In 1954, the Ulyanovsk plant was commissioned by the government to develop a utility vehicle on a wagon. And already in 1955, the NAMI artist Vladimir Aryamov presented a project that probably greatly surprised the responsible comrades. The designer performed a miracle, seeing something different in the military’s utilitarian requirements and drawing a simply fabulous van that fully reflected the spirit of the impending thaw in the country.
New shapes and colors began to penetrate areas previously doomed to the strict and purposeful aesthetic of a picket fence. It’s amazing that even now, in our jaded time, this design looks absolutely modern. The first sketches, of course, were rejected and the car was greatly simplified. What, however, the unique DNA of the original masterpiece did not know. Serial production of the car began in 1958. And “Loaf” was warmly received throughout the country despite many technical problems and imperfections.
As for the Porsche 911, by that time work on the car was far from complete. And although the ancestor of the family – Porsche 64 – was released in 1939, the 911 was produced only in 1963. 5 years later than “Loaf”. That is the gradual German insight. But the design of the naive frog, despite its simplicity, has remained almost unchanged in our time. In other words, both Loaf and Porsche (albeit to a lesser extent) are examples of the fact that human genius is sometimes able to produce a creation that cannot evolve due to its own perfection. What else does the Loaf have in common with the Porsche 911?
Our SUV not only has four-wheel drive, but also a mid-engine. In addition, if you look at the car from the left side, it looks like a sports coupe, because it has only one door. Apparently, the Soviet designers had plans to start the UAZ in the LeMans series. This is evident from the specific location of the ignition key lock: it is here on the left, just like on the Porsche. And that’s because of the starting procedure, where the drivers line up on one side and the cars on the other. After the order: “Gentlemen, start your engines”, everyone rushed to the cars and tried to move as quickly as possible.
Most cars of that time, including modern ones, had the ignition switch on the right side, which led to delays at the start. At Porsche, it was placed on the left side, so that after the pilot opened the door, he immediately put the key in the lock and started the engine, climbing into the driver’s seat. Unfortunately, such a starting procedure was banned in 1970 for safety reasons and the left position of the ignition switch lost its meaning. And, apparently, only this prevented the “Loaf” from becoming a legend in the world of motorsport.
By the way, UAZ and Porsche also have in common the procedure for getting into the driver’s seat. It is very difficult to do this so as not to make others laugh without additional training. It is also curious that four-wheel drive on Porsche appeared only in 1980, and then only in the group B rally prototype. So, here too, “Loaf” turned out to be the leader!
Photo uaz.ru
Photo topgear.es
In 1954, the Ulyanovsk plant was commissioned by the government to develop a utility vehicle on a wagon. And already in 1955, the NAMI artist Vladimir Aryamov presented a project that probably greatly surprised the responsible comrades. The designer performed a miracle, seeing something different in the military’s utilitarian requirements and drawing a simply fabulous van that fully reflected the spirit of the impending thaw in the country.
New shapes and colors began to penetrate areas previously doomed to the strict and purposeful aesthetic of a picket fence. It’s amazing that even now, in our jaded time, this design looks absolutely modern. The first sketches, of course, were rejected and the car was greatly simplified. What, however, the unique DNA of the original masterpiece did not know. Serial production of the car began in 1958. And “Loaf” was warmly received throughout the country despite many technical problems and imperfections.
As for the Porsche 911, by that time work on the car was far from complete. And although the ancestor of the family – Porsche 64 – was released in 1939, the 911 was produced only in 1963. 5 years later than “Loaf”. That is the gradual German insight. But the design of the naive frog, despite its simplicity, has remained almost unchanged in our time. In other words, both Loaf and Porsche (albeit to a lesser extent) are examples of the fact that human genius is sometimes able to produce a creation that cannot evolve due to its own perfection. What else does the Loaf have in common with the Porsche 911?
Our SUV not only has four-wheel drive, but also a mid-engine. In addition, if you look at the car from the left side, it looks like a sports coupe, because it has only one door. Apparently, the Soviet designers had plans to start the UAZ in the LeMans series. This is evident from the specific location of the ignition key lock: it is here on the left, just like on the Porsche. And that’s because of the starting procedure, where the drivers line up on one side and the cars on the other. After the order: “Gentlemen, start your engines”, everyone rushed to the cars and tried to move as quickly as possible.
Most cars of that time, including modern ones, had the ignition switch on the right side, which led to delays at the start. At Porsche, it was placed on the left side, so that after the pilot opened the door, he immediately put the key in the lock and started the engine, climbing into the driver’s seat. Unfortunately, such a starting procedure was banned in 1970 for safety reasons and the left position of the ignition switch lost its meaning. And, apparently, only this prevented the “Loaf” from becoming a legend in the world of motorsport.
By the way, UAZ and Porsche also have in common the procedure for getting into the driver’s seat. It is very difficult to do this so as not to make others laugh without additional training. It is also curious that four-wheel drive on Porsche appeared only in 1980, and then only in the group B rally prototype. So, here too, “Loaf” turned out to be the leader!
Source: Avto Vzglyad
Donald Salinas is an experienced automobile journalist and writer for Div Bracket. He brings his readers the latest news and developments from the world of automobiles, offering a unique and knowledgeable perspective on the latest trends and innovations in the automotive industry.