UKRAINE: Soviet-era Zaporozhets, always seen as a notoriously poor and cheap means of transport, has become a cult car in Ukraine

Record ID: 757593

  • Title: UKRAINE: Soviet-era Zaporozhets, always seen as a notoriously poor and cheap means of transport, has become a cult car in Ukraine
  • Date: 30th May 2008
  • Summary: (CEEF) LVIV, UKRAINE (RECENT) (REUTERS) TRAM LINES THROUGH OLD CITY ZAPOROZHETS CARS PARKED WITH ONLOOKERS WALKING AROUND THEM ONLOOKER TAKING PHOTOGRAPH TWO WOMEN POSING IN FRONT OF ZAPOROZHETS MEN LOOKING AT ZAPOROZHETS ZAPOROZHETS CAR INSIGNIA
  • Embargoed: 14th June 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ukraine
  • Country: Ukraine
  • Topics: Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVAEIHAQJDZZOS2GW0MV4XSKWX8F
  • Story Text: The Ukrainian car, Zaporozhets, was the butt of jokes in its heyday, the late Soviet era. But in the Ukrainian town of Lviv, onlookers celebrate the passing through of what they consider to be a special little car.
    The Zaporozhets got its name from the city where it was mass-produced in Ukraine, though it was nicknamed "Humpback" because of its curved roof. Powered by a water-cooled 30 horsepower engine, the tiny car was seen as a poor and cheap means of transport.
    Back in the USSR the 'Humpback' was considered small, uncomfortable and possibly the most embarrassing car anyone could ever own.
    But today in Ukraine, the Zaparozhets is making a comeback.

    "I like this car. It's beautiful, good and reliable. We call it joyful. Wherever you go people are always smiling. I have two Zaporozhets cars - I have other cars which I use to travel to my office and with my children for holidays. But this is a kind of club car," said car enthusiast, Roman Fernesa.
    For other car enthusiasts the car is a way of making a statement.

    "Zaporozhets means a lot for me. It's my best friend and it's a lifestyle statement. I like all unusual things. I think everybody wants to have unusual things, to be able to be different. But in this case, it is not just about being different. This is a Zaporozhets, the kind of car that makes everybody smile when they see it. It always gets a warm reception - it is a joyful and happy car," said Irina Denis.
    Zaporozhets owner, Yevgeny Balva keeps his model going with spare parts he finds in flea markets or from other owners, and says the car is as safe as any other.

    "We always find a way to keep the cars in a good condition. By the way there were no accidents with Zaporozhets, for a period of 10 years, even traffic police confirm this," he said.
    The Zaporozhets has also become something of a cult car for auto enthusiasts. A group called 'ZAZ-965 Zaporozhets' which consists of car owners from the former Zaparozhets 'ZAZ' factory, in western Ukraine, staged a rally of Zaparozhets cars. Designed to attract attention to a famous product from their home town, club members chose to follow the fictional route of the 'Good Soldier Schweik' - hero of the Czech comic novel 'The Good Soldier Schweik' by Jaroslav Hasek.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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