4×4S.ORGTHE REGISTRY NAMED MODEL · 1976–85
NAMED MODELMilitary · RussiaRussia

VAZ-2122 Reka amphibious prototype (1976–85)

The amphibious Niva: the VAZ-2122 Reka, a simplified open-bodied Niva built for the Soviet army in six prototype series from 1976, able to swim, with a 1.3-litre engine; the army approved of it but it was never put into production.

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Sources & evidence
VAZ-2122 Reka amphibious prototype (1976–85) — ВАЗ 2122 "Река" Автомобиль-амфибия. Тольяттинский автосалон 2012Вадим Контратьев · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗
BASE VEHICLENiva VAZ-2121 and 21213 (1977–)BUILT BYAvtoVAZ, TolyattiIN SERVICE1976–85OPERATED INRussiaPRODUCTIONSix prototype seriesLAYOUT4 wheels · 86.6″

The record

The Reka was AvtoVAZ’s answer to the army’s requirement for a light amphibious car; the programme ran to the mid-1980s and ended with the Soviet defence cuts.

Research status: draft — identification, dates or figures could not all be pinned down; the summary says what is unresolved.

Specification

MANUFACTURED1976–85
ENGINE1.3-litre four
PRODUCTION RUNSix prototype series; no production
COUNTRY OF ORIGINRussia
OPERATED INRussia
STATUSprototype
RECORD KINDNamed model
MODEL LINENiva 2121 and 2131
FAMILYNiva 2121 and 2131
WHEELS4
NOMINAL WHEELBASE86.6″
BODY STYLEthree-door
CATEGORYMilitary · Russia

Catalogue fields describe the vehicle's structure and body as this registry records it. They are not certified factory measurements, and no performance figures are published here.

Variants & colours

Base model variants

Factory colours

  • White (Niva)

Codes on hover. Hex values are representative approximations of period paint unless a source states a measured value.

AI rendering impression

An AI rendering impression starts from a 3D model of this vehicle, which an image model then paints into a scene. It is an artist's impression of the type, made to give a feel for the vehicle in its element — not a photograph, and not a record of any particular vehicle.

Proportions, fittings, markings, colours and the setting can all drift from the original in the process. For the vehicle's actual details, rely on the specification, the photographs and the cited sources on this page.

Sources

  1. 1VAZ-2121 ↗Wikipedia · accessed 2026-09-22SOURCE

Registry record updated 2026-09-22 · status: draft