Lada Returns to Lebanon

I don't shun an occasional piece of automotive news on this blog which is otherwise a car spotting blog mainly.

Here is today's bit: Lada Opens a Dealership in Beirut, Lebanon, according to a press release which is here in Russian.

And here is a recap: Lada says has plans to sell at least 300 cars in 2016 at this outlet. Mainly LADA 4x4 (formerly the "Niva") but also some Kalina, Largus and Granta models. All under US$ 11,000 actually.

Moskvitch 2137

Here is the Moskvitch 2137 that I spotted earlier this year in one of the back yards.

The Moskvitch (also "Moskvich" without the "t") 2137 is a station wagon / estate version of the Moskvitch 2140, the last true Moskvitch meaning a compact RWD classic sedan.

It is the last car in the Soviet Union / Russia to have finned vertical taillights which were retained from the previous model to facilitate rear cargo door operation.

The Moskvitch 2137 was discontinued in 1985 so this car is at least 30+ years old.

Shilka on Display

Last month (April 2016) I saw this 2A6 Shilka on display where I also saw this Buk 9A310.

The Shilka is a self-propelled, radar guided anti-aircraft weapon system (SPAAG) shooting down aircraft with quad AA rapid fire guns. Also used against infantry, land vehicles and even armored machinery.

I think it's the first time I saw one up this close.

Lumina

Last (2015) autumn's spot and today's write-up is this pre-1994 Chevrolet Lumina APV.

 The Chevrolet Lumina APV is a minivan produced by Chevrolet for the 1990 to 1996 model years.

It has to be a pre-1994 model as it still has the APV lettering which was dropped in 1994.

Apparently it had some innovative technological features at the time but still achieved only a modest sales success.

For what must be a pre-1994 vehicle it looks remarkably in good shape.

AA Mustang Batteries

I have this original Ford tool set.

Nothing remarkable, it includes a tire pressure meter, a small flashlight and a pen but it's not about it per se.

I had to replace the batteries in said flashlight and guess what? Turns out it had Mustang AA batteries.

For some reason I found it interesting enough to do some internet searches (and obviously to write this post).

And the interesting thing is they are made by a China company called Zhejiang Mustang Battery Co. Ltd. and apparently not related to the Ford Mustang.

But still found in an official Ford product though also made in China.

Used Car Lot Toyota FJ Cruiser

A first-time spot write-up today being a Toyota FJ Cruiser spotted earlier this spring at some used car lot.

Having never seen (let alone driven) one before in real life, I had to find some info on it on the internet.

The Toyota FJ Cruiser is a retro style compact SUV intended to resemble the original Toyota FJ40 Land Cruisers in styling and off-road performance and aimed at young male audiences.

Neptune Expedition... internet search yielded no results.

Moscow Food Truck Festival April 2016

Went there last year so when I heard of a food truck festival this year and at the same location not far from home, we went there also last Sunday 24.04.2016.

More food trucks. As you will see, many are MB-based trucks, also some Fords and some Danish style sausage wagons.

Something called Sweet Tokyo.

Hell's Pizza... saw them last year.

Buk 9A310

A Buk air defense missile system seen today and photographed by me at VDNKh here in North Moscow among other things (of which later).

A Buk 9A310 unit hull number 223.

Four fingers of death.

Lada VAZ-21099 Themed Wristwach

As I also collect watches and clocks, on which more is here and here, I thought I'd mention here a a Lada themed watch from my collection.

The Lada on the dial is the Lada VAZ-21099 sedan.

The watch is a ZiM Pobeda with the 2602 movement. More info about the watch can be found on my other blogs.

Toyota Alphard

Here is a Toyota Alphard spotted in traffic.

That's my dream car in front of me. And it's an Executive Lounge trim too and is seemingly the current edition.

The Toyota Alphard is a luxury MPV and the ultimate in luxury.

Abandoning their old-fashioned Mercedes-Benz sedans and - before that - large American road barges, today's elite and Yakuza overwhelmingly choose the Toyota Alphard as they need more luxury and more space for their mobile offices from which to run their empires while on the move.

The Toyota Alphard is now the definition of automotive luxury, both outside and inside, especially in certain tuned and special versions and editions like the Vellfire. 

Available here in Russia too starting at RUB 3.2 million.

Just look at it. This thing is THE thing.

3G Mitsubishi Eclipse

Here is a Third-Generation (2000-05) Mitsubishi Eclipse spotted by myself.

Soldiering on in the midst of Moscow winter earlier this year.

It is a compact sports car.

I like the look of them... so much so that I also made a bunch of 3G Mitsu Eclipse (convertible aka spyder) pictures in GT5 as seen on my Gran Turismo blog.

Moskvitch 2140 Ad Billboard Edition

While as a car-spotter and some-time amateur car researcher I have many favorites cars, my most favorite car marque has to be the Moskvitch (also spelled Moskvich without the "t"), our local marque in Moscow, and the Moskvitch 2140 is one of my all-time favorites, being the last true Moskvitch, i.e. a small rear wheel drive sedan.

For the above reason I tend to photograph Moskvitch cars wherever I find them and whatever the condition and so here is another Moskvtich 2140 serving as a mobile (or rather, stationary) advertisement billboard at an Auchan shopping mall somewhere in North Moscow.

Also known as the Moskvitch 1500 in foreign markets, the Moskvitch 2140 is a small family car produced by the Moscow AZLK (formerly, MZMA) factory from January 1976 to 1988.

This is the pre-1982 facelift version which still has quite a bit of chrome, chrome bumpers with guards and other distinguishing characteristics as compared to the post-1982 version.

 There is also something like "coach lights" - see them on the C-pillar.

The car also has a pretty unique (?) two-contour lighting system whereby all its lights (except maybe the headlights) are brighter during the day and dimmer at night so as not to blind or dazzle other drivers. 

The shield logo emblem is seen on the pre-1982 version, after 1982 it was replaced with the lettering AZLK.

It is being used here as an ad billboard for some kind of fishy spa and sauna, Turkish bath and Thai massage (I wish). I might yet visit it.

Differences between the pre-1982 (83) and the post-1982 Moskvtich 2140.

The pre-1982 Moskvtich 2140 is above, the post-1982 below. Differences include a shield logo emblem, chrome bumpers with guards, etc. on the pre-1982 version and plastic grille coating, no emblem, plastic bumpers with integrated turn lights on the post-1982 version below.

Also and rather curiously, according to the Russian wikipedia article on the M-2140, the initial design of the dashboard, center console and interior was ordered and done in the United States. However it was criticized for ergonomics failures and was then heavily (if not entirely) reworked.

In the most complete form, it can be seen on the Moskvitch 2140 SL version.