En este art铆culo, hablamos un poco, sobre el nuevo auto que lleg贸 a la casa, el dinosaurio blanco, hablamos de su historia y alg煤n que otro invento que tiene hecho.
In this article, we're gonna talk about the new car that rolled into our house, the white dinosaur. We'll delve into its history and some of the cool features it's got. [English Version is below]
Mi pasi贸n por los autos, viene de mi padre, varias veces lo he dicho en mis art铆culos. A decir verdad, hemos sido afortunado, en nuestro pa铆s, tener un carro es un lujo y desde que tengo memoria, mi pap谩 ha tenido autos; en su mayor铆a por los puesto de trabajo que ha ocupado. Del que tengo mis primeros recuerdos es de un Hyundai Accent 1998 y hasta hoy, han pasado varias marcas, de diferentes latitudes; hasta el dinosaurio blanco que tiene hoy. C贸mo que un dinosaurio? Si, as铆 le decimos al UAZ-469 que le asignaron a mi padre porque hace m谩s bulla que los dinosaurios de Parque Jur谩sico 馃槀.
El sujeto en cuesti贸n
UAZ (Ulyanovsky Avtomobilny Zavod), mi pap谩 me dijo como se dice en ruso algo (as铆 校谢褜褟薪芯胁褋泻懈泄 袗胁褌芯屑芯斜懈谢褜薪褘泄 袟邪胁芯写 ), pero no entend铆 nada 馃槄, as铆 que te lo puse lo m谩s traducido posible.
Seg煤n la experiencia de mi viejo; la marca UAZ, ha llegado a la isla, en forma de todo terrenos y microbuses (que eran usados por la polic铆a canina y las ambulancias) M谩s recientemente esta marca regres贸 al mercado cubano, con su modelo Patriot y con una f谩brica, que emsablar谩 algunos modelos en la Zona Especial de Desarollo del Mariel.
Interrogando un poco, a la faceta historiadora de mi padre, me cuenta que esta marca naci贸 como consecuencia de la invasi贸n alemana a Rusia. Ante el avance de los alemanes y la posibilidad que Mosc煤 cayera, Stalin orden贸 trasladar las f谩bricas de autom贸viles ZIS y VOLGA a la ciudad de Ulyanovsk, que ya ven铆a creciendo como centro industrial y se encontraba lejos de la l铆nea de avance de los alemanes, conservando de esta manera una de las industrias m谩s importante de los sovi茅ticos.
UAZ-469
No es hasta, 1972 que se fabricar铆a el UAZ-469 (pero en un principio, solo fueron fabricados para la polic铆a y el ej茅rcito sovi茅tico, despu茅s se extendi贸 para los aliados sovi茅ticos), no es hasta 1980, que se comercializa en los mercados internacionales.
El UAZ-469 , es un autom贸vil robusto (dise帽ado para ser un todoterreno ruso, con esto, creo que lo he dicho todo) El auto viene sin muchos agregados. Debo destacar que este modelo viene con doble tanque (uno por cada lado) suamndo casi 70L (ante la mala situaci贸n del combustible, en Cuba, propicia que no haya que hacer tanta fila para repostar) Por otra parte este modelo conserva, los faros redondo (que la marca mantuvo hasta 2005, cuando presentaron los Patriot y cambiaron la l铆nea de dise帽o)
N贸tese la sencillez de la pizarra y la falta de agregados en la misma
A la mayor de las Antillas, estos modelos, han llegado con techo de lona (que da un calor, que puedes hervir agua dentro) y destacar lo inc贸modo que son. Si lo s茅, fueron dise帽ados para ser 煤tiles en las diferentes operaciones militares y no para mi comodidad. El modelo, se convirti贸 en un "cl谩sico", destacaba por su fiabilidad y sencillez. Muchos, lo ve铆an como una alternativa barata a los Jeeep (estadounidenses), los Land Rover (brit谩nicos) y compet铆an, directamente, con los Toyoyas Land Cruiser (que para la 茅poca eran igual de inc贸modos que los UAZ)
Esta configuraci贸n de parilla frontal, fue usada por varios modelos durante m谩s de 20 a帽os, convirti茅ndose, en el dise帽o 铆conico de los UAZ
Ahora me viene una pregunta a la cabeza : 驴Por qu茅 a ning煤n veh铆culo ruso le entra aire? No importa que marca sea, ni para que se use, NO les va entrar el aire. Por ah铆, se pueden ver todo tipo de invento para ventilar estos autos. Sin ir m谩s lejos, el UAZ de mi padre, tiene adaptado un ventilador y unas mangueras, que funciona como sistema de aire acondicionado. Si alguien tiene una respuesta convincente, le estar茅 transfiriendo 150 puntos Ecency.
