Introducing the Kováč Nováček: A lightweight fun hatchback with room for 5, and reliability and fuel economy which lasts for miles and miles!
The Nováček was introduced in the late 60’s/early 70’s, this version is the Báze RUEx (Base model Russian Export), manufactured Czechia and exported solely to the Russian market, the Nováček Báze RUEx is a car in the most basic form.
Built up on a corrosion resistant steel monocoque chassis it is advanced yet simple with MacPhersons all four corners. Rear-engined and rear-wheel-drive with a 900cc Boxer 4 producing 32.1hp & 48.0lb-ft, the Nováček Báze wasn’t winning any races, a 0-62mph of 21.8s and top speed of 78.7mph was just about enough for any sane A-to-B driver, it is certainly a fun car in corners however, from weighing only 704kg paired to it’s sporty RR drivetrain.
However the Nováček Báze wasn’t produced for performance: It was produced to be the people’s car of the era: Cheap to buy, maintain & repair. Not only was it cheap, but you barely needed to fuel it with a whopping 53.4mpg figure. It would also last almost forever even in the harsh Russian weather, the resilient engineering of the chassis and engine combined to produce a very cost-effective reliable car that would last a lifetime, truly suiting it’s aim as a people’s car.
🇸🇺 Drago Macaw — The Car for Every Comrade! (1978)
“Built by the People, for the People.”
Comrades!
The Drago People’s Automotive Cooperative proudly unveils the Macaw — the newest achievement of socialist engineering.
A compact, honest, and dependable automobile, designed to bring mobility to every citizen of our great Union.
Simple. Honest. Indestructible.
The Macaw is built with one idea in mind: to serve the people faithfully for decades.
All-steel monocoque construction, tough enough for factory yards and country roads alike.
Rear-mounted 700 cc Boxer-4 engine, air-cooled and easy to repair anywhere from Minsk to Murmansk.
25 horsepower of people’s power, taking you confidently up to 110 km/h.
Economical consumption around 5.5 L/100 km, because every drop of fuel counts for progress.
Five-speed manual gearbox — direct, reliable, and built for a lifetime of service.
Practical for Every Citizen
Seats four adults in comfort, or two comrades and a week’s worth of groceries.
Large rear luggage compartment for tools, produce, or luggage for the family holiday.
Independent suspension ensures a smooth ride, even on roads that others dare not call roads.
From freezing Siberian winters to dusty southern plains, the Macaw endures all.
Its rugged air-cooled engine starts even in the coldest mornings, while corrosion-protected steel panels resist time and climate alike.
Affordable to All
Priced so that every worker, teacher, and farmer can own a car — without sacrificing reliability or dignity. The Drago Macaw: transport for the people, made by the people.
A Symbol of Socialist Mobility
Painted in People’s Orange, the Macaw is more than a car.
It’s a declaration that progress belongs to everyone — not just the privileged few.
Drago Macaw (1978) — The People’s Car for the People’s Future.
The ZIV 1103 is a sub-compact economy car produced by Soviet Union automaker ZIV from 1975 to 1984, producing a fire breathing 40 hp and 40lbft tq with seating for 2 and ample cargo space. All models are manual only but options like a heater, radio, superb quality rustproofing and more were standard. The 1103 was a perfect car to handle the harsh winters of Russia, it is widely praised for its superb reliability and ease of maintenance.
The MAZ (Minsk Automobile Factory) 2113 is a revolutionary design for mobility in the USSR, being produced over 3 million times in over 20 years of production. The design is simple, reliable and cost-efficient, and provided every family of that era with a car they could depend on.
It was the result of a big effort to boost soviet vehicle engineering, called the “New Mobility” trails. It was established in 1975 and received direct funding from the state. The USSR had a big problem, that being the lack of a reliable people mover, something that almost all nations had at that point. The old MAZ 2105 from 1960 was showing its age, and the design’s faults just worsened with the growing age of the cars, so a new design was needed.
Every car factory in the USSR had to take part, and the head engineers of each factory were assigned to the task. Vitali Tshaikovski was the head engineer of the MAZ plant, having started his duty there in 1973. He had figured out all the flaws of the MAZ 2105 and knew how to prevent them on the next big design, the MAZ 2113.
1991 ЗИВ одна тысяча сто три подтяжка лица (ZIV 1103 facelift)
For 1985 the ZIV 1103 was heavily facelifted on the exterior with new all plastic features such as bumpers, trim, plastic facelifted grille, and new interior pieces, less metal = less rust right? The 1985+ models also came with more standard features such as radio. The 1985+ models are usually preferred by people trying to get their hands on a 1103.
A licenced version of Araga’s Minex Daimos W20LE, the Gorilla combines the best of a rugged, war-ready Aragan car and quality Soviet engineering.
With some unique features left in such as the Aragan double side indicators, Cabin Air Treatment filtering system, and integrated dash light dimmer switch, the Gorilla has a unique character, without standing out too much.
The rather large flat four has been swapped out, with Srungle’s engineers designing a new 1600cc inline four, and adapting the Daimos’ platform to accept a transverse engine. The resulting setup has 42kW going through a four speed transmission for impressive speed and economy.
Being based on the Minex Daimos, the Srungle 2110-5 Gorilla joins a prestigious group of cars based on the P&A Paceman, putting the union on the world map.
The results are ready. In total we have 20 legal submissions. If you do not see your car in the following posts, you can message me in case you are uncertain as to why you have been DSQ’d.
Simple. Honest. Indestructible.
Practical for Every Citizen
Tested in the Harshest Conditions
Affordable to All
A Symbol of Socialist Mobility
