| 4-speed | |
|---|---|
| Number of steps: | 4-speed |
| Gear ratios: | |
| 1st gear: | 3,75 |
| 2nd gear: | 2,30 |
| 3rd gear: | 1,49 |
| 4th gear: | 1,00 |
| Reverse gear: | 3,87 |
| Gear type: | forward gear - helical, with constant engagement; reverse - straight |
| Synchronizers: | in all forward gears |
| Switching: | floor lever |
Specifications
Mass-dimensional
Dynamic
| Acceleration to 100 km / h: | 20 sec |
| Max. speed: | 142 km / h |
On the market
Other
Modifications
VAZ-21011, VAZ-21013
VAZ-2101 "Zhiguli" - Soviet rear-wheel drive passenger car with a sedan-type body. The first model produced at the Volzhsky Automobile Plant.
On the basis of the VAZ-2101, the so-called "classic" family of VAZ cars was created, which is still on the conveyor belt.
For the release of this model in May 1972, the Volga Automobile Plant was awarded the International Golden Mercury Prize. In 2000, the VAZ-2101 was named the best domestic car of the 20th century according to the results of an all-Russian poll conducted by the magazine "Za Rulem". Over the entire production period (from 1970 to 1988), the Volga Automobile Plant gave life to 4.85 million VAZ-2101 cars of all modifications with a sedan body.
History of creation
In the summer of 1966, the first acquaintance of domestic specialists with an Italian car took place.
During tests on our roads, the cars revealed serious problems with the durability of the body and rear disc brakes. Small ground clearance and the absence of towing eyes made it problematic to operate machines on a country road. The discontent of the Soviet engineers was also caused by the lower-shaft engine - absolutely unpromising from the point of view of further development of the design. All the comments of our specialists were taken into account by the Italian designers.
The chassis and transmission have undergone no less serious changes. As a result, the VAZ-2101 began to differ from the Fiat 124 in brakes (drum mechanisms appeared at the back that calmly endure bad roads), suspension (the front was reinforced, the rear was completely replaced with a more modern one with five jet rods instead of a jet tube), cardan transmission (an open shaft with intermediate support), reinforced clutch and modified design of synchronizers in the gearbox. Even in terms of comfort, the VAZ-2101 turned out to be better than its prototype due to the emerging possibility of transforming the seats into full-fledged berths, which were subsequently appreciated by thousands of owners. It is interesting that some of the innovations were applied in the "zero first" in order to unify with the luxury model Fiat 124S (VAZ-2103). First of all, these are trauma-proof external door handles. Also, the VAZ-2101 received an outside rear-view mirror. In total, over 800 changes were made to the design of the Fiat 124, after which it received the name Fiat 124R. The "Russification" of the Fiat 124 turned out to be extremely useful for the FIAT company itself, which has accumulated unique information about the reliability of its cars in extreme operating conditions.
The first six VAZ-2101 cars were assembled on April 19, 1970, while the rhythmic work of the main conveyor began in August. Until the end of the year, 21,530 "units" were collected in Togliatti, in 1971 this number increased to 172,175 cars, and the peak of production of the VAZ-2101 fell on 1973, when 379,007 copies were collected. The plant reached its design capacity in 1974.
origin of name
Normal 1966
It should be noted that the VAZ first-borns were the first domestic cars to which a new industry document was applied - the standard OH 025270-66, which regulates the classification and designation system of rolling stock: each new model of a car or trailer is assigned an index consisting of four digits, where the first the class of the car (trailer) and its purpose. The second two digits are the model. Model modifications have an additional fifth digit indicating the serial number of the modification. The sixth digit is the type of execution: 1 - for a cold climate, 6 - an export version for a temperate climate, 7 - an export version for a tropical climate, 8 and 9 - a reserve for other export modifications. Some cars have the prefix 01, 02, 03, etc. in their designation through a dash, indicating that the model or modification is transitional or has additional equipment. The digital index is usually preceded by the letter designations of the plant that developed or produced this model. For example, the index of a VAZ-21011 car is deciphered as follows: VAZ - manufacturer: Volzhsky Automobile Plant; 21 - a small class car with an engine from 1200 to 1800 cm³; 01 - the first model registered in this class; 1 - the first modification of the base car, characterized by the installation of another engine, in this case with a volume of 1300 cm³.