El sistema de ventilaci贸n personalizado [Un ventilador de un compresor y dos mangueras] El que invent贸 esto, merece un verdadero reconocimiento 馃槅
En Cuba, el UAZ-469 , es conocido como UAZ, a secas (como si no hubiese otros modelos) Los todoterenos rusos, vinieron para integrar las filas de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias (FAR). Despu茅s de casi 40 a帽os, muchos, siguen cumpliendo esta labor. Los muchachones de HiveCuba, que hayan ido al servicio militar, podr谩n corroborar que su jefe de unidad, ten铆a uno. En mi caso, en mi unidad, hab铆a 3 y me quito el sombrero ante los mec谩nicos; mantener en funcionamiento estos dinosaurios, para nada es una tarea f谩cil. De hecho, cambiar una goma, se vuelve un infierno debido a la altura y al peso que tienen (experiencia propia), pero seg煤n los viejos, yo fui criado con leche de magnecia (a煤n as铆, es un suplicio)
Las FAR, poco a poco, han ido actualizado su parqueo (la llegada de utilitarios chinos como: Dongfeng y otros rusos como la marca GAZ) dieron paso, a que los 469, pasaran a mano de otras empresas estatales. Aqu铆, los UAZ (UAZ-469) son mayormente de verde olivo, es poco com煤n, verlos en otro color. Sin embargo, en el trabajo de mi papa, todos son blancos. No creas que es por un requerimiento o para mantener uniformidad, es que en el momento que los recibieron, no hab铆a otra pintura disponible, cosas de cubanos.
Para los a帽os 90, la URSS, entra en decadencia y en Cuba sabemos lo que nos toc贸; del otro lado del mundo UAZ entraba en semejante per铆do especial, que afect贸 su producciones y en especial su control de calidad. A pesar, de que muchos clientes est谩n dispuesto a comprar la marca,prefer铆an comprar de segunda mano que comprar uno nuevo. Cuba, se mantuvo como una opci贸n para los UAZ. Hace unos a帽os, la marca volvi贸 a recibir cr铆ticas: el veh铆culo que trasladaba, las cenizas de Fidel Castro (un UAZ-469), se rompi贸 en el trayecto y los soldados tuvieron que empujarlo, todo apunt贸 nuevamente a la marca rusa; supuestamente, el veh铆culo no se hab铆a utilizado antes (si buscas en internet, seguro encuentas algunas teor铆as) La verdad, no creo que la sepamos.
Volviendo a nuestro caso; el dinosaurio blanco , est谩 bastante cacharreado (modificado), de hecho para cambiar las marchas, casi hay que darle gopes para que cambie. El techo, a pesar que la lona se conserva en perfecto estado, tiene puesto, un falso techo de cart贸n para evitar un poco el calor y otra de las cosas curiosas, el claxon, parece que le entro agua y suena como si estuviese ronco. A煤n as铆, el dinosaurio ha cumplido su labor.
