Shabby UAZ off-roader surprises us at it sells for $8.6k in the USA

A 1984 UAZ-469 made in the Soviet Union and imported into the United States last December managed to fetch $8,600 USD at an auction, despite its less-than-ideal state.

The seller claims the total mileage is only 44 miles (71 km), but a cursory glance at the retro-SUV screams otherwise. Note especially the bent front bumper, cracked tires and a body strewn with dents, scuff marks, and specks of rust. More rust can be found at the bottom, even though the ad claims the car was re-painted in a different color just a few years ago.

Not much better off is the interior, which reveals cracked fake leather on the seats, mold on the floor, and worn-out pedal pads.

Power comes from a 2.5-liter carburetor engine rated at 75 PS (74 hp / 55 kW), which it sends to all four wheels via a four-speed manual transmission and a dual-range transfer case.

Features include removable top, searchlight, trailer hook, and 15-inch stamped wheels. It is a mystery who wanted the vehicle in North America, but whoever imported it took care to register it in Illinois with all the necessary documents.

The same car actually cropped up on sale on another online marketplace in May, where the bidding has reached $10,100, but the seller held onto it. Could they really believe it was worth more than that? What do you think?