In the Russian four-wheel drive van UAZ 452, the Buchanka, Bernhard Albrecht drives into the middle of Georgia’s Vashlovani National Park. And almost never comes out again. Thunderstorms, mudslides and weird fuel gauges.
I didn’t know buchankas existed until four weeks ago. When we discovered it on the website of a motorhome company in Tbilisi, my wife melted. “He and no other,” she said. Her decision was immutable. “Buchanka” is the nickname of the UAZ 452 pickup truck and means “box bread” in Russian. With googly eyes and a hint of chubby cheeks, the minibus has that certain something with which you can win the hearts of children in no time – and of people who consider innovations such as ESP, airbags or on-board computers to be unnecessary gadgets if the car only has charm.