Here we are!
Parked by the cafe "Old
New". City of Kobe. Country of Japan.
Toyama-san (right) is the Lada Master - the propulsion force of the club and its superintendent and supplier. By his job's specifics his frequent destination is Italy (NB - that's where Niva's wheels grow from).
Higashi-san (middle) is a graphic designer. For those who is still uncertain as for what's Niva? - why Niva? isn't there any worth thing around there? here is a professional opinion: she likes the design. Which is, put in the language of the situation, Niva ga ii wa!
...And me on the left - your editor and Schtirlitz of SovAvtoProm as I like to call myself. My dear spouse is of course with us, and I can't say I took this picture myself.
At the elevation of some 900 meters Kobe is at our feet. The building of the upper cable car terminal is topping Mount Rokko. While ascending by the serpentine of the road Toyama-san pulled left letting muscle cars like Toyota Tercel ahead. "We have all-time four-wheel drive, what we need is more power" - he acknowledges. - "Niva was at a time one of the three world's only models with the permanent full drive - along with Rover and Wagoneer - that's what started the fun."
There were about 500 Nivas altogether sold in Japan. About 150
of them at their times participated in the Niva Club. We would say, "not bad for
a model to turn its every third or fourth owner into a fan". Right-steering ones
were usually reimported from Great Britain, but this one is not such.
Interestingly, with all Lada-native parts, it has airconditioning system -
something I would never expect to see on Nivas simply because they did not have
ducts. And here it is - a factory-made duct assembly fitting as if it was always
there, under the dash. Toyama-san says, the duct is made by VAZ - the Niva
manufacturer, and the mechanics of a/c was shipped from Japan.
Higashi-san
owns the last Niva that entered the land of american whining about unfair car
trade. That was in 1995, and is not going to happen again. Her Niva is
"dieseling" after the ignition is turned off, and might need some parts from
Italy. Some other members' cars are no longer afoot and are awaiting
recycling which is a pity for all. Japanese strict car regulations require parts
certification and some other unthinkable measures like additional fender flares
for wheels that just barely show out of the sockets.
And yet it is rolling...
Niva on the Summit
Okeydoke, Honda has outsold the Ford. Now, after all, would we call its home, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Pref. "Japanese Detroit", or simply refer to as The Auto Summit? Yes, this half-small, half-big city happens to host just about as many brand names as its american counterpart on the lakes. Funky Suzukies and cranky Yamahas all begin here, plus the Crowned Queen, Toyota just next door.
What a dream land for a consumer, hah? Now, where do you go for elite
products?
- Hey, they have it, too, in single digits though.
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Take off Shinkansen at the junction Hamamatsu. Get through the hordes of the ever-best consumer products packing the streets, and get this Canary. The vintage of 1988 is sacrificed for 65 man yen, about $5,400 US. Or opt for a trip to The Country of Gold Domes and get a brand-new for five, and wonder yourself why life is unfair. Cheers!