An old Lada from Russia converted into a sort of walking robot has gone viral this Tuesday on Instagram, accumulating over 453,000 likes and more than 11 million views within a few hours.
The clip posted by the account Вага (@vaga_adrenalin) shows the unusual vehicle in action: at the front, it has two iron legs with wheels installed, while at the back, it features mechanical legs that end in what appear to be blue boots or galoshes, giving the whole assembly a blend of robotic and cartoonish appearance.
In the audio of the video, one of its creators enthusiastically declares: "Friends, the first test went well, now our task is to fix it and go for a spin."
The description accompanying the video leaves no doubt about the author's confidence: "I am sure it will run on the asphalt."
The comments in Russian, English, and other languages reflect a mix of disbelief, admiration, and laughter. One of the most celebrated named the device "the lezgino-walker," referencing the lezginka, a traditional dance from the Caucasus, suggesting that the vehicle "will dance the lezginka perfectly."
Another user sarcastically asked, "Why are the legs of the Zhiguli bare? At least put some shorts on it, summer is approaching, and some Louboutins to complete the look." Someone else suggested the official reason for any future stop: "It ran a red light."
The blue galoshes worn on the hind legs also sparked their own debate: "Are they children's galoshes?" one asked. "The blue galoshes are awesome, honestly," another replied.
The Lada, produced by AvtoVAZ since 1970 and derived from the Fiat 124, is one of the most iconic cars of the Soviet and post-Soviet world.
In Cuba, it arrived in the 1970s and became a symbol of everyday transportation, present in state fleets, the police, and private homes until the fall of the USSR in 1991.
The culture of creatively modifying Ladas has a long tradition in Russia and the former USSR countries, and social media has greatly amplified it.
It’s not the first time that one of these vehicles has been at the center of a viral moment: a Lada filmed driving in reverse in the Havana neighborhood of Cerro caused a stir in October 2025, and prior to that, in October 2024, the transformation of a Lada 2107 into a luxury car also went viral on Instagram.
The next step, according to its creators, is to "fix it up and take it for a spin." The asphalt awaits.
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