"Zhiguli" of the 1960s-1980s is officially called "classics", and this is perhaps the only case in the automotive industry when the generally accepted meaning of the word has become limited and does not require clarification of which cars are in question.
Compared to the majority of car manufacturers, the Volzhsky Automobile Plant (VAZ) is a relatively young company. Its construction began in 1967 and proceeded at an incredible pace, even by Soviet standards. Since a decision had already been made on Fiat cooperation (the first model of Zhiguli was made on the basis of Fiat-124), construction was carried out according to a technical project of the Italians, and a contract was signed with them for the supply of basic technological equipment and further training of specialists. The Zhiguli was conceived as a people's car, which, at a relatively low price, could cut the incredible queues of Soviet citizens wishing to have their own transport.
The first six VAZ-2101 Zhiguli cars were produced on April 19, 1970. The mass production of Kopeks began in August, and by the end of the year, 21,530 Edinichek were produced. The first models had a 4-cylinder engine with a volume of 1198 cm³ of 60 hp and a maximum speed of 140 km / h. Objectively, the VAZ-2101 surpassed other Soviet production cars of the turn of the sixties - seventies in terms of technical level and quality, especially in interior trim, but in terms of durability and maintainability, it was inferior to them. VAZ-2101 was produced until 1982.
In 1972, the second model of the Volga Automobile Plant came out - VAZ-2102 - a five-door station wagon, produced until 1985. The popularity and fame of "the best friend of summer residents" eventually passed to the VAZ-2102 receiver represented by the fourth model VAZ.
In the same year, the production of "Treshka" - VAZ-2103 (Lada 1500 in export version) began. Its basic 72-horsepower engine made it possible to reach a speed of 100 km / h in 17 seconds, making the model the most dynamic of the mass Soviet cars of those years and comparable in dynamics to Western counterparts. For 12 years, 1 304 899 cars of the "third" model were produced. It is worth noting a very interesting modification, which, however, was not accepted - the VAZ-2103 Porsche. The VAZ-2103 version proposed by Porsche in 1976 without all the chrome parts. For a long time, the VAZ-2103 was deservedly considered a comfortable, reliable and dynamic car, and some connoisseurs of the brand consider it the most elegant and stylish model of the VAZ in general.
The very first car VAZ-2106 was assembled in December 1975, and the mass production of new items began on the third line of the conveyor on February 21, 1976. On December 28 of the same year, a copy of this model became the three-millionth car produced by the Volga Automobile Plant, and on June 3, 1978 . - four million. On May 17, 1979, one of the VAZ-2106, sent to Czechoslovakia, became the millionth Soviet car delivered to the CMEA countries. No one could have imagined such a superpopularity of an indistinguishable car that replaced the third model. Relatively powerful engine VAZ-2106 with a volume of 1.6 liters and 75 hp. allowed a maximum speed of 152 km / h. This model was produced until 2006. There were 7 serial modifications and 3 non-standard ones, one of which is the so-called "Half of the seventh" - the only copy made by special order of someone from the Politburo after the demonstration of the experienced VAZ-2107 to the top leadership of the USSR in 1979.
Small-scale production of the VAZ-2105 began in October 1979, full-scale deployed in January 1980 and lasted until December 30, 2010. "Five" became the second generation of "Zhiguli", equipped with a 1.29 liter carburetor engine with a power of 63.6 hp. and a 4-speed gearbox. About 14 modifications were produced, which differed from the basic version in various engines. Among them, we can highlight the sports LADA 2105 VFTS (LADA-VFTS) - with a 1.6-liter forced engine, 160 hp. (at 7000 rpm), 164.8 N.m (at 5500 rpm)) and spur 4 and 5-speed gearboxes and raliy LADA 2105 VIHUR.