"Zhiguli"
There is an opinion that the name "Zhiguli" was born thanks to the competition announced by the magazine "Za Rulem" in August 1968. However, according to the testimony of VAZ veterans, the name "Zhiguli", proposed by the designer A. M. Cherny, was approved by the director of the plant V. N. Polyakov at the beginning of 1967. At the same time, it was proposed to FIAT to develop a decorative lettering for the rear panel of the body.
Among the people, two nicknames were stuck to the VAZ-2101 at different times: first - "one", and already at the end of the 1980s, when the model was no longer considered prestigious, - "penny".
Modifications
Massive:
Right-hand drive:
- For export to countries with left-hand traffic, the Volzhsky Automobile Plant has mastered the production of two versions of "Zhiguli" - VAZ-21012 and VAZ-21014 (based on VAZ-2101 and VAZ-21011). They were distinguished by a reinforced spring of the suspension of the right front wheel, since when the controls were transferred to the right side, the distribution of the machine's mass turned out to be uneven.
Low-volume:
- VAZ-21018 - rotary engine VAZ-311 (1 section), 70 hp;
- VAZ-21019 - rotary engine VAZ-411 (2 section), 140 hp;
- VAZ-2101 pickup - as was customary in the USSR, VAZ practiced converting defective Zhiguli bodies into pickups, which were subsequently used for their own needs both inside the plant itself and outside it. The cars simply cut off the entire rear of the roof, a new rear wall of the cab was mounted behind the front seats, and to increase rigidity, the rear doorways that had become unnecessary were welded. The carrying capacity of such pickups was 250-300 kg.
The export version of the car was called Lada 1200. Over 57 thousand cars were sent to the countries of the Socialist Commonwealth - the GDR, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Yugoslavia. Soon "Lada" appeared on the roads of Germany, France, Great Britain, Austria, Switzerland, Egypt and Nigeria.
The production of the VAZ-21011 car was stopped in 1982, and the VAZ-2101 was stopped in 1983. Further, they began to produce only a modification of the VAZ-21013, the production of which was completed only in 1988.
"Limousine" VAZ-2101
The VAZ-2101 car became the ancestor of a whole family of cars called "classics". In Cuba, practically on a semi-industrial basis, VAZ-2101 "limousines" are produced, which are widely used as route taxis.
Machine evaluation
A lot of Soviet car owners VAZ-2101 was for the first time. The high degree of refinement of the design and the quality of manufacture of the car made it possible to operate it without observing excessive precautions during the initial period of operation. The restrictions concerned only driving at maximum speeds during the break-in of the car. It was thanks to the Zhiguli that motorists learned that in a small car at high speed you can talk without raising your voice; that in the harsh winter in the car it can be warm as at home; that you can tirelessly cover almost twice the distance than other domestic cars. VAZ-2101 clearly demonstrated to our motorists how simple winter engine start can be. When the owners of passenger cars of other brands were forced to go for buckets of hot water and blowtorches, the driver of the Zhiguli often did without even the help of the crank. Much credit for this belongs to the two-chamber carburetor DAAZ-2101 (Weber 32 DCR), more perfect than the Soviet counterparts of that time. It is not without reason that several years later, the products of AZLK and Izhmash began to be serially equipped with domestic variations of Weber. However, "Zhiguli" carburetors began to appear under the hoods of "Muscovites" and even "Volga" much earlier - through the efforts of the owners themselves, tired of fighting the vagaries and gluttony of standard units of the series Outdoor furniture-126.
Speaking about the VAZ-2101 engine, it will not be an exaggeration to say that at one time it had the highest liter capacity among all Soviet passenger cars. In combination with a reliable four-speed gearbox, one could confidently overcome mountain serpentine roads with long descents and ascents. It is impossible not to note such an innovation as a closed-type cooling system, designed to use only antifreeze. Previously, Soviet cars did not have an expansion tank, and their radiators were most often filled with ordinary water, which had to be drained in front of each parking lot in winter - this procedure was considered completely commonplace. Only on the VAZ-2101 high-quality plastic materials appeared for the first time in the interior trim, which were not afraid of exposure to direct sunlight. Summarizing all of the above, we can say that with the first VAZ cars, new technologies and new materials came to our country, thanks to which the entire industry (and not only the automotive industry) made a huge step forward.
