The Volga car plant’s VAZ-2101 was officially named Zhiguli 40 years ago, on September 7, 1970. Their first car rolled off the conveyor on April 19 and batch production began in August 1970.
The Volga car plant’s VAZ-2101 was officially named Zhiguli 40 years ago, on September 7, 1970. Their first car rolled off the conveyor on April 19 and batch production began in August 1970.
The VAZ-2101 was modeled on the 1966 Fiat 124 and adjusted to the conditions, such as bad roads, common in the Soviet Union. In particular, its suspender and body were strengthened.
Its prototype model was the Fiat 124R, with R standing for “Russia.” They were essentially assembled in small batches in Italy and underwent numerous trials from 1969.
The VAZ-2101 was the first car produced at the Volga plant.
The Volga car plant was granted the highly prestigious international Gold Mercury award for the VAZ-2101 in May 1972. In 2000, the car was named the best Russian car of the 20th century after a national poll conducted by the Za Rulyom (At the Wheel) motoring magazine. From 1970 to 1983, the plant rolled out nearly 3 million of these cars.
Photo: A Zhiguli car in the consumer goods pavilion of the USSR Exhibition of Economic Achievements. 1973.
Photo: A Zhiguli car in the consumer goods pavilion of the USSR Exhibition of Economic Achievements. 1973.
In the 1970s, the VAZ-2101 was the most comfortable car in its class and one of the most modern and reliable Soviet makes. Owning it indicated both prosperity and status: the car cost about 6,000 rubles at a time when the average monthly salary was 150 rubles.
A VAZ-2101 fan club, including collectors of vintage cars, was set up in Moscow over five years ago. One of its members owns a rare VAZ-2101 first batch car that has never been driven. Should its owner decide to sell, he could raise $1 million.
Photo: Speed trials at the Volga car plant. 1976.
Photo: Speed trials at the Volga car plant. 1976.
The cars built for export were branded Lada, so the VAZ-2101 was exported as the Lada 1200.
Photo: A Lada in Lyon, France. 1979.
Photo: A Lada in Lyon, France. 1979.
The VAZ-2101 spawned a “classical” group of VAZ cars, which are produced to this day. The latest model is the VAZ-2107.
The VAZ-2108 Lada, manufactured in 1984, was the first to have a 5-speed transmission, subsequently supplied to all models of the Samara family, and was also the first available in metallic colors.
From 1996 to 2007, VAZ produced a 2110 model, a four-door front-wheel-drive sedan, which was the most prestigious Russian car even though its design split drivers, until the plant rolled out the Priora. The VAZ-2110 was given the nickname Matryoshka because of the clearly marked lines between body parts.
In 2003, VAZ presented Russia’s first prototype race car, the Lada Revolution.
In 2008, the plant rolled out a new concept car, the Lada C-Cross crossover. But mass production of it, slated for 2012, might never happen.
In May 2008, AvtoVAZ presented a race-car painted in traditional Khokhloma style, the Lada Kalina Super 1600, at an auto show in Nizhny Novgorod. The car was sprayed vine red with traditional Russian designs in gold on each side and the hood.
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© RIA Novosti . Ruslan Krivobok
In 2008, a Lada WTCC, created for the World Touring Car Championship, was presented at the Moscow International Auto Show.
A single model of the Lada Kalina 4WD Turbo concept car was created by the Togliatti-based company TorgMash for the Moscow International Auto Show 2008. Professionals say its 197 hp engine and AWD system make it stand out in Russia.