In March 1982, the Volzhsky Automobile Plant began production of the VAZ-2107, which became the last model of the "classic". The seventh model was based on the VAZ-2105, but in a more luxurious and modern design. The 1.6-liter engine with a central fuel injection system made the "Seven" the fastest of the "classic" VAZ family (top speed 176 km / h). This car is also one of the best-selling in the post-Soviet market due to its simplicity, reliability and, of course, low price. After the complete closure of LADA 2107 production in Russia on April 17, 2012, this model continues to be manufactured in Egypt by the Lada-Egypt enterprise.
Serial production of the car VAZ-2104 ("Fours") was started at the Volga Automobile Plant in the second half of 1984. The model VAZ-2105 was taken as a basis, which differed in the minimum production costs and the maximum consumer effect. 4-stroke 1198 cc 58 hp carbureted engine with belt-driven camshaft The new model has a tailgate that opens upwards and a folding rear seat, which allows to increase the volume of the luggage compartment from 375 to 1340 liters.
It is the VAZ-2104 that finishes the production of the "classic" line of the Volga Automobile Plant based on Izhevsk production. You can still buy a car from dealers. The basic configuration, the cost of which starts from 200,000 rubles, now includes a petrol injection engine with a working volume of 1600 cm³ and a power of 74.5 hp. complete with a manual 5-speed gearbox. VAZ-2104 is capable of reaching a maximum speed of 145 km / h and accelerating to 100 km / h in 17 seconds. The consumption of 92 gasoline should be 7.5 liters per 100 km.
Life after graduation
In 2002, Ivan Dykhovichny shot the comedy film "Kopeyka", in which the car becomes a time machine, reflecting the life of an entire generation.
On June 7, 2004, the grand opening of the world's first and only Monument to Kopeyka, the popular VAZ-2101 car in Russia, took place.
The 1971 VAZ-2101 car, prepared by the CityMotorsport team, took part in the historic car race held on the prestigious Nurburgring track on October 1, 2004. The rivals of "Kopeyka" were about 50 legendary racing cars of the past. At first, our compatriot was losing, mainly because of the low engine power, but after the rain began to play a big role was played by the art of management. As a result, the VAZ-2101 crew finished in thirtieth position and in first place in the class.
A classic in time
1972 - the beginning of production of the VAZ-2102
1972 - the beginning of production of the VAZ-2103
December 1975 - release of the very first VAZ-2106 ("Shaha" or "Shoha", "six", "ball")
October 1979 7 years - the first small-scale batch of VAZ-2105 ("Five" or "stool")
March 1982 - Volzhsky Automobile Plant began production of VAZ-2107 ("Seven", "Semera")
second half of 1984 - the beginning of production of the VAZ 2104 ("Four")
The history of the car, which is now known as the VAZ-2110 (Lada 2110), began in 1983 when the first model of the sedan appeared, which strongly resembles the Opel Ascona and Ford Record cars of that time. This car had a rear-wheel drive and, according to plans, it was to be called VAZ-2112, but it did not receive approval for further development.
Development continued, at the beginning of 1984 another unsuccessful layout was built, which was also abandoned. The matter got off the ground only when the development of a new sedan of the Samara family with the VAZ-21099 index began. The first prototype, released at the end of 1984, already bore the factory index VAZ-2110. It was a prototype of the so-called "Series 0", during its manufacture almost all parts were taken from the cars of the first "Samara" family (/ /). The prototype VAZ-2110 "zero series" strongly resembled the VAZ-21099, in its design there was only one left rear-view mirror and a single wiper.
The first prototypes of the future VAZ-2110
A year later, after further improvements and changes in the design, the so-called 100th series of the VAZ-2110 car was born, which was named "Afalina. After the hundredth series, the next and next came out in increments of one hundred, the more the series was marked with, the more it looked like a production car. With each new series, the car less and less resembled the original rear-wheel drive project, for example, in the 300 series project, it was already possible to easily recognize the top ten that went into mass production. It is worth noting that the aerodynamic refinement of the 300 series was carried out with the participation of Porsche.
