McSpredder Posted April 29, 2020 Report Share Posted April 29, 2020 Travelled as passenger in a Niva over a lot of pretty rough terrain in Mongolia back in 1996, and it was certainly very capable off-road. Reasonably comfortable ride both on and off roads, as far as I remember. Two acquaintances in the Scottish Borders ran Nivas for several years, and both were happy enough to replace them with the same model. One drove the Niva until the end of his life, and I think the other only changed to a different make (an early Sportage) when the Lada agencies stopped importing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gustaff Posted April 30, 2020 Report Share Posted April 30, 2020 we put a fiat twincam engine in one back in the late seventies out of a fiat 125 i think bolted into lada bell housing a few mods to hoses and wiring also did a riva with same went well no chain rattles we must have been bored but the 4x4 one went every where left land rovers for dead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrelsniffer Posted May 1, 2020 Report Share Posted May 1, 2020 Was in bulgaria many yrs ago doing a bit of Boar shooting and my guide drove one, it was plain and simple nothing special but jesus it drove through areas i never thought any vehicle would get through, but this just sailed through the very deep mud.... very impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowdy Posted May 2, 2020 Report Share Posted May 2, 2020 On 29/04/2020 at 19:39, Dougy said: Seen these in Croatia going places that other 4x4 stuggled. "Best in woods" as my Croatian shooting pals say!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltings Posted May 2, 2020 Report Share Posted May 2, 2020 a friend had one many years ago at edge hill shooting ground and 4x4 track forgot something and said ill nip home over the track out the top gate the land rover boys get a coffee this will be worth watching as they failed on that stretch all day old john straight up and out the gate no dramas home and back down no more urine extraction by the v8 boys didn't tell them he had a fiat mirafiori 131 twin cam engine fitted as they ran on old fiat running gear industrial bullet proof however rot like a pear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defender Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 I can remember them from years ago, calipers seized, cam chains went, gearbox lost gears and then there's the rot. Not seen one in years till I went to Bulgaria. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy91 Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 One popped up on eBay..... 5k 😬 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rovercoupe Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 1 hour ago, defender said: I can remember them from years ago, calipers seized, cam chains went, gearbox lost gears and then there's the rot. Not seen one in years till I went to Bulgaria. Most of the problems were down to poor maintenance apart from the gearbox issues which have been sorted with updated thrust bearings. The rot is no worse than any other car of that time and it does mean you get good at welding. they seem to fetch good money if already in the country but if your willing to do a road trip to lands afar you can buy one and drive it home and save quite a few pound notes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltings Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 14 hours ago, rovercoupe said: Most of the problems were down to poor maintenance apart from the gearbox issues which have been sorted with updated thrust bearings. The rot is no worse than any other car of that time and it does mean you get good at welding. they seem to fetch good money if already in the country but if your willing to do a road trip to lands afar you can buy one and drive it home and save quite a few pound notes. im with you lack of maintenance kills vehicles even today the bonnet only gets lifted for an mot 30yrs ago most checked and maintained their own vehicles some good some never changed the oil ask anyone to check their oil or brake fluid its a larffe the girls have more idea or pay and squeal at mot time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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