Young Creatives in Western Ukraine Turn a Rusty Lada into a Carpet-Wrapped Convertible

DIY Innovation in Rokytne

According to Главком: In the small town of Rokytne, located in Ukraine’s Rivne region, a group of young people transformed an old Lada (a classic Soviet car known as the Zhiguli) into a convertible, covering its body entirely in carpets. The entire project was completed in just four days. Car owners Nazar Borysov and Yaroslav Bohdanets explained that the idea started as a spontaneous experiment.

“We thought of buying a car just to do something fun with it. I created a group on Instagram, and everyone thought it was a joke. But then we actually went ahead and bought it,” said Nazar Borysov.

Vehicle Modification

After purchasing the car, the team decided to modify it.

“We found the car and thought, let’s cut the roof off. We did it, and it looked great, but something was missing. The paint was faded, so we decided to upholster it with carpets. We gathered whatever carpets everyone had at home and created this beauty,” Yaroslav Bohdanets recalled.

According to the owners, the modified vehicle quickly caught the attention of locals:

• “As soon as we cut the roof off, people started noticing it right away.”
• “We’ve gotten so many reactions. Local bloggers have filmed this car multiple times.”
• “Whenever we drive around, people come up, take photos, and ask us all about it.”

The owners acknowledge that altering a vehicle’s structure requires official approval under Ukrainian law. “Yeah, technically you’re not supposed to do this because it’s a modification. But the police have never stopped us, and everything has been fine so far,” they noted.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s automotive market faced challenges in May of this year, with a decline in new car sales. Additionally, on May 31, a government fuel subsidy program that had benefited 2.3 million Ukrainians came to an end. These factors highlight ongoing difficulties in the country’s auto industry, which could affect future projects like the one in Rokytne.

This story showcases the creativity and initiative of young people striving to bring their ideas to life, even amid economic hardship. Turning an old car into a carpet-covered convertible was not just a fun project but also a way to draw public attention to their work. At the same time, the broader automotive market situation underscores the challenges Ukrainians face, which may influence similar creative endeavors in the future.