Ukrainian Brand Turns Modern BMWs, Mercs And More Into Soviet-Styled Replicas

Do you long for the days of Stalin and Khrushchev? Does your Japanese or German car feel a little unpatriotic?

If so, you’re in luck as we’ve stumbled onto a firm that specializes in turning late model vehicles into Soviet throwbacks.

Based in Ukraine, Spec Auto Tuning has created an impressive collection of vehicles which combine modern mechanicals with old school styling. That’s best exemplified by this E32 BMW 7-Series that looks like it’s 70 years old.

There’s an E32 BMW 750iL hiding under this retro coachbuilt model

Designed to recall the GAZ-12 ZIM, the model is based on a long-wheelbase 750i and appears pretty true to the original. It was created for a client who wanted to give his American friend “something original,” and we bet they weren’t disappointed.

The firm has also built a number of other Soviet inspired models including a roadster based on the BMW 645Ci. This one’s a bit less convincing as the soft top and BMW-brand wheels are a dead giveaway.

This ‘beaut’ is based on BMW’s mid-2000s 645Ci

BMWs aren’t the only models to get the old school treatment as the company has also built a handful of vehicles based on the Mercedes CL W215. They look nothing like the original as they feature an old school front end with circular headlights and a chrome mesh grille.

Can you tell there’s an older generation Mercedes CL beneath the sheetmetal?

The white one is actually for sale and it costs €36,000 ($39,275 / £33,847). That’s a bit steep for an old CL, but you’ll probably never run into one quite like it.

The company even builds models that are a mix of different vehicles. In one case, the firm built a so-called Victory from a Toyota Mark II and Mazda RX-8. The car was then given custom body work and an updated interior which uses front seats from a Nissan 350Z.