The prototype, which was almost ready for serial production, was shown in 1992 to Russian President Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin during his visit to the Volzhsky Automobile Plant. This copy was recommended for serial production, however, due to the economic crisis, serial production was postponed, and only in June 1995 was the first pilot batch of VAZ-2110 cars produced, and full-fledged serial production was launched only for the next 1996.
Prototypes of the VAZ-2110 series 0, 100, 200 and 300
The serial car VAZ-2110 for its time (in the mid-90s at the time it was released) had a modern design, both exterior and interior and a spacious trunk with a volume of 480 liters. Throughout the entire production period, the appearance of the car practically did not change and in this form in Russia it was produced until 2007, after which the car was completely replaced by the new Lada Priora sedan.
The VAZ-2110 sedan was produced not only in Russia, but also in Egypt and Ukraine by the Bogdan corporation. The Ukrainian “ten” bore its own name “Bogdan” and was produced until 2014. During the production of the VAZ-2110, it had many modifications, these were models with both a carburetor and an injection engine, both 8 and 16-valve, both 4 and 2-door coupe and even sports modifications.
Design and construction
In the cars of the 10th family, new developments were laid in comparison with the previous models. So the parts that were most exposed to corrosion began to be made of galvanized metal; gas stops were used to hold the hood in the open position. An on-board control system, an immobilizer, and a system for capturing gasoline vapors appeared. The brake discs are steel ventilated. Some production cars were equipped with air conditioning.
The first production cars VAZ-2110 received a VAZ-21083 carburetor 8-valve engine with a volume of 1.5 liters and a power of 69 horsepower. At the same time, the maximum speed was 162 km / h, and the average fuel consumption was 7.5 liters per 100 kilometers. Even if we take into account the fact that the engines on the VAZ-2110 and VAZ-21099 cars were the same "ten" in terms of acceleration and speed dynamics showed a 12% higher result. This was due primarily to the reduced drag coefficient.
The carburetor engine was replaced by an injection engine. The new 8-valve injection engine with a volume of 1.5 liters remained the same, but the power increased to 79 horsepower, the maximum speed also increased, now it was 170 km / h. Later, 16-valve engine models were developed.
The exterior of the car was not as angular as that of the cars of the "Samara" family (which were called "chisel" for a reason), the body lines were smoother and more modern. The car received completely different optics, taillights, a different grille, completely different bumpers (both front and rear). In general, it was a completely different car, and it makes no sense to compare it with the "ninety-ninth", although the cars were developed in parallel.
The interior of the VAZ-2110 car was also completely different, a new panel and instrument panel, a new steering wheel, door cards and much more. The dashboard featured a speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge and engine temperature gauge. "Ten" was completed with anatomical seats with head restraints, which can be adjusted both in the angle of inclination and in length.
Modifications
The base model that was produced from 1996 to 2000. An 8-valve carburetor engine VAZ-21083 with a working volume of 1.5 liters and a power of 69 horsepower was installed on the car.
This modification has been produced since 2004, equipped with an 8-valve gasoline injection engine with a working volume of 1.6 liters.
Like the previous modification with an 8-valve injection engine, but with a volume of 1.5 liters.
Modification of the "ten" with a 16-valve injection engine with a working volume of 1.5 liters.
A restyled modification of the VAZ-21103, equipped with a 16-valve petrol injection engine with a working volume of 1.5 liters and a capacity of 92 horsepower. Produced since 2002.
The modification is equipped with a 1.6-liter 16-valve petrol injection engine.
A restyled modification of the VAZ-21104, equipped with a 1.6-liter 16-valve gasoline injection engine. Produced since 2004.
The most powerful and expensive modification that has been produced since 2000. The car was equipped with a 2-liter 16-valve Opel C20XE petrol engine with a capacity of 150 horsepower. A body kit with swollen arches was installed on the car, the track was widened by 76 millimeters. It was fitted with R15 wheels with low-profile tires.