Sports achivments
The sporting success of "Zhiguli" was already laid in the engine itself with a camshaft in the cylinder head. It turned out that the engine lends itself well to forcing - the Soviet racers got an excellent opportunity to build sports cars.
The debut of the VAZ-2101 in the sports arena took place at the beginning of 1971 in Riga at the team championship of the USSR winter rally championship. Then - the USSR championship in circuit racing, where Togliatti cars were even brought into a separate class "Zhiguli". And in the fall of the same year, VAZ-2101 cars took part in international competitions: three Soviet crews started in the marathon "Tour of Europe-71"... The route of this rally was laid through the territory of 14 countries of Western and Eastern Europe (including the territory of the USSR), and the total length of the distance reached 14 thousand kilometers. At the end of the tour, the team VAZ-Autoexport won the "Silver Cup" in the team competition, and the crews Girdauskas-Madrevits and Lukyanov-Karamyshev were also awarded awards in the individual competition. The regularity of this fact was brilliantly confirmed later and on "Tour of Europe-73", where the teams participating in the VAZ-2101 got both gold and silver cups at once.
VAZ-2101 as a racing car was popular not only in the USSR. The British, for example, in the 80s organized a special rally championship Lada challenge .
Subsequently, the "zero first" for many years did not leave the tracks of both intra-union and international competitions, and in amateur rallies VAZ-2101 are sometimes found today.
Conquest of the Nurburgring
Car VAZ-2101 "Zhiguli" 1971 produced by the team CityMotorsport participated in the historic car race held on the prestigious Nürburgring on October 1, 2004. The rivals of the "one" were racing legends of the past: Jaguar E-type, Lotus Elan, BMW 2002 TI, Alfa Romeo Sprint GT, Ford Mustang and, of course, Porsche models Porsche 356 and Porsche 911. A total of fifty collectible cars.
"One" started at the beginning of the third ten in accordance with the result of qualification, which took place in the rain. The first laps were not easy - on a dry track the rivals in more powerful cars bypassed the Zhiguli one after another. The team CityMotorsport it seemed that the race had already been lost, the main thing was to reach the finish line. But suddenly it started raining, and power ceased to play a decisive role. The crew began to recapture position after position. First, they passed the leader of the classification of cars produced from 1966 to 1971 (the German championship of historical races takes place in several stages) - a blue Alfa Romeo, performing in the class up to 1600 cm³. It should be noted that this car already in those years left the factory conveyor with a two-shaft engine and twin carburetors. Weber... And then the "one" began to overtake Jaguars and Porsches one after another! The VAZ-2101 crew finished in the thirtieth position and in first place in the class.
In 2010, "one" again took to the track. This time Mikhail Gorbachev's team took part in the competition FHR Historischer Langstrecken Cupon the full version of the Nürburgring. The fact is that the prestigious 1000 km international races were held on the Northern loop from 1953 to 1983. They were attended by cars from famous world manufacturers. There were never any Soviet cars among them. Today this is possible as the Germans revived legendary racing for historic cars.
The preparation of the car for the start was carried out with the support of the company Rossauto... Modifying the body according to Group 1 rules is prohibited, so the white "one" looks even more serial than the silver one that took part in the 2004 race. The suspension remained standard - only shock absorbers were installed Koni Sport... The engine has undergone more serious changes. It was bored to 1300 cm³, a sports camshaft and two twin carburetors were installed Weber 40 DCOE... Theoretically, it was in this configuration that the car could participate in international races at the very beginning of the seventies. The main rivals of the "one" were cars with an engine capacity of up to 1300 cm³, produced from 1965 to 1971.
The crew included Andrey Oleinikov, journalist and driving instructor Dmitry Sokolov and Alexey Mochanov, who knows the treacherous track perfectly well.
In difficult weather conditions, both the car, which handled well, and the athletes, who did not make serious mistakes, showed themselves. Of the conventional classmates, the Russian-Ukrainian crew lost only to the NSU riders. The principal competitors in the Ford Escort 1300GT showed the best average lap speed, but at the finish they were behind.