El invento para sobrellevar, un poco el calor que irradia el techo [Se le puso un cart贸n 馃槀]
Hace unos meses, la Habana, se vi贸 afectada por frecuentes lluvias, provocando la inundaci贸n de varias zonas de la ciudad. Mi abuela, qued贸 atrapada en una zona de inundaci贸n, al recogerla, vimos, much铆simos autos detenidos por culpa de la inundaci贸n. En su mayor铆a, los LADAS; estos autos son bastante bajos y si el coher no mide bien, al motor le entra agua y ni rezandole a dios el auto va a arrancar hasta que no se seque. En nuestro caso, entramos a la inundaci贸n, salimos y el UAZ no se detuvo, ni se enter贸, los ch贸feres nos miraban incr茅dulos. Hoy en dia, la altura y robustez de este veh铆culo, lo hacen el m谩s adecuado para las calles cubanas.Lamentablemente, los UAZ, no llegaron a las manos de los particulares, a diferencia de otras marcas que si abundan y hacen que en Cuba, los americanos y los rusos convivan pac铆ficamente.
Espero que hayas disfrutado este art铆culo, tal vez, nunca antes hab铆as visto este modelo o tal vez, si lo ab铆as visto como sea espero que lo hayas disfrado y antes de despedirme quisiera preguntarte: Conoc铆as este modelo? Qu茅 crees de la historia de esta marca? En tu pa铆s has visto alg煤n UAZ-469? Comenta lo que desees, ser谩 un placer responderte.
Nos "leemos" muy pronto
You know, my passion for cars comes from my old man, I've mentioned it a few times in my articles. Truth be told, we've been pretty lucky in our country because owning a car is a luxury. And as far as I can remember, my dad has always had cars, mostly because of the jobs he's had. The first one I have memories of is a 1998 Hyundai Accent, and we've had several others from different places since then, until we got the white dinosaur he's driving now. Wait, did I just say dinosaur? Yup, that's what we call the UAZ-469 that was assigned to my dad.
This is the dinosaur
UAZ (Ulyanovsky Avtomobilny Zavod), my dad told me how to say something in Russian (like this...), but I didn't understand a thing, so I'll put it in the most translated way possible.
According to my old man's experience, the UAZ brand has come in the form of off-road vehicles and minibuses (which were used by the K-9 police and ambulances). More recently, this brand returned to the island with its Patriot model and with a factory that will assemble some models in the Mariel Special Development Zone.
Digging into my father's historian side, he tells me that this brand was born as a result of the German invasion of Russia. With the Germans advancing and the possibility of Moscow falling, Stalin ordered the automobile factories ZIS and VOLGA to be relocated to the city of Ulyanovsk, which was already growing as an industrial center and was far from the German advance line. This way, they managed to preserve one of the most important industries for the Soviets.
UAZ-469
It wasn't until 1972 that the UAZ-469 was manufactured, but initially, it was only produced for the Soviet police and military. Later on, it was extended to Soviet allies, and it wasn't until 1980 that it was marketed in international markets.
The UAZ-469 is a rugged vehicle, designed to be a true Russian off-roader. With that said, I think I've covered it all. This car comes without many frills. I must highlight that this model comes with dual tanks, one on each side, totaling almost 70 liters of fuel. Given the fuel scarcity situation in Cuba, it's convenient as it reduces the need to queue up for refueling. Additionally, this model retains the round headlights, a design feature that the brand maintained until 2005 when they introduced the Patriot and changed the overall design line.
Note the simplicity of the slate and the lack of additions to the slate.
In Cuba, these models have arrived with canvas roofs (which generate heat that can boil water inside) and it's worth noting how uncomfortable they are. I know, they were designed to be useful in different military operations, not for my comfort. However, this model has become a "classic" and stands out for its reliability and simplicity. Many saw it as a cheap alternative to American Jeeps, British Land Rovers, and it directly competed with Toyota Land Cruisers (which were equally uncomfortable at the time).
This front grille configuration was used by several models for more than 20 years, becoming the iconic UAZ design.
