In Soviet times, cars were perceived not as a means of transportation, but as a luxury that needed to be protected. This was especially true in the winter, when car enthusiasts tried not to take risks and left their cars in garages until spring.

The main problem was the cost of the car and its repairs. Most people saved money for a car for many years, but buying a new car or parts was not easy. All this forced owners to take care of their vehicle like the pupil of an eye.. Any winter accident could turn into a disaster, so many preferred not to risk it at all.

Another important problem was the lack of high-quality winter tires. There were almost no ones on sale, and all seasonal tires turned out to be ineffective on snowy or icy roads. As a result, cars skidded even on minor inclines, creating dangerous situations on the roads..

Low temperatures also created difficulties for engines. Due to the lack of high-quality motor oil, it thickened in the cold, which made starting significantly more difficult.. Drivers had to come up with different ways to start the car, for example, adding gasoline to the oil or warming the engine with hot water.

Batteries also discharged quickly in the cold season. Carburetor engines were capricious and often did not start the first time. In addition, contact ignition required regular maintenance, and if the starter did not work, drivers had to start the car manually using a special handle.

There were also problems with the coolant.. At the time, many cars used water instead of antifreeze, which meant it had to be drained every night to avoid freezing and damaging the engine.. This made winter operation even more troublesome..

In addition to technical difficulties, cars also quickly rusted due to poor quality metal and lack of proper anti-corrosion protection.. The salts that were sprinkled on the roads only accelerated this process, so in winter only those for whom it was vitally necessary drove.

Given all these difficulties, most car owners preferred to use public transport or travel on foot. In the summer the situation was completely different: then the car was used for trips to the country, on a visit or to nature.

Thus, winter operation of a car in the USSR was a real test. A combination of economic, technical and weather factors made travel too risky and expensive. Therefore, many drivers were simply waiting for the onset of spring to get behind the wheel again..