied Russian position was “we’ll stock the separatists with more than enough AA to make this a non-option,” a number of Mi 24s were brought down by MANPADS iirc. So there’s basically been no Ukrainian…

Nothing really special, just a Prado 120, not even a newer 200 series. Just a upper-middle class guy (small business owner maybe). Last year I saw a brand new 2016 LC200 roll through my grandma’s rural Siberian village and almost shit myself. A lot of wealthy city folks have been buying property in the sticks to…

“pro-Russian hicks in the Donbass would be forced to the bargaining table.”

This is the exact attitude that motivated many of those in Eastern Ukraine to take up arms, FWIW. It’s basically the Eastern European equivalent of West Virginia/Rust Belt. Economically poor, but proud people who didn’t take well to being…

I’d say $10k is an ample budget for a reasonable 4th gen, maybe not a restyled sub 100k later year truck, but locally pre-restyle 4th gens with 150kish can be found for $7-9k condition and options variable. My biggest concern would be underbody rust. They resist body rot immensely well, but the undersides can be…

In original OHV guise the Cologne is a workhorse. The SOHC variant is a real bastardized thing, with timing chains running on both the front and rear of the motor. The rear chain is driven off a jackshaft running through where the cam-in-block of the OHV was. Timing chain tensioner/guide cassettes tend to fail…

I had suggested it earlier, but am in grey-zone purgatory!

Not to be a wet blanket or anything, but a carbureted 40 year old Land Cruiser that gets about 10 mpg is probably jumping the shark for you, someone that wants the aesthetic and capabilities of a classic no-frills 4wd (and a 60 series is nothing if not that), but sounds like you also need reliable and safe…

I’d take the 1st gen for the solid rear axle+ more “real” ground clearance over a 2nd gen personally, if offroad use is the focus. And strictly subjectively I prefer the looks of gen 1.

Yeah the “jalop” suggestions are stupid. A 320k mile CRV with fuel injection will be vastly more reliable vehicle than a freaking International from the 70s or an old fullsize Cherokee.

2nd gen Explorer-> $10k would buy you the nicest one in existence with plenty left over to replace all wear parts (control arms, rear…

1st gen Expedition is definitely a good choice. Simple/cheap F150 underpinnings, plenty of clearance, lots of space inside. Many used ones for sale, just a matter of finding a nice clean used example.

The only rational/serious proposed vehicle looks like the Trooper (watch out for oil burning an auto trans issues. Find a stick shift and enjoy), Suburban has some merit owing to availability and ease of servicing, and massive interior space for kids/dogs/gear, but I’d argue it’s overkill and if the 176 is on the…