It would have to be something totally reliable, durable, hella safe, in production for a very long time with incremental improvements over time, and have a very utilitarian flavor of bad-ass-ity to it. My initial thought was the original Land Rover, but it’s been out of production for a long time, and the Soyuz is still here today. Which of TODAY’S vehicles is worthy of comparison?
Hooniverse Asks: Which current production car/truck is most closely analogous to the Soyuz spacecraft?
By Peter Tanshanomi
Sep 6, 2019
By Peter Tanshanomi
Tanshanomi is Japanese [単車のみ] for "motorcycle(s) only." Though primarily tasked with creating two-wheel oriented content for Hooniverse, Pete is a lover of all sorts of motorized vehicles.
Jeff Glucker
The demand for reliability is harsh, but there is something quite simple, yet quite extreme that, sort of, fits the bill:
https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/fr/cp0/e15/q65/19990564_130554940879656_2514580819437353668_n.png.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_oc=AQmIUFP7lKHSHyPonbfzCYcrAx8-Tuzsa7-tE_tRHmp53KocBJ-fyg02MMk_K4tYB-8&_nc_ht=scontent-amt2-1.xx&oh=993e3d593bbfd64dcb809953fbddb098&oe=5DF72C71
No, I would not take the UAZ Hunter to space.
Current generation dates back 10 model years
Antiquated basic functional systems
No adaptations of latest technology
Demand increasing
This is the Hooniverse
The answer is 4Runner.
The demand for reliability is harsh, but there is something quite simple, yet quite extreme that, sort of, fits the bill:
https://scontent-amt2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/fr/cp0/e15/q65/19990564_130554940879656_2514580819437353668_n.png.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_oc=AQmIUFP7lKHSHyPonbfzCYcrAx8-Tuzsa7-tE_tRHmp53KocBJ-fyg02MMk_K4tYB-8&_nc_ht=scontent-amt2-1.xx&oh=993e3d593bbfd64dcb809953fbddb098&oe=5DF72C71
No, I would not take the UAZ Hunter to space.
https://cdn.bringatrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/a-87.jpg
I though breadloaf, but either way, UAZ is severely on brand.
The Toyota Hiace has recently released a new generation, but the previous cabover model would qualify as it ran 14 years and very much placed basic utilitarianism above comfort or safety.
https://hooniverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/IMG_5099.jpg
Literally, Jeff…
Physically speaking it would be Tesla ! https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a7751c95f0d3a54e502a67df708043183fa23d2e73188e87a21b19282be0aa89.png
Grumman LLV. Largely unchanged since it’s inception, and still running long past the original scope of design.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Small_USPS_Truck.jpg
Wow, unexpectedly excellent answer!
“The mail trucks are so old the Postal Service has trouble recruiting automotive techs who know how to fix them.”
ref: https://www.trucks.com/2019/09/03/postal-service-delays-new-mail-truck-contract/
They’ve done testing on the new replacements. I can’t wait to get an old GLLV and repower it for a useful little runabout. Those bodies will never degrade, even if the mechanicals leave a lot to be desired.
VW Multivan, T4: it’s proven, reliable, not primitive but robust, everybody has used one at some point, and owners don’t want to junk it just yet.
https://i.auto-bild.de/ir_img/1/8/5/7/4/7/7/VW-T4-Multivan-Allstar-1200×800-d4ec5b1b079ae4ec.jpg
Soyuz was introduced in 1967 and, several generations later, upgraded versions are still being made.
Looking through the Wikipedia list of cars introduced in 1967, the answer is obvious: the Chevy Camaro. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Cars_introduced_in_1967.
Bonus points: the entity that launched it (USSR/Old GM) went bankrupt and was replaced by a slimmed down new entity (Russia/New GM).
And it was a replacement for an earlier vehicle (Voskhod/Corvair) which was surpassed by a competitor (Gemini/Mustang).
Answer that fits the criteria and yet will offend everyone – Prius.
Extremely reliable (tops in CR and True Delta surveys)
Extremely durable (used as taxis around the world)
Safe
Though they’ve been through a few redesigns, the basic design and technology is the same.
Like the Soyuz, it does what it was intended to do with little fanfare and does it well, over and over again.
And it drives as if it is being remotely piloted from thousands of miles away! 😉
Hasn’t been updated in ages, still in production despite changes in corporate (Old/New GM vs USSR/Russia). Just does the work required. The Chevy https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7c06b2d785523d3fd87c61fa14357160498f07bc755a3d341c39ac2c04e1f862.png
Let’s see: It’s been in continuous production since the mid-1960s and while it appears unchanging to the casual observer it actually has had several major revisions and a steady stream of updates every few years to the extent that virtually nothing remains of the original design other than the general concept. It’s a 911.