Sweet Rides of Macedonia - Mr. July - Manly Trucks

Sweet Rides - Trucks Edition

No review of MAK vehicles would be complete without mention of the truck.  These vehicles come in all sizes and styles, commensurate with their use and origin.  MAK trucks are numerous, varied, and pressed into service in ways not usually seen by those in the pampered West.  So, here is a sampling of those manly vehicles no country can do without - the sturdy truck!

Here is a sweet green  Zastava stake body truck.  This Serbian automaker made every kind of vehicle imaginable back in the day, including a variety of trucks.  Like anything useful, these trucks still run the roads, park as they wish, and haul stuff.  Very often these older types haul firewood to home yards.  Many,  perhaps most homes still use wood as the heat source, so a lot of haulage occurs.  This ride appears to be from the early 60's, and still comands respect from adjacent Yugos and Fiats as well as any pedestrian.



Also common is the TAM sweet ride.  This stands for Tovarna Avtomobilov Maribor, the name of the manufacturer and the city in Slovenia.  This factory was established by the Germans in WWII to make aircraft parts, but switched to vehicles after things quieted down.  The results can still be seen on roadways across the Balkans and apparently aerodynamics did not carry over to the design.  Below is a TAM 80, I'd guess, maybe from the late '70s.  TAMs are easily identified by their grill medallion in the shape of a clover with a star.  These very large medallions no doubt provide front grill protection, along with stylish branding.  I am partial to TAMs but unfortunately production became erratic in 1996  and they went kaput in 2011.  No one has told the 1000's still on the roads, however!

You can always tell a TAM by the clover-shaped medallion.  Better paint next time!  

Right here is Gevgelija is another most excellent representation of manly automotive excess, the FAP.  "FAP" stands for Fabrika Automotiv Priboj, which I know you will be shocked, shocked to  learn that it is located in Priboj, Serbia.  This company was founded in 1952 and may still be Fabrika-i-zing away. The vehicles were all heavy duty and can still be seen grinding up steep slopes delivering firewood and gravel.  Below is one of two FABs at the local fire department ready to do various manly things.  The FD trucks look like early 60's models and, unlike their snowflake US counterparts, are still in service. 

The Chief's car sits indoors.  The fire truck door is open, ready for any emergency.  

Leading the way to any emergency is this LADA Chief's car.  It is an SUV, but hangs out with trucks so here you go.  LADA is a Russian brand and this model, the Niva is extremely common.  LADA Nivas still dominate the SUV market event though most are 20 years old or so.   

Below and left is another Niva keeping its section of road secure, while still looking sweet.  It will be ready for action when the brake job is finished in the next few years. 

No discussion of sweet rides would be complete without mention of another Russian import - the UAZ.  True connoisseurs of truck manliness may recognise this brand from watching u-tube videos of crazy big Russian trucks slogging through mud, snow and across rivers.  Go on, admit that you do it !  I do not know what UAZ stands for, but I'd guess that is is the sound people make when one of the larger versions are spotted.  Here, Mr. July brings you a couple of the more pedestrian models.  The first one is from right here in Gevgelija.  This truck-like SUV may be from the 70's, and has the distinctive UAZ medallion on the front.  This medallion looks like the hands of a clock marking 10-after-9, or maybe 10-to-2.   I don't know what this rather enigmatic insignia means, but it gets cool points from me.  This ride gets some extra coolness by including the horseshoe on the grill.  So far, its luck seems to be holding.

Now, for the other and admittedly more manly UAZ.  The one below was spotted in Ohrid, Macedonia, where it garnered many "Uh-azz" exclamations.  This version looks to be from the mid-to-late 1940s and still looks ready for conflict.  It gets points for the full size hood brush guard, probably original paint, and the extra cool rear tarp with the rakish tilt.  All important features for a manly ride.  

I'd seen this truck parked down by the lake before.  Its purpose now is probably to get tourists to stop, and maybe buy some trinkets after Uh-azzing this sweet ride.  We resisted the trinkets, but the pizza was good. 

Finally, here is Gus getting in some practice on being manly with a small electric truck.  Note the 10-and-2 hand position and the laser-like focus. He is no doubt prepping for the day when his Daddy buys him a UAZ.  Until then, he and a million other small kids run these battery powered vehicles around the city centers on hot summer evenings.  Gus, as always, is dressed for the part.

We thank Mr. July for bringing us closer to our manly selves with the coolest trucks around.  Let me know if you need a load of oak - we'll send one your way.