VAZ-21106 Coupe
VAZ-21106 coupe. A distinctive feature of the car was the presence of only two doors, which were lengthened by 250 millimeters, while the body was shortened by 170 millimeters. The engine was installed the same as that of the previous model VAZ-21106 GTI.
Sports modification of the 106 model, participated in the 2008 FIA WTCC international championship.
Car modification for rally competition. Equipped with a welded roll cage and a different suspension design.
VAZ 21108 "Premier"
Modification with a body extended by 170 millimeters in the area of the rear door, which provided more comfortable boarding and disembarking of passengers. Equipped with a 1.5-liter 16-valve injection engine.
VAZ 21109 "Consul"
4-seater luxury limousine based on the VAZ-2110 car. In addition to the length of the body, the dimensions of the rear door were also increased, for more convenient embarkation and disembarkation of passengers. Equipped with a 1.5 liter engine and R14 or R15 wheels. Overall dimensions: length - 4950 mm, width - 1700 mm, height - 1440 mm. Fuel consumption in the urban cycle is 9.5 liters per 100 kilometers.
VAZ 2110-91
Modification of the VAZ-2110 with a rotary piston engine with a volume of 1308 cm 3. The car could reach speeds of up to 240 km / h, and acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h took 6 seconds.
Also, each of the modifications had its own configuration, the designations of the configuration, the number of valves and engine volume can be observed in the form of an inscription on the trunk lid, in its right side.
Complete set
1.5, 1.5I
Cars of basic configuration for the domestic market, equipped with an 8-valve carburetor (1.5) and injection (1.5I) 1.5 liter engine. The basic package includes:
- Seat upholstery made of caprovelor and (or) tweed;
- Manual windows.
Additional options, such as power windows, door locks, immobilizer, body paint in "metallic", etc. could be installed as an option.
1.6I
Basic equipment, but with a 1.6-liter 8-valve injection engine.
LI (Lux-Injector)
Complete set "Lux" with an injection engine. This package included:
- Power windows;
- Locking door locks;
- Velvet seat upholstery;
- Immobilizer;
- Ventilated 13 '' brake discs.
GLI (Gran-Lux-Injector)
This package includes:
- Power windows;
- blocking of door locks;
- Trunk lock blocking;
- Velvet seat upholstery;
- Immobilizer;
- Ventilated 13-inch brake discs;
- Rear spoiler with additional brake light;
- Fog lights.
GLI 16V (Gran-Lux-Injector)
A car with a 16-valve injection engine in the "Gran-Lux" configuration. This package includes:
- Power windows;
- Locking door locks;
- Trunk lock blocking;
- Velvet seat upholstery;
- Immobilizer;
- Heated front seats;
- Ventilated 14 '' brake discs;
The car has a rear axle drive, a sedan-type body (four-door). This model is a continuation of the lineup, which began with the equally famous "penny". The predecessor of the "six" is the VAZ 2103 car. If you compare them, you can find many similarities. The first year Zhiguli "six" and "three" were even produced at the AvtoVAZ plant at the same time.
But in 1977, a story begins that completely ousted its predecessor both from the assembly line and from the market. The six was equipped with several types of engines: 1.6 L (80 HP), 1.5 L (74 HP), 1.3 L (64 HP). The history of the car has three decades, during this time a lot has changed in it, however, not all for the better.
The main thing is that the appearance remained, exactly what the motorists liked. At the end of 2001, AvtoVAZ completely closed the conveyor on which the "six" was produced. It was reequipped for the production of a more promising and modern "ten". But the management could not afford to close the VAZ 2106 project, so the model was produced at IZH-Auto until 2006.
Differences between the VAZ 2106 and its predecessors
In 1974, the style center of the Volga Automobile Plant began to develop a new project, which was originally named 21031. It is from here that the history of the famous VAZ 2106 car begins, which lasted 30 years. Just recently, a modification of the "penny", VAZ 21011, was developed, so we decided not to fantasize much about the name. Among the requirements for the model were the following:
- reduction in the number of chrome-plated parts;
- improved optics with minimal design changes.
