Custom Cars in Soviet Armenia

The Soviet automotive market offered a limited range of standardized vehicles, such as the Lada, Moskvitch, and Volga, with purchasing often requiring years on a waiting list. While iconic Western vehicles were reserved for a select few, such as Vladimir Vysotsky, Anatoly Karpov, and Yuri Gagarin, many enthusiasts took it upon themselves to modify Soviet-made cars—or even build their own—from scratch. The history of custom cars in Armenia begins in 1977, attracting great attention and earning high praise.

Yuri Gagarin’s Matra Bonnet Djet

One of the most celebrated cars of the Soviet era belonged to Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space. In 1965, Gagarin visited the airshow in Le Bourget and lingered for a long time near the elegant, low-slung mid-engine coupe.

Whether he hinted at his desire to own such a car or the French took the initiative themselves is unknown, but just a month later, on July 26, a personal Matra Djet for Yuri Alekseyevich was shipped from Paris to Moscow.

Yuri Gagarin and his René Bonnet Matra-Djet before the titanium obelisk erected in Moscow Alley of Heroes in honor of space explorers.

Although many photos depict this car as sky blue, it was actually beige-gray in color. Copyright Matra - Lagardère, 1965, courtesy of Club René Bonnet

The GT-77 by Rafik Ordyan

The talented Armenian engineer-designer Rafik Ordyan even in his early youth dreamed of creating his own unusual car. Our boyish hero read an article about how to build a car yourself in the magazine Young Technician. And he understood - his cherished dream is completely feasible.

By the 10th grade, he had constructed a simple vehicle, which he called the “Buggy Model.”

In 1971, Ordyan began working on his new and ambitious project, the GT-77, a project that required six years of determination and self-learning. Besides engineering, he mastered skills in design, chemistry, metalwork, and electronics. Many doubted that a single person could create a functional sports car, but Ordyan proved them wrong.

Rafik Ordyan and his iconic GT-77

The GT-77, completed in 1977, was powered by a 47-horsepower engine from a Czechoslovak Škoda 1202 and built on the chassis of a Soviet Moskvich 412.

The car's total height was 1 meter, and it could reach a speed of 180 km/h.

Ordyan meticulously crafted many of the car's parts from scratch, creating a striking and one-of-a-kind sports car that captivated attention on the streets of Yerevan.

The GT-77 was so distinct in a sea of Zhiguli and Volga vehicles that onlookers often mistook it for a foreign car. People were genuinely curious about its origins, asking which country it had come from and how it had ended up in the USSR.

In 1977, Rafik overcame the test of 2500 km on the route Moscow — Sevastopol.

GT-77 participated in an all-Union exhibition and was awarded the Grand Prix, the top prize, beating 34 competitors from different Union republics. Following this, it was displayed for an entire month at the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy in Moscow, captivating visitors.

Henrik Matevosyan's "Gull" on the cover of Soviet-Armenian magazine "Science and Technology", 1986/7

Henrik Matevosyan created his custom-built car, the "Gull," in 1981. While visiting the home of a friend who had a collection of cars, he admired one of the models, took inspiration from it, and decided to build a full-scale version with his own hands. Although the design process took four months, it took him two years to complete the car. The vehicle was named "Gull" due to its doors, which resemble the wings of a bird when opened. Notably, Matevosyan assembled the car in the closed balcony of their apartment. Archival photos show the moment the completed car was lowered from the balcony. In 1983, Matevosyan renamed the car "Zangezur," reflecting his roots in the Zangezur region. Over the years, the car's color has changed several times: from white to silver, then green, and black. Today, the car is painted red. The creator of "Zangezur" believes that every color suits his car. Since its creation, the vehicle has traveled over 2 million kilometers. During Soviet times, it participated in nearly all automotive competitions, winning numerous awards. A passionate speed enthusiast, Matevosyan confesses that he would still drive fast today, if only he were allowed to.

While Ordyan’s GT-77 and Matevosyan's "Gull" remain a standout achievement, other Armenian car enthusiasts also pursued custom builds. I kept on researching Science and Technology magazine to uncover more examples and was able to find some, though details remain scarce.

Lyova Sahakyan's "Landa"

Car enthusiast Lyova Sahakyan is one of the creators of homemade cars. His models, "Lana," "Landa," "Sport-1," and "Mir-86," have repeatedly participated in races, winning awards.

At his parents' advice, Lyova enrolled in the Brusov Institute of Russian and Foreign Languages, where he studied for three years but soon realized that studying languages was not his calling. He then entered the Karl Marx Polytechnic Institute's mechanical faculty, where he began seriously pursuing his passion during his student years.

A "Zaporozhets" car, gifted by his parents, became his first testing ground. In a very short time, the car was modified, gaining a new look and being named "LANA," after the initials of his family members: Lyova, Asya, Nara, and Artur.

One after another, his other homemade cars were created, the most famous of which are "Landa," "Sport-1," and "Mir-86." These models earned high praise from experts. For example, "Landa" was built in just three months. The car can accommodate six passengers in addition to the driver, and its external dimensions are smaller than even a "Zhiguli." One unique feature of the car is its four headlights, two of which move in sync with the wheels during turns.

Lyova Sahakyan's futuristic "Mir-86"

Lyova's most famous model is the "Mir-86," created in honor of the International Year of Peace, which was recognized by the United Nations in 1986. It stood out for its futuristic design and was considered the lowest sports car in the USSR, with a height of only 870 mm. The car could reach a speed of 200 km/h and was primarily built from Zaporozhets parts. The headlights of the "Mir-86" were connected to the steering wheel and wheels, allowing them to move in unison with the car during turns. It also had reserve lights that could be activated with the press of a button.