Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s long life included travels with many companions and fine cars, yet his first four-wheeled purchase remains the Soviet ZAZ-695, commonly known as the Humpback Zaporozhets. In a recent interview on the Vesti TV channel, he spoke with wistful fondness about that early purchase.
He recalled that the windshield wipers were stolen decades ago and that the memory of the first road trip in the Zaporozhets stays vivid. The route stretched from Moscow to Kharkov, Anapa, Sukhum, Kutaisi, and Tbilisi, totaling more than 3,000 kilometers in a tiny car. The journey, filled with small adventures, left an enduring impression on him.
He described a moment in Georgia where a piglet darted onto the road, forcing a stop and a quick rethink of what a tiny car could endure. After parking in Tbilisi for the night, the car woke to ringing doormen in the morning, a memory that still astonishes him. These anecdotes paint a picture of a man who saw the humor and danger in every mile traveled.
Across the years, the politician amassed a spacious garage dominated by Soviet-era relics. One notable oddity is a Kineshma motor car built from an American lawnmower, produced by Avtoagregat with only 350 copies in existence. For many, this is a rare curiosity in the lineup, alongside the neighbor’s first Moskvich that sparked a young Zhirinovsky’s fascination with automobiles. He remembered climbing into the driver’s seat at seven or eight years old after the car’s owner allowed him to take the wheel.
In late 2014, an experimental electric Yo-mobile, finished in blue and black, entered the fleet. It was a gift to him from billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, who positioned himself as the project’s ideological driver and chief investor. While the gesture was surprising, the leader of the party accepted the gift with gratitude and vowed to use the car in the countryside. The crossover carried a power plant designed for electric operation, yet its practical use was limited by time. By January 2017, Zhirinovsky reported problems with the traction battery, which proved difficult to replace or locate a matching unit.
A standout in the collection was the civilian version of the Tiger armored vehicle. Assembled in 2006 at the Gorky Automobile Plant, the all-terrain vehicle bore the party’s navy blue color and side-emblazoned symbols. The VIP configuration featured a black leather interior and air conditioning, with an engine delivering 215 horsepower. The leader expressed satisfaction with the vehicle and spoke of plans to travel around Russia. However, the Tiger’s fate diverged from those intentions when, in 2014, it was donated to the Lugansk militia. The vehicle’s capabilities, designed for special operations and swamp traversal, were highlighted during the ceremony, with praise for its rugged design.
Beyond these models, the fleet included a 21st Volga, a gift from the Nizhny Novgorod Automobile Plant for a milestone birthday. Over the years, the collection grew to include a total of 13 cars, comprising Moskvich, Pobeda, Chaika, and the Soviet party limousine ZIL. Contemporary reports also noted ownership of modern luxury vehicles such as Rolls-Royce Phantom, Mercedes-AMG S 65, Maybach, and Cadillac Escalade, underscoring the breadth of the portfolio.
Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a prominent political figure, passed away on April 6 at the age of 76 due to complications from COVID-19. His passing marked the end of a career defined by outspoken leadership and a lifelong fascination with automobiles, from simple domestic cars to armored vehicles and high-end luxury models. The legacy he leaves behind includes not only his political influence but also a distinctive automotive archive that reflected his personality and public life. (Source: retrospective profiles and interviews.)