"Time capsule" from the 90s: A rare SMZ motor carriage put up for sale

An SMZ S-3D motor carriage from 1997 in almost factory condition has been put up for sale in Russia. It has a symbolic mileage of only 33 kilometers. In essence, it is a "time capsule" that spent almost three decades in a garage without being used.

The specimen was assembled at the Serpukhov Motorcycle Plant in the last year of production of the model. The SMZ S-3D lasted on the assembly line for 27 years — from 1970 to 1997 — and became one of the most recognizable motor carriages in the USSR and Russia. According to the owner, the vehicle has been preserved all this time, and all technical fluids were replaced before the sale.

The seller claims that the motor carriage is fully documented: the original paper title and a complete set of registration documents are available.

Structurally, the SMZ S-3D received a load-bearing body welded from stamped elements. With a length of only 2825 mm, the curb weight reaches 498 kg. For comparison, the ZAZ-965 "hunchback" weighs about 640 kg, and the Oka weighs about 620 kg, although both cars are noticeably larger and designed for four passengers.

The motor carriage is powered by a single-cylinder 350 cc engine from the IZH "Planet" motorcycle with a capacity of 12 hp. The gearbox is a four-speed manual. There is no classic reverse gear: instead, a reverse gear with a separate lever is used.

Due to the lack of liquid cooling, the interior is heated by an autonomous gasoline heater installed under the front luggage compartment. The seller is asking 550 thousand rubles for this rare specimen.

Read more materials on the topic:

• The absolute novelty of the year in the world of automobiles has been named in Russia

• Changan reveals prices for the new CS75 Plus crossover for Russia

• Le Mans legend for sale: the most original GT40 MkII on the planet