Story of the exhibit

The vehicle was built by Nuia EPT employee Villem Meltsas (1936–2007) for his own use, probably in the late 1980s in the association's workshop. Similar vehicles were made at Nuia EPT in the late 1980s to special order from the customer's materials, mainly for hunting clubs – see more in the manufacturer information. The basis was a written-off 1973 UAZ-469B. The front of the body is from the UAZ, the middle section from the windscreen to the rear edge of the driver's door was built from the cab of a 1979 GAZ-52-01 truck, and the rear is the builder's own design (frame of 25x25 mm square tube). The rear also includes, among other things, part of the roof of a GAZ-52-01 cab and the rear wheel arches of a GAZ-69. Volga parts were also used for some units. The vehicle seats six. In addition to the driver's and passenger's seats, there are lengthwise benches in the rear for four more people. Legend has it that a young moose would also fit in the back when returning from a hunt. In the vehicle's technical passport the body type is given as "JEEP"! The vehicle changed owner in the 1990s. There were plans to put it back into active use, but it was retired because of a clutch fault. In May 2007 a fundraising campaign was organised on the Auto-Moto Forum (forum.automoto.ee) to acquire this unique vehicle and bring it to the Järva-Jaani Old Tech Park. Many thanks to all the donors! In spring and summer 2010, as part of the "Built in Estonia – 2010" campaign, Veljo Indus and Olev and Olar Evisalu restored the vehicle. The vehicle took part in the harvest and the vintage machinery convoy in 2008, the meeting of Estonian-built and home-built machinery in 2010 and the 21st vintage truck meeting in 2011.