Tucked away in the Zylinderhaus museum in Bernkastel-Kues is a little gem that looks like it’s just driven out of a 1960s postcard. The NSU Prinz 4, lovingly preserved and polished to perfection, sits proudly among other automotive relics. It’s compact, boxy and oddly adorable. But if you’ve ever laid eyes on a Soviet Zaporozec, you might do a double take.

The resemblance is uncanny. Both cars have that rear-engine, stubby-nose look, and both seem like they were designed by someone who had a ruler, a compass and a mild hangover. But while the NSU Prinz 4 was a symbol of post-war German practicality, the Zaporozec was more of a Soviet fever dream on wheels.

The NSU Prinz 4 was launched in 1961 and quickly became popular for its reliability, affordability and surprisingly peppy performance. It had a 600cc air-cooled engine tucked in the back, independent suspension and a design that was clearly inspired by the American Chevrolet Corvair. Which, funnily enough, also inspired the Zaporozec. So yes, there is a family resemblance, but it’s more like distant cousins who once shared a babysitter.

The Zaporozec, officially known as the ZAZ-965 and later the ZAZ-966, was the Soviet Union’s attempt at a people’s car. It was cheap, cheerful and about as refined as a potato in a tuxedo. Built in Ukraine, it had a similar rear-engine layout and a body that looked like it had been designed by tracing the NSU Prinz 4 after a few vodkas. But while the Prinz 4 was known for its decent engineering, the Zaporozec was famous for… well, not that.

To be fair, the Zaporozec did have one redeeming feature. Its heating system. Unlike most cars that relied on engine heat, the Zaporozec had a separate oil burner heater. Yes, a tiny furnace under the bonnet. It was like having a personal sauna on wheels. In a country where winter can freeze your eyelashes off, that was a big deal. The rest of the car, however, was a bit of a disaster. It was noisy, underpowered and had the build quality of a garden shed in a windstorm.

Back in Bernkastel, the NSU Prinz 4 in the Zylinderhaus is a reminder of what small cars could be when built with care and a bit of flair. It’s a charming piece of automotive history that still turns heads, even if some of those heads are wondering why it looks like their granddad’s old Zaporozec.