The Lada was the most widely available car in the Soviet Union.

Because of shortages (of almost everything) most people couldn’t just buy one, even if they had the rubles, but had to go onto a waiting list that could stretch out years.

Despite quality problems the ubiquitous Lada is still present and going strong in former Soviet states.

I spotted this particularly shiny, pimped up model in Kherson, Ukraine when I was there last summer.

Seemingly still the object of someone’s desire….