by In Chile, a rare RAF-977 ‘Latvia’ from the very first series is up for sale. The Soviet minibus was accidentally discovered in the suburbs of Santiago, and it is possibly the only surviving example of the model to this day. 
The vehicle is offered for sale at a price of 800,000 pesos ($930). The low price is explained by the fact that the bus is not operational, and it is being offered to be converted into a food truck. 
The RAF-977 minibus was produced in very small series from 1958 to 1961, after which it was replaced by the improved RAF-977D.
Until recently, it was believed that all models of the first series were lost. 
The nine-seater RAF-977 measured 4.9 m in length with a wheelbase of 2.9 m. It was equipped with a 2.5-liter 70-horsepower engine from the Volga GAZ-21 and a 3-speed manual transmission. 
