I once had an “Oka”…

I had long been planning to build a single-seat racing car, similar to those that race in Formula. But… I got an old “Oka”. Although it was still running, its body was completely rotten: grass was growing from all the cracks! Restoring the vehicle made no sense. Well… so instead of a road-racing sports car, I’ll build a buggy!

The “Oka” was disassembled into parts, and the water-gas pipe Ø32 mm with a wall thickness of 2.8 mm prepared for the racing car went to the frame. At this stage, a pipe bender was needed – I made a simple machine using a jack and a profile pipe. Then I positioned the subframe with the engine and gearbox, “threw” two pipes, and assembled the frame around the power unit.

But the front suspension was a struggle. I reworked both the upper arm and the strut mount, and the steering rack mount several times. I assembled the steering column from separate parts, moving the steering wheel toward me due to incorrect angles.

To mount the steering hub to the upper ball joint, I had to order an adapter from a manufacturer.

Let me summarize. The quickly assembled and practically “on the knee” machine drives quite decently and the suspension works well. However, its appearance is not very good. I would even say harsher – it’s hideous. But considering the time spent on its construction and the insignificance of the invested funds, we can consider that the project more or less succeeded. To get something really worthwhile and pleasing to the eye, before starting work, everything needs to be properly thought through, calculated and drawn. I’ll get to it someday…

«Modelist-Konstruktor» No. 4’2025, Vladimir KOTMYSHEV, amateur constructor