By Antti Kautonen
I was surprised to see so many Eastern Bloc cars in Rhodes. For whatever reason, the Greeks had taken a liking to the cars made way east; of course, some of them had ceased functioning, but from my previous posts you could tell some of the Western and Japanese vehicles had also succumbed to the daily grind.
This Skoda was waiting for the better days to arrive, but since the weather is mainly dry and sunny, it’s not like it would rust too much sitting just where it was.
I couldn’t tell if this Samara was getting any regular use, but it’s certainly dusty. The Mangels wheels suit it surprisingly well.
For some reason, I always enjoy posting old Ladas. There’s just something about them that I like, and especially when you see them removed from the usual elements – meaning slushy old Finland or Russia – they stand out, even if this one is mostly the same colour as the surroundings.
This awesomely ’80s side sticker sprite stripe on this Niva makes it perfectly period correct.
But this yellow Niva caught my eye too, and I almost prefer the mango colour: it’s probably sunburned beyond salvaging, and the car seems to lie dormant, but just look at the bull bar and all the add-ons.
It’s difficult to say just why the Greek buyers have gone for Nivas, but one thing is clear; on some of the more rural roads, the more capable and the cheaper your vehicle is, the better. And the Niva ticks those boxes just fine.
[Images: Copyright 2013 Hooniverse/Antti Kautonen]
Mercedes Lilienthal 
Kamil Kaluski
I like the cut of their jibs down there.
I have vivid memories of Eastern Bloc cars. My uncle had a fifties Moskvich which he pampered as if it were a Bugatti Royale. My first driving experiences in Greece came in my aunt's Lada sedan. Both cars were crap cans of the first order. Korean cars quickly replaced them in the entry level market.
Nice work spotting these, always fun to see. That 2108's got a neat aftermarket grille with integrated fog lights, never seen that before.
It maybe a hack job.
a great one.
I want a Niva!
Not really… kind of.
Very cool. The beater 2105 needs a paint job but Nivas are awesome and I bet the Skoda isn't that hard to get running again.
2105 has great patina for its age if the rust was fixed and not coved in dirt? oversprayed? not sure what's going on really. But if only the doors fit better. I mean seriously, biggest panel gaps ever on a non-90s GM car.
Well, the tooling that presses the panels had been getting on a bit.