In total, the VAZ-2101 was in the race for 7 hours and 6 minutes, having consumed more than 200 liters of fuel, on each lap it accelerated three times to a speed of 180 km / h (at 7500 rpm) and as a result, led by Andrey Oleinikov, saw the finishing flag ! Of the foreigners, the team has the fourth result, and 56th overall. A total of 70 cars finished, so in the overall standings the "one" bypassed several crews in Porsche and BMW. Never before, during its long sporting life, the VAZ-2101 was continuously in the race for 7 hours.
To the cinema
VAZ-2101 cars have repeatedly participated in the filming of films at various sites in the country. This car can be seen in the films "Sportloto-82", "Mimino", "Sunday Dad", "Accident - the daughter of a cop", "Especially dangerous", "Traffic police inspector", "Brother-2", "Game seriously", " National Security Agent "(series" The Heir ")," Streets of Broken Lanterns "," New Adventures of Cops "," Hitler Kaput! "," The third take "," Love in the big city "and many others.
In 2002, under the slogan "A cult car in a whirlwind of passions", Ivan Dykhovichny's film "Kopeyka" was released, in which the main role was played by the car VAZ-2101.
In 1983, "Kopeyka" also appeared on Western screens: in the detective story "Gorky Park", the hero of William Hurt drove it, and in 2008, in the action movie "Wanted", filmed in America by Russian director Timur Bekmambetov.
In the film "Guest from the Future" the pirates offered Kolya Gerasimov for the information they needed: "Do you want a Zhiguli?" Imagine: so small, and already - "Zhiguli"! ".
In the gaming and souvenir industry
A 1:43 scale model of the VAZ-2101 (A9) was produced at the Radon plant from 1977 to 1987.
- The car model VAZ-2101 (A17) PATROLNAYA was produced at the Radon plant from 1978 to 1987, initially it had the A9 index, but then it was assigned its own number. Early models had a drop-shaped flasher, later a cylindrical one. There were also options with roof megaphones.
- On January 19, 2010, a white VAZ-2101 model was released as part of the series "Autolegends of the USSR" number 25.
Handwork
- There is a magazine series "Cult Cars of Poland" from the publishing house "DeAgostini" number 31. It contains a white VAZ-2101 export version.
- The INKOTEX Holding company produces 1:43 scale models. On the model, the "wipers" are made as on right-hand drive cars (not from left to right, but vice versa). With a stamp on the bottom "Made in the USSR, Made in USSR", the inscription on the packaging - "Automobiles of Russia". List of some models: "GAI" (yellow), "Rally" (blue), "Training" (white), "Russian Post", "Standard" (green), "with a trunk" (green, blue), "Taxi "(Yellow).
Monuments and monuments
on a pedestal near the building of the Department of Internal Affairs of the WKO Department of Internal Affairs
Literature
- Vershigora V.A., Zeltser V.I., Pyatkov K.B. VAZ cars. - Moscow: Publishing house "Transport", 1974. - 368 p.
- V.A.Kotlyarov Flame of high thought. - Togliatti: AVTOVAZ, 2000 .-- 357 p.
- Auto legends of the USSR. VAZ-2102 "Zhiguli" // DeAgostini : magazine. - 2010. - No. 15.
- Auto legends of the USSR. VAZ-2101 "Zhiguli" // DeAgostini : magazine. - 2011. - No. 25.
Sources and notes
Links
| Cars of the Volzhsky Automobile Plant (VAZ) | |
|---|---|
| Family Zhiguli (Lada, "classic") | VAZ-2101 VAZ-2102 VAZ-2103 VAZ-2104 VAZ-2105 VAZ-2106 VAZ-2107 |
| Family Lada Samara (Satellite) | VAZ-2108 VAZ-2109 VAZ-21099 |
| Family Lada 110 | VAZ-2110 VAZ-21106 VAZ-2111 VAZ-2112 VAZ-21123 |
| Family Lada Samara 2 ("Eurosamara") | VAZ-2113 VAZ-2114 VAZ-2115 |
| Family Lada Kalina | VAZ-1117 VAZ-1118 VAZ-1119 VAZ-1119 Sport Lada Kalina City |
| Family Lada Priora | VAZ-2170 VAZ-2171 VAZ-2172 VAZ-2172 Coupe |
| Family Lada Granta | |
MYTH 1: VAZ-2101 was a complete copy of the Fiat 124 - myth
It is generally accepted that the VAZ-2101 is a licensed one, which means an exact copy of the Fiat 124 - a car that became the European Car of the Year in 1967. However, in reality, Italian and Soviet specialists, for almost four years of joint work, contributed to the design of the original car. And there were good enough reasons for this.
