Soviet-made GAZ-66 “Shishiga” becomes a capable seven-seater SUV

Yuri Kordupel, from Ukraine, has spent two and a half years and around $25,000 USD to make this off-roading monster a reality.

Based on the iconic GAZ-66 truck nicknamed the Shishiga, the vehicle is seven meters (23 feet) long, three meters (10 feet) tall and barely recognizable anymore. The latter is largely due to its all-new body with a glass-fiber hood and kit, as well as a roomy seven-seat cabin. The power comes from a Mercedes engine of an unspecified model, reportedly rated at 150 PS (148 hp / 110 kW). Outfitted like this, the SUV can just about make 90 km/h (56 miles per hour) in a straight line.

The doors open against the oncoming traffic all suicide-like, and modern equipment largely boils down to a reversing camera and power windows.