06/04/2026
In the USSR, automobile manufacturing was sometimes literally in the hands of the people. So let's talk about "modifications"! For example, instead of an awning, the UAZ-469 used by the Ministry of Internal Affairs received a metal roof, and semi-homemade "barbukhaikas" were made on the UAZ-452 chassis. This word originally came from Afghanistan—our contingent nicknamed the local trucks assembled from old car parts. With the words "buru ba khair" ("Happy journey"), they would hit the road.
Some "hand-made" modifications of the "Bukhanka" were quite widespread. For example, in Petrozavodsk, mobile RPK-23 workshops were assembled from the late 1970s to service long-distance telephone lines. A frameless body made of molded fiberglass panels was installed on the UAZ-452D chassis. Because of the rounded roof with transverse stripes, this version was nicknamed the "soapbox." These vehicles served for many years on transport routes, and one was even exported to their Hungarian counterparts. Only about 450 were produced, and they are now extremely rare.