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The Italian car (on the left) was related to our Lada even by the subject of advertising photos!
The first samples of the Fiat 124, which entered the USSR for testing in the summer of 1966, began to "pour in" on the roads of the Dmitrovsky proving ground after five thousand kilometers! In particular, it could not withstand trips on the cobblestones of the calibrated "Belgian pavement" body, which had cracks at the joints of the roof and struts, the rear axle crankcase burst, the rubber buffers of the front suspension failed ... And that's not all: in the conditions of Soviet reality on on winter roads sprinkled with sand and salt, the brake pads of the rear disc brakes were worn out to metal in just a few hundred kilometers! In a word, "field" tests have shown that the Italian car clearly requires adaptation to our conditions.
In addition, Soviet specialists, at the early stages of negotiations with the Italians, insisted on an overhead camshaft (OHC scheme) instead of the archaic scheme of the Fiat 124 engine, in which the camshaft was located in the cylinder block. As a result, the serial VAZ-2101 received a more modern engine, a reinforced body, drum rear brakes, increased ground clearance and many other improvements, thanks to which the new compact car withstood the tests with honor in the harsh climate and not the best roads of the vast country. Thousands of new owners in the first year happily discovered that the novelty in winter is an order of magnitude warmer and more stable than the Soviet cars of that time, and the Zhiguli engine easily and confidently started even in twenty-degree frost.
The Fiat 124 engine was made according to the OHV scheme - that is, with a lower camshaft
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Two key differences between Zhiguli and Fiat - engine design and rear brake type
MYTH 2: VAZ-2101 was somewhat inferior to Muscovites - it's true
Together with Zhiguli, new industrial standards appeared in the USSR - high-quality materials and new tires were introduced into use, and speed and comfort reached a new level.
At the same time, the first model of Zhiguli inevitably and immediately began to be compared with the AZLK-412 - a car that was close to a "penny" in size, price and purpose, but at the same time was a development of the "four hundred and eighth" and differed from the Togliatti car in design. The Muscovite was inferior to the Zhiguli in terms of comfort, because in the back seat it was noticeably closer, since part of it was eaten by the "hams" of the wheel arches. In addition, the Moscow car was noisier, and in the cabin (especially in the back) in winter it was not as warm as in the Italian. Finally, it was noticeably easier and more pleasant to drive Zhiguli even for a beginner, and the spring-loaded rear suspension coped better with unevenness than the Moskvich springs.
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Moskvich or Zhiguli? The “former foreign car” was more comfortable and faster, and Moskvich was more enduring and unpretentious
But at the same time, Muscovites were less sensitive to bumps and bumps. After all, the crankcase of the M-412 engine was reliably "covered" by a powerful front beam, while on Zhiguli many drivers on rocky roads sometimes punched a pallet. The body of the Volga subcompact, even after Soviet modifications, did not like overloads and dashing off-road driving, which is why it could irreversibly deform without obvious accidents! Yes, and the spring suspension did not tolerate overloads and quickly sagged from those owners who carried too much weights in their car.
In addition, the VAZ-2101 engine had its own "Achilles' heel" - the notorious camshaft, which in the first decade, on rare occasions, served at least 80-100,000 kilometers, while on Moskvich and IZH, the owner of this part of the gas distribution mechanism only remembered during a major overhaul of the motor.
The position of the driver behind the wheel of a Zhiguli was different from that to which Soviet drivers were accustomed. After all, to increase the space in the back seat, Fiat designers tilted the steering wheel
And Moskvich was much more unpretentious - he calmly "digested" low-grade oils and "seventy-sixth" gasoline, while Zhiguli demanded the use of exclusively high-quality fuels and lubricants - AI-93 fuel, modern motor oil of category "G" with a package of antiwear and oxidizing additives, antifreeze instead of water in a closed cooling system ... Let's not forget that thanks to its simple and well-known design, it was much easier to "put hands" on the Moskvich, while a special tool was required to maintain the Zhiguli ...
