Eastern Bloc Cars

Did any of the Eastern Bloc cars come to the US? I know there is the Wartburg on this forum but was that officially imported or what?

I know the Wartburg was imported to the US back in the day. Not sure about other manufacturers, but you gave me something to look up. I'll try and see about Trabants

JeepinMatt wrote: I know the Wartburg was imported to the US back in the day.

Wasn't that West German?

Answering my own question: No, it wasn't.

From Wiki: Exports to West Germany started in 1958, and by the early 1960s the car was exported to many other countries, including the United Kingdom and United States. The 311 model was manufactured in a number of variations, including pickup, estate, and two-seater roadster.

Anyone know about Ladas?

Off the top of my brain: Ladas were/are Russian-built Fiats and IIRC were imported into Canada but not here.

Romania built the Dacia, one model of which was a built-under- liscence Renault 12.

Czechoslovakia begat Skoda and Tatra.

The ol' CCCP produced (besides Ladas) Moskvitch, Volga, Chaika, and Zaphorzhets (ZAZ) among others.

Best I can do at this point...

Doesn't Yugo count?

m4ff3w wrote: Doesn't Yugo count?

IIRC "Yugo" was the brand for the cars sold in North America and manufactured by Zastava.(?)

You need to look to Canada - we got Ladas, Skodas, and in small numbers Moskvitch, Dacia, and ARO. Some of them are old enough to import to the US. Only the Niva exists in decent numbers still (I have one but its a late example - a 1995). (Well Lada Samaras are around but a bit dull and not old enough)

Dacias where sold in the US but in tiny numbers.

Yugo/Zastava was centered in Yugoslavia, which wasn't part of the Eastern Bloc or Eastern Europe, although it was commie.

JeepinMatt wrote: Yugo/Zastava was centered in Yugoslavia, which wasn't part of the Eastern Bloc or Eastern Europe, although it was commie.

Wow, all these years I considered Yugoslavia to be Eastern Bloc...

:(

shadetree30 wrote:

m4ff3w wrote: Doesn't Yugo count?

IIRC "Yugo" was the brand for the cars sold in North America and manufactured by Zastava.(?)

Correct, the real question is what bloc Tito was with.

Tito was with the Jackson 5 bloc.

Darn I was hoping the Lada RIva was imported.

So Eastern Bloc cars I was able to find.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cto/1804393100.html

http://spokane.craigslist.org/cto/1790384151.html

Damn not much.

Here is a US importable Niva - http://lethbridge.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-SUVs-trucks-vans-SUV-crossover-Lada-Nava-4X4-W0QQAdIdZ213593831

Oh and the Riva was called the Signet in Canada - here is one that is close to legal US age - http://ladausa.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1427

I was looking for cars.

I really want a Trabant, does that count?

I forgot to look for Trabant the first time but no joy.

I had a rare transition model 1962 Trabant P600 (old P50 body style, newer P601 running gear). Not a really bad car for that era; but just silly 10 years later... never mind 30 years later.

I had heard that they intended to export the P601 but could not get manufacturing to the necessary levels to take on the US market.

Now in the same era Tatra apparently was attempting to export to North America (I've seem some sales literature from the period) but I've never seen any reports on actual US market sales.

Considering their production was so tight that they ran Government-owned worn out cars back down the original build line for a refresh (my 1962 603 East Berlin Department of Central Planning staff car apparently returned to the build line circa 1968 for a new body and fresh engine) that I doubt they could have mounted a serious effort in the US... despite how strapped they were for western cash.

Bill

wcelliot wrote: (my 1962 603 East Berlin Department of Central Planning staff car apparently returned to the build line circa 1968 for a new body and fresh engine)

Bill,

I really hope that you share some pictures of your collection with us one day. I'd love to see the Tatra.

I found this.

http://jacksonville.craigslist.org/ctd/1815048952.html

Actually a pretty cool looking car.

And this. But no price listed.

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/1815781203.html

I remember seeing Lada's all the time up here in canaduh. about 15 years ago i worked delivering car parts for a supplier and one of our customers was a LADA dealership in northern Ontario. Last I saw the building and signs were still there, but the place was empty.

Lots of Niva love up here. LOL

96DXCivic wrote: And this. But no price listed. http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/1815781203.html

Those are Samaras. There's a Lada Samara factory rally car still running in Ontario.

I almost bought one of those new to replace my Skoda

And here it is

FS ad with pics (it sold last fall) http://www.mlrc.ca/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1258381211/0