Interesting and sometimes funny photos on automobiles (21 photos)

Each car on display is more than just a vehicle, but a true story on wheels. Here, we find retro legends that once defined entire eras, iconic models that have won the acclaim of millions, and even fascinating engineering experiments.





A Maserati parked in a lot near the Trocadero. Paris, 1950.



Photographer: Robert Doisneau.

A VAZ-2121M Niva prototype and a BelAZ dump truck, 1975.





Despite its spartan comfort and archaic design, the Niva ultimately proved to be a very good vehicle, ahead of its time in terms of off-road capability and durability. It was a unique case of international recognition for a Soviet model coinciding with its high sales in foreign markets. In September 1978, the famous (or rather, legendary) Niva received a gold medal at the Brno fair. The VAZ-2121 subsequently enjoyed an even more successful career, culminating in its title as the most exported car in the USSR. Over half a million Nivas were exported. This is a truly impressive result.

A DAF Domburg bus with a retractable engine, 1949.



The DAF bus, created by the Domburg workshop in 1949, was memorable for two features: an angular "broken" windshield that improved visibility, and a retractable Perkins diesel engine. The latter was mounted on guide rails—the driver didn't need a jack or a special wrench to service it. Simply lifting the radiator grille and releasing a few clamps allowed the engine to slide out.

Experimental version of the GAZ-51 NIAP half-track truck. Gorky, 1953.



A total of about two experimental half-track trucks based on the GAZ-51 chassis were produced. The vehicle was equipped with a replaceable drive unit. Its development was preceded by testing of the experimental GAZ-41, which demonstrated a short service life and a lack of advantages on normal roads (except off-road). As part of the project, several types of tracked bogies were developed that could be mounted on standard GAZ-51 and GAZ-63 vehicles in place of the rear wheels as needed. The bogies varied in design and track type: both all-metal and rubber-metal versions were offered.

Paul Arzens was a French designer known for his railway designs and unusual automobiles. France, 1951.



Photographer: Robert Doisneau

On the grounds of the I.V. Stalin Plant. Moscow, 1943.



1959 Cadillac Deville. Cuba, 1981.



The island's transportation has remained virtually unchanged since then—it's as if time has stood still. Cars from the 1960s and 1970s still cruise the streets, and the entire island resembles an open-air museum.

VAZ assembly line, 1980s.



Photographer: Alexander Steshanov

A Bluebird restored by Donald Campbell at the Goodwood Motor Festival, Sussex, England, 1962.



On July 14, 1962, the restored Bluebird was first publicly displayed in Goodwood, Sussex. Donald Campbell drove it around the track during the local motor festival. The racer was preparing this car for a world land speed record attempt: the plan was for the spring of 1963 and Lake Eyre in Australia. However, Campbell set the historic record later, in 1964, with a speed of 403.10 mph (648.73 km/h).

Izhevsk Automobile Plant (now LADA Izhevsk Automobile Plant LLC). A Moskvich-408 on the main assembly line, 1968.



Photographer: Vladimir Perventsev

On July 9, 1965, Izhmash Director I.F. Beloborodov signed Order No. 165, launching automobile assembly at the plant. On October 21, Order No. 101 was issued establishing automobile production. The first model to be launched into production was the Moskvich-408. For its production, Soviet enterprises manufactured over 1,400 units of custom equipment. The automobile plant construction site occupied over 650 hectares, and people and equipment from 22 cities participated in the construction. The first Moskvich-408 rolled off the assembly line on the night of December 12, 1966. In 1967, the Izhevsk Automobile Plant began producing the first Moskvich-412.

Japanese actress Akiko Wakabayashi on the hood of the legendary Toyota 2000GT sports car, 1967.



This photo was used in the advertising campaign for the fifth Bond film, You Only Live Twice (1967). In this film, Akiko played Agent Aki, James Bond's lover.

The 1,000th "Victory" ceremony. Gorky, 1948.



1961 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 Roadster. Scotland, 1960s



The E-Type is considered one of the most beautiful cars in history; even Enzo Ferrari called it "the most beautiful car ever made."

A Moskvich 400-422 near a high-rise building on Vosstaniya Square. Moscow, 1958.



Author: I. G. Avdeev

The first Moskvich-400/422 cars rolled off the MZMA assembly line in 1946. Their distinctive features were wooden sides and doors, and the roof frame was covered in leatherette. In the USSR, these unprepossessing but reliable "workhorses" quickly won the people's love, earning the nickname "Buratino." Interestingly, in the 1930s and 1940s, cars with wooden bodies were popular in both Europe and the United States, where they were called "Woody."

Mercedes-Benz 190Dc with a built-in car phone. Germany, 1962.



A 2.5-ton ZIL-157R flatbed truck with six arched tires, late 1950s, early 1960s.



On June 5, 1957, an unusual experiment was born: the ZIL-157R. It was created to determine how much the combination of huge tires (16.00–20 with adjustable pressure or arched 1500×840) and a uniform wheelbase with front and rear steered axles would improve off-road performance. Under the hood is a ZIL-157 inline-six engine producing 104 hp and a manual transmission from the same engine. Torque was sent via a driveshaft to the transfer case and then to all axles. The front and rear axles are steerable, while the middle axle is standard and unchanged. The suspension is leaf springs, and the steering is power-assisted. Tests showed excellent maneuverability: the wheels on each side rolled almost in the same track, reducing drag on soft ground. In addition, this vehicle was used to refine the handling of three-axle vehicles, wheel alignment, and the power steering. The cabin is metal, three-seater, from a ZIS-151.

Headlight Trails France, 1960.



Photographer: Robert Doisneau

Firefighters extinguish a car fire. Paris, 1950.



Photographer: Robert Doisneau

Pobeda cars ready for shipment in the freight yard of the V. M. Molotov Automobile Plant, 1952.



Photo by P. Voznesensky (TASS)

1949 Cadillac Series 62 Sedan at the Gorky Automobile Plant, 1950s.