Finally, many drivers noted that sitting behind the wheel of an AZLK (especially in model 2140), where the driver's legs and arms were bent more than usual.
MYTH 3: the VAZ-2101 of the first issues consisted entirely of Fiat parts - a myth
"Kopeyka" was not the first Soviet car produced under a foreign license. But it was this car that was the first "foreign car" that ordinary citizens could buy for their hard-earned money. And if in the early years the very fact of the presence of Italian specialists at the plant and their constant "technical support" were perceived by contemporaries rather calmly, then from about the end of the nineties, when the value of the cars preserved in their original form increased sharply, rumors about exclusive cars began to circulate in the CIS countries the first years of production, which consisted entirely of Italian components. As arguments invariably featured "bolts with the Fiat inscription", and when selling the first model Zhiguli, even cars produced in the late seventies were often recorded as "pure Italians"!
Early "pennies" could be distinguished by the so-called "crescents" between the radiator grille and the headlight rims (1970-1971), as well as by the round mirror located on the wing (until 1975)
In reality, Italian engineers really controlled production in Togliatti, but this took place until 1974. And if the first three models (VAZ-2101, VAZ-2102 and) were really created with the direct participation of Fiat employees, then all subsequent Zhiguli based on the "penny" (, 2105) were already developed on their own.
The first three VAZ models were created under the supervision of Fiat engineers
By August 1970, when the serial production of the VAZ-2101 began, the manufacture of all parts in the USSR had not yet been established, so the cars of the first years of production were really actively equipped with parts of foreign production. For example, in the second half of 1970 and at the beginning of 1971, "pennies" were equipped with more angular "fangs" of Fiat bumpers, as well as "Fiat" starters, alternators, steering gear, jacks, and thus fasteners with a characteristic inscription. During this period, the cars were equipped with a floor gas pedal, a rear license plate light, rear reflectors and a steering wheel cover made by the Italian company Stars. Headlights (Carello), windscreen wipers (Magnetti Marelli) and a carburetor (Weber) also came from Fiat's homeland in Togliatti. However, over time, the number of foreign-made components has significantly decreased - they were mainly used to complete Zhiguli intended for export.
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Note the triangular shape of the "fangs" on the front bumper - this is how Fiat parts sourced from Italy looked like
MYTH 4: VAZ-2101 was popular abroad - really
The launch of a mass car at the VAZ pursued several goals, one of which was the receipt of foreign currency into the treasury through export deliveries of cars, which began a year after the launch of the serial production of Zhiguli. In order to adequately perform in foreign markets, brand new Zhiguli underwent almost four dozen different additional checks, which allowed revealing even minor assembly flaws.
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At the same time, Soviet Lada (namely, such a harmonious name was given to export Zhiguli) in the early seventies did not lose much to "soplatform" Fiats, but were significantly cheaper than European cars. True, in the early years "Autoexport" supplied VAZ-2101 mainly to the CMEA countries - the so-called "socialist camp". Motorists in Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and the GDR were quite willing to change from their Trabants, Wartburgs and Skodas to a new Soviet compact car, in which the Italian "source" was easily guessed. Well, in the countries of Western Europe, "kopeck" began to be actively supplied since 1974, when the Fiat 124 had already been removed from production at home, and the Soviet car did not in any way compete with its Italian prototype.
In the countries of the "socialist camp" the new Soviet machine was received very warmly. Yes, and in the capitalist, too, did not disdain - at least those who wanted to buy "a lot of cars for their money"
Fiat 124S was similar in finish to the Soviet VAZ-21011. It is interesting that this "late" Fiat in Italy was stopped at the very moment when the modernized "penny" was launched in the USSR
That is why the export of Soviet cars began to increase at a record pace: if in 1971 the USSR delivered 150,000 cars abroad, then in 1975 the figure doubled - up to 300,000 cars a year! As you might guess, the lion's share of this volume belonged to the Zhiguli of the first model, which were supplied not only to the countries of Eastern and Western Europe, but also to Canada, New Zealand, as well as some Latin American countries - Bolivia, Panama, Peru and Uruguay. They also bought Lada-1200 (export designation VAZ-2101) in England, where cars with right-hand steering devices were supplied.
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Right-hand drive "kopeck" - there was such!
