A video has been released on the YouTube channel Cars.co.za, which describes the process of creating an SUV capable of storming sand dunes and small rocks. Off-road enthusiast Andris Nortier from South Africa made an all-terrain vehicle from the Soviet Niva: the man did not want to put an expensive car under the knife, and one of his friends had a Lada 4×4 adapted for off-road.
Lada Niva is not the most popular car in South Africa, but in the 1980s and 1990s, domestic SUVs were officially supplied to South Africa. Now it is difficult to find spare parts for these cars, but Andris Nortier got out of the situation: in his Niva, only the body remained from the source, and the chassis, engine and transmission were borrowed from Toyota.
Under the hood, a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V8 1UZ was registered. The arguments in favor of the Japanese engine are the relative availability, reliability and the possibility of long-term operation at high speeds without overheating. The stock suspension has given way to Land Cruiser 80 axles, with long-travel dampers, sport springs and brakes added.
With gigantic 37-inch Maxxis Bighorn tires and 450 millimeters of suspension travel, the short-wheelbase all-terrain vehicle is capable of rock-climbing, dune-driving and off-road racing. The patency of the Niva limits the possibilities of the transmission: it is difficult to find such a gearbox and differentials that fit the V8 1UZ.
AvtoVAZ also plans to extensively modify the classic Niva: the SUV should have 16-valve engines from Lada Vesta, an improved interior and upgraded brakes. Serial production of Niva Legend with updated technology is scheduled for 2024, but pilot batches of cars are already being produced.
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