Now a question comes to my mind: Why doesn't any Russian vehicle have proper ventilation? It doesn't matter what brand or purpose they serve, they just don't seem to let any fresh air in. You can see all sorts of inventions to ventilate these cars. For instance, my dad's UAZ has a makeshift air conditioning system with an added fan and hoses. If someone has a convincing answer, I'll transfer them 150 Ecency points.
The customized ventilation system [One compressor fan and two hoses] Whoever invented this deserves real credit. 馃槅
In Cuba, the UAZ-469 is simply known as UAZ (as if there were no other models). These Russian off-road vehicles were brought in to integrate the ranks of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR). After almost 40 years, many of them are still serving in this capacity. The folks from HiveCuba who have gone through military service can confirm that their unit leader had one. In my case, there were three in my unit, and I take my hat off to the mechanics; keeping these dinosaurs up and running is by no means an easy task. In fact, changing a tire becomes a nightmare due to their height and weight (personal experience). But according to the old-timers, I was raised with "milk of magnesia" (even so, it's still a struggle).
Over time, the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) have gradually updated their vehicle fleet. The arrival of Chinese manufacturers like Dongfeng and other Russian brands like GAZ has led to the UAZ-469 being passed on to other state enterprises. Here, UAZ vehicles (UAZ-469) are mostly olive green, and it's uncommon to see them in any other color. However, at my dad's workplace, they are all white. It's not because of any requirement or to maintain uniformity; it's simply because at the time they received them, no other paint was available鈥攋ust one of those Cuban things.
In the 1990s, as the USSR declined, Cuba faced its own challenges. On the other side of the world, UAZ went through a special period that affected its production and, in particular, its quality control. Despite many customers being willing to buy the brand, they preferred to purchase used vehicles rather than new ones. Cuba remained an option for UAZ vehicles.
A few years ago, the brand faced criticism again when the vehicle transporting Fidel Castro's ashes (a UAZ-469) broke down during the procession, and soldiers had to push it. This incident once again drew attention to the Russian brand. Supposedly, the vehicle had not been previously used (if you search online, you'll surely find various theories). The truth is, I don't think we'll ever know for sure.
Regarding our case, the "dinosaur" is quite "cacharreado" (modified). In fact, you almost have to give it a few knocks to change gears. Despite the canvas roof being in perfect condition, there's a makeshift cardboard ceiling to reduce the heat a bit. There's not much to say about the air conditioning system (see photos below), and the horn sounds hoarse as if it got water inside. Nevertheless, the dinosaur has fulfilled its duty.
The invention to cope a little with the heat radiating from the roof [A cardboard was put on it 馃槀]
A few months ago, Havana was hit by frequent rains, causing flooding in several areas of the city. My grandmother was trapped in a flooded zone, and when we went to pick her up, we saw many cars stranded due to the flooding, mostly LADAs. These cars are quite low, and if they don't measure well, water enters the engine, and even praying to God won't make the car start until it dries out. In our case, we drove through the flood, emerged unscathed, and the UAZ didn't stop or even notice it. The drivers looked at us incredulously. Nowadays, the height and robustness of this vehicle make it the most suitable for Cuban streets. Unfortunately, UAZ vehicles didn't make it into the hands of private individuals, unlike other brands that are abundant. This allows Americans and Russians to peacefully coexist in Cuba.
I hope you enjoyed this article. Maybe you had never seen this model before, or perhaps you had seen it. Either way, I hope you enjoyed it. We're on a mission to keep the dinosaur alive in the tough Cuban reality. Maybe you've never laid eyes on this model before, or maybe you have, but either way and before saying goodbye, I would like to ask you: Were you familiar with this model? What do you think about the history of this brand? Have you seen any UAZ-469 in your city/ country? Feel free to comment whatever you like; it will be a pleasure to respond to you.
We'll 'read' each other very soon.
Requisitos de Curaci贸n en la Comunidad Hivecubahivecuba 路