In 1979, the millionth Soviet-made car was delivered to the CMEA countries - and it was precisely the Zhiguli! True, interest in the "kopeck" abroad by this time began to rapidly fade away - for the spoiled "Europeans" the firstborn of the Volga Automobile Plant had already become an outdated model. Therefore, they switched to other VAZ models, and stopped the production of "clean ones" in the spring of 1983, leaving the "successor" VAZ-21013 in the range of models, which was a combination of the body of the VAZ-21011 model with a 1.2-liter 2101 engine.
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MYTH 5: VAZ-2101 was produced in separate batches until the beginning of the nineties - a myth
Zhiguli of the first model lasted 13 years on the conveyor - until 1983. From 1974 to 1981, a modification of the VAZ-21011 was produced, differing in body trim and a more powerful 1.3-liter engine. Subsequently, the "eleventh" was replaced by the VAZ-2105, and the only direct heir to the "one" in the model range was the VAZ-21013. This modification was produced until 1988, when the front-wheel drive family in the form of both the five-door VAZ-2109 and newer "classic" models began to gain momentum.
VAZ-21011 differed from the "clean penny" by the trim elements
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Nevertheless, right up to the collapse of the USSR (and even after it), there were rumors that in Togliatti, from the remains of components from time to time, small batches of "kopecks" were produced, which, by the way, explained the fact that individual wheel caps were equipped with "penny" parties in 1990-1991.
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In reality, the production of the VAZ-2101 (more precisely, 21013) was discontinued in 1988, since by that time this model was very outdated even by Soviet standards and was easily replaced by other Zhiguli models - in particular, the more modern "five".
MYTH 6: Vysotsky had a "penny" - true
In 1971, singer and actor Vladimir Vysotsky became one of the first lucky ones to get behind the wheel of a new Soviet runabout. Vysotsky drove a gray Zhiguli with a license plate 16-55 MKL for a very short time: in July of the same year, Vladimir Semyonovich smashed his “penny”.
Vladimir Vysotsky never parted with a cigarette and a guitar. But the actor, poet and bard also fell in love with cars, and his first personal car was just a “kopeck”!
Be that as it may, the Zhiguli of Vladimir Semyonovich, damaged as a result of the accident, were restored, then removed from the register in the fall of 1971 and sold, after which Vysotsky never returned behind the wheel of the Zhiguli, preferring them like a representative sedan .
MYTH 7: Soviet designers were to blame for problems with the camshaft - and a myth,really
After the Soviet designers got acquainted with the design of the Fiat 124, they had a number of questions and comments. In particular, the Soviet side reasonably considered an outdated design of an engine with a lower camshaft and a rod valve drive. At this time, at Fiat itself, engines with a gas distribution mechanism completely located in the cylinder head were already tested, and our representatives personally saw prototypes with two overhead camshafts and a timing belt drive!
However, the Italian side at that time had not yet worked out this scheme and insisted on the supply of equipment for the production of an engine with a lower camshaft.
In the course of numerous negotiations, Soviet specialists managed to "defend" the upper location of the camshaft, while agreeing to use cast iron for the manufacture of the cylinder block instead of aluminum, which our representatives had insisted on earlier.
The upper location of the camshaft was fundamental for Soviet designers. Subsequently, this decision played a cruel joke with many thousands of Zhiguli owners who faced premature camshaft wear.
Thus, an overhead 1.2-liter 64-horsepower engine with a cylinder diameter of 76 mm and a piston stroke of 66 mm was launched into series production.
But it soon became clear that the camshaft located in the engine head wears out quite quickly and serves only 40-60 thousand kilometers before replacing (or regrinding the cams)! There were several reasons. Firstly, due to the new scheme, the supply of oil to the contact area of \u200b\u200bthe cams and the lever was not always sufficient - especially if its level was lowered, or the engine was started in severe frost, when the oil thickened noticeably. Secondly, at VAZ, instead of 18KhN2M steel and cementing to a great depth, the shaft was nitrided and 40Kh steel was used for its manufacture. Finally, often the reason for the premature wear of the camshaft was the car owner himself, who, in conditions of total shortage, poured anything into the engine of the unfortunate Zhiguli instead of the Zhiguli group G, anything - Muscovite AS-