The exterior is a classic of the time. There is a lot of black plastic, which was fashionable at that time, in the exterior. V. Antipin developed the design of the car, and V. Stepanov designed, which were subsequently used on other models. Compared with the "three", then the "six" received the following changes in appearance:
- bumpers have changed;
- wheel caps are different;
- the cladding of the front of the car has been significantly improved;
- there were repeaters of direction indicators on the sides;
- ventilation grilles in the rear pillars;
- and most importantly, the emblem of the Zhiguli plant appeared.
The interior of the model has also undergone changes:
- door upholstery and armrests;
- on the front seats, the head restraints can be adjusted vertically;
- an alarm has appeared in the controls;
- on the right hand is a switch that allows you to control the windshield washer;
- dashboard lighting can be dimmed using a special rheostat;
- indicator that notifies of a decrease in the level of brake fluid in the reservoir.
In those years, the classic VAZ 2106 also had a luxury package, which differed from the simple one by the presence of a radio receiver, a rear window heater and a rear fog lamp.
Engine and transmission
The 2103 engine has been redesigned specifically for the new model. The diameter of each cylinder was increased by 3 mm, and this gave an increase in volume of almost 0.3 liters. As a result, the working volume was equal to 1.6 liters. Torque increased by 12 percent, but failed to achieve 80 hp. With. It all came down to the design of the intake system, which the experts decided not to change. Therefore, the classic VAZ has many interchangeable units, which simplifies repairs.
The history of the checkpoint is also interesting, since for the "six" its own gearbox was developed, which a little later began to be installed on the Niva SUVs. By analogy with the car of the third model, the “six” was decided to be produced in two versions with engines of lower power. If you conduct a detailed review of the model, you can see that the body has fasteners and holes for the pedals and steering wheel on the passenger side.
The model was also produced for export to countries with left-hand traffic. December 1975 - this is the beginning of the era of "sixes", it was then that the first test car rolled off the assembly line of VAZ. After almost 3 months, he started to flow, and by the end of 1976 it was the VAZ 2106 that became a three-million-strong car. So many Zhiguli cars were produced by the plant during its short existence.
Change history of model 2106 over the years
The entire history of the model has many changes in the exterior and interior. True, they are all very insignificant. Those who are interested in restoring a VAZ 2106 car to its original appearance should take a look at the year of manufacture. Only then can the machine be restored. So, after 1980, all cars began to operate on Ozone carburetors.
When the troika left the assembly line, the VAZ 2106 began to change the moldings. Instead of chrome, plastic was used, the edging did not become on the wheel arches, the reflectors that had become familiar disappeared from the rear fenders. Even the nameplate, which originally had an attractive cherry background, has changed dramatically to black. The chrome vents on the ventilation openings were replaced with plastic ones.
By the end of the 80s. the VAZ 2106 car has already undergone many changes, it was possible to buy a car that was somewhat worse in functionality than that produced a decade earlier. Instead of lanterns in the doors, cheap reflectors appeared. It's convenient, but not so pretty.
Rear drum brakes came from the "five" in the VAZ 2106, and the wheel caps left, as well as the visors between the bumpers and the body to protect against dirt. In the early 90s, the parking brake indicator began to burn constantly, although before that, when the parking brake was squeezed out, a relay was turned on, making the lamp blink.
Throughout its history, the machine has been simplified and cheaper to manufacture. They even tried to remove the moldings, although they were a peculiar feature of the "six". However, they were quickly returned to their place. By the end of the 90s, the VAZ 2106 car had greatly changed, most of the chrome parts disappeared from it, since they were very expensive to manufacture.
They began to use only inertial seat belts, and the steering wheel was taken from more modern modifications of the VAZ 2105 car. Even power windows could be ordered at will: they would be installed from the factory. In 2000, the history of the model continued at IZH-Auto. It was in these years, the last for the "six", that absolutely all chrome parts were abolished: the radiator grille and rims on the rear lights. Car prices continued to rise, although the quality of the car became noticeably worse.
In the "tenth VAZ family" hatchbacks lasted the longest on the conveyor. They were designated by the index 2112. At the same time, if you open the spare parts catalog, you will find this: the Europanel, as well as the “8401014” radiator grille, were installed only on sedans. The catalog contains the model 21103, and this is the sedan. That is, sedans were produced when the VAZ-2112 ceased to be produced at all? Or is there something wrong here?
In July 2008, the last VAZ-2112 was released.
If you do not take into account the so-called “coupes” (VAZ-21123), then we can say with confidence that cars from the “tenth family” have not been produced since 2008. The last hatchback rolled off the assembly line in June. The engine 21124 was installed under the hood, and the cladding really turned out to be standard - not "8401014-10", but "8401714".
Radiator grill 2110-8401714 and 2110-8401014-10
However, on five-door hatchbacks, the grille in the new version cannot be found in principle. This does not apply to sedans (21103) as well as coupes.
What is the mistake?
Catalog of assembly units VAZ 2110-2112
In fact, cars with a "new torpedo" have been produced since 2006. This also applies to sedans, and even more so to hatchbacks. There was even a complete set with an 8-valve, where a europanel and power steering were present. This fact is not reflected in the catalog.
The story developed like this:
- Since August 2006, the Europanel appears in some trim levels. Example: the sedan "Norma", there is no power steering, but the torpedo is new;
- In 2007, any car 2110-2112 is supplied with a "new torpedo";
- In March 2007 sedans were removed from production, and so on.
And "coupes" were produced even in 2010!
Compare aerodynamics
We found out that VAZ-2112 hatchbacks were no longer produced in the last turn - after sedans and station wagons. The worst aerodynamic performance is typical for the station wagon, and the sedan is inferior to the hatchback in terms of drag coefficient (Cx). But that's not all!
The turning moment Mz, typical for 2110 sedans, is 571 N * m. The hatchback and station wagon win here (339 and 499 N * m). The hatchback has the best longitudinal stability.
The Cx coefficient for many modern cars is below the value of "0.30".
Body "hatchback" in a wind tunnel
What they achieved at the VAZ:
- 2110 – 0,347;
- 2111 – 0,381;
- 2112 – 0,335.
Draw conclusions.
Only facts
- There are configurations about which there is no information in any catalog. For example, 2110 sedans were produced with motors Opel X20XEV, as well as with domestic two-liter engines. Both modifications were notable for their low reliability.
- VAZ-2110-91 is a sedan with a Wankel engine. The maximum speed exceeds 240 km / h.
- And what about hatchbacks? For some reason, the VAZ deprived them of powerful internal combustion engines, but the Super-Auto company produced 21128 passenger cars, equipped with a 1.8-liter engine. The maximum speed with it is equal 196 km / h .
- It can be concluded that the "margin of safety" for all "Dozens" is very significant. To a slightly lesser extent, this applies to hatchbacks.
Example in the video: VAZ-2112 hatchback and 2.0 engine
By the beginning of the sixties, "Zaporozhtsy", "Muscovite", "Volga" and "Pobeda" were driving along the roads of the USSR. However, the huge developing country lacked passenger cars. Cars were almost impossible to buy - they were only distributed according to lists at factories. Therefore, in July 1966, the CPSU Central Committee decided to build a new car plant. He should have become the largest automaker in the country to satisfy the Soviet citizen's need for a private car. This is how the history of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant began. The plant was built in record time. It took only three years out of the allotted six. Production equipment for VAZ was manufactured at 844 factories in the USSR, 900 factories in other socialist countries, as well as in Europe and the United States.
History of creation
Italians, friendly to the Soviet Union, were instructed to build a new modern automobile plant in Togliatti. The agreement signed by the Ministry of the Automotive Industry of the USSR with the Fiat concern in August 1966 meant not only the construction of a full-cycle enterprise, but also equipping it with equipment, as well as personnel training. The new production was named "VAZ" - the Volzhsky Automobile Plant. To name it by analogy with other factories in the country, for example, Gorkovskiy and Ulyanovskiy, was not allowed by considerations of political correctness and naming rules: inappropriate jokes would have been inevitable.
