The clip of a modified Russian V8 truck has taken social media by storm, capturing the attention of Cuban internet users who are familiar with this type of vehicle. This particular truck was modified in Uzbekistan.
The video appeared on Instagram, posted by users afsonaviy zillar and oybek 717. "There were a few of these in Cuba, but now they're just scrap metal," remarked one Cuban commenter. Another added, "We Cubans want nothing to do with this; anything that smells like communism, keep it away." A third nostalgically noted, "My father used to drive one, and he was so proud of it." Meanwhile, another speculated, "It must be a Cuban living in Russia."
Popularity and Nostalgia
The Russian truck is so prominent in Cuban culture that the Instagram account "Somos cubanos" edited the original video, jokingly claiming the V8 belonged to a Cuban from Hialeah. Some viewers even believed the spoof.
The ZIL-130's Legacy
The ZIL-130, a Russian model designed for agricultural work, was produced from 1962 to 1994. It gained immense popularity in the former Soviet Union and Russia, with a total of 3,380,000 units manufactured. In Cuba, it remains in use primarily as a cargo and transport vehicle, continuing its legacy beyond its initial agricultural purpose.