The emblem for the VAZ models was to be invented by Soviet designers. The idea to place a boat on the badge, like the sketch of the future logo itself, belongs to the employee of the capital's management of the plant, Alexander Dekalenkov. Italians were commissioned to make emblems for cars. Incidentally, an incident was connected with this. The first three dozen logos were issued by Fiat with an error - instead of the letter "I" in the word "Togliatti", the Italians wrote "R". The curiosity did without scandals - the defective logos were urgently replaced.
Ups and downs
From the first days of work, the Volga auto giant did not experience any problems. The demand for cars was such that sales were limited only to production volumes. After about a year of operation, the plant produced 100,000 "kopecks", and after another two and a half years, the millionth "VAZ" rolled off the assembly line.
In 1973, the "kopeck" began to be delivered abroad. Then the "export" brand "Lada" appeared. As it turned out, the name "Zhiguli", which was worn by all VAZ cars, is consonant among the French with the word "Gigolo", that is, "a man dancing for money." Therefore, it was necessary to rename the export "Zhiguli" in "Lada". Subsequently, cars for the domestic market were also labeled with Ladas, and subsequently the name Zhiguli was banned altogether.
With the arrival of the nineties and the collapse of the USSR, the plant faced a previously unheard-of concept - "competition". Against the background of criminal wars for control over VAZ, which claimed hundreds of lives, a stream of used foreign cars poured into the country. Decades of existence without competition hampered the development of the automobile giant, and VAZ cars hopelessly lagged behind foreign ones. The Russians lost interest in Zhiguli, and the plant had to reduce the volume of car production. The state tried to solve the problem by raising customs duties on the import of used foreign cars, but this did not help.
After years of searching for a way out of the crisis, he was found in collaboration with Renault-Nissan. In 2008, the alliance became the owner of a 25% stake in AvtoVAZ. In the same year, AvtoVAZ got a new chief designer - Steve Mattin. Previously, he held similar positions at Mercedes and Volvo.
From "Classics" to modern
The first car that rolled off the VAZ assembly line in 1970 was a slightly revised Fiat. It was a Fiat 124 sedan, adapted for Soviet operating conditions. The model received an increased ground clearance from 110 to 175 mm, reinforced suspension and brakes, as well as the designation VAZ 2101, for which it was popularly nicknamed "Kopeyka". It was a symbol of the Soviet automotive era and the founder of a whole family of rear-wheel drive sedans and station wagons - "classics". "Kopeyka" has gone through more than one reincarnation in subsequent models of AvtoVAZ. One of the heirs of "Kopeyka", VAZ 2104, was taken out of production only in 2012.
Following the "Kopeyka" in 1971, the VAZ 2102 station wagon was launched into production. Then the "Troika" VAZ 2103 appeared - the "luxury" model of the VAZ. In fact, it was a thoroughly revised Kopeyka. Four headlights, chrome, a nifty dashboard. It was replaced by the VAZ 2106, which went down in history as the auto giant's best-selling model. For 30 years of life on the assembly line, 4.3 million "Sixes" were sold. After a serious restyling of Kopeyka, VAZ 2105, VAZ 2107 and VAZ 2104 appeared. The cars received rectangular headlights, an updated interior and modernized engines. At the present time "Troika" is extremely popular among lovers of antiquity, and "Six" - among taxi drivers from warm countries.
By the end of the seventies, the auto giant began to produce the first off-road model VAZ 2121 "Niva" (since 2006 - Lada 4x4). Design elements and details from the "Six" were widely used in its construction, and the interior was taken almost unchanged at all. VAZ 2121 was the only in-house development of AvtoVAZ and the first crossover in the world.
An absolutely new generation of cars ("Sputnik") appeared at VAZ only in the mid-1980s. For the index 2108 he was nicknamed "Eight", and for the wedge-shaped front end - "Chisel". The new engine, gearbox, aerodynamics, power structure of the body, front-wheel drive, MacPherson suspension and much more are the result of close cooperation of Togliatti with Porsche and the Fiat division (UTS). As part of this partnership, work was carried out to create the "Eight" on all fronts except design. He was not entrusted to the Germans. Later, versions of the "Eight" with five-door hatchback and sedan bodies went into production. The latter, in parallel with the VAZ 2108, were prepared by the Togliatti residents themselves.
By the end of the eighties, VAZ launched the production of the cheap Oka minicar. The Togliatti people borrowed ideas and technical solutions from the 1980 Daihatsu Cuore. For 20 years, starting in 1988, "" produced first AvtoVAZ, and then KAMAZ and SeAZ.
In the early nineties, the plant appeared in the model range. The sedan, developed on the G8 chassis, received an original body and interior. It was followed by a hatchback and station wagon. After that, for almost 10 years, the plant did not try to put new items on the conveyor.
In 2003, production began at the joint venture GM-AvtoVAZ. The following year, Togliatti residents set up production of the compact Kalina family (sedan, hatchback and station wagon). And in 2007, VAZ produced a deeply modernized "top ten" -. At the end of 2011, the Kalina sedan was replaced by its cheaper and revised modification, which was named Grant. And in 2012, a station wagon built on the basis of the conveyor was put on the conveyor.
In the near future, it is planned to start production of several more models on the platform of the Renault-Nissan alliance. But the company assures that AvtoVAZ's own cars will be modernized and the conveyor will not be abandoned.
About 70% of the details of Grant's new sedan came from Kalina.
The developer of Niva, Pyotr Mikhailovich Prusov, claims that the car was named after his children Natalia and Irina and the children of the first chief designer of VAZ, Solovyov Vadim and Andrey.
VAZ 2121 "Niva" was the only Soviet model ever officially sold in Japan.
Initially, the city of Togliatti was named Stavropol. However, on August 28, 1964, by decision of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR, it was renamed in honor of the General Secretary of the Italian Communist Party Palmiro Togliatti, who died a week earlier while visiting the children's camp "Artek".
In 1966, the construction of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant for the production of passenger cars, the largest in Russia, began in the city. In parallel with the construction of the plant, a new residential area of Togliatti was also being erected
From Soviet times to our days, Lada has been a favorite tuning object. It all started with brake fluid splashing in the round headlights of classic models and continues to this day. Over the years, the trends in tuning VAZ cars have repeatedly changed.
In 1977, AvtoVAZ received the USSR State Prize in the field of art, literature and architecture.
For a long time, lifting on the rear of the roof of the models 2108 and 2109 was considered a "sabotage" by Porsche specialists, because it heavily contaminated the rear window and increased the drag coefficient. Later it turned out that this "tail" is necessary for greater stability of the car at speed.
In the summer of 2010, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin drove over 300 km along the new Amur highway from Khabarovsk to Chita, driving a bright yellow sedan Lada Kalina. This body color was soon renamed from Sport to Premier. By the way, during this trip for Putin's motorcade, just in case, there were two more exactly the same spare Kalinas. One under its own power, and the second on a tow truck.
A year after the rally, the plant began production of modern wheelchairs.
The last representative of the domestic "classics" VAZ 2107 (or "Seven") since 2006 and is still being produced at the Egyptian plant Lada-Egypt.
The first "Kopeyka" with serial number 0000001, issued in 1970, was in the hands of one owner in Samara for 30 years. In 2000, the plant bought it for its museum. The millionth VAZ 2103 is also stored nearby.
The chief designer of AvtoVAZ, Steve Mattin, until 2005, participated in the development of the appearance of Mercedes A-class, S-class, M and GL-class. After that, until 2009, he was involved in the design of the Volvo S60, V60 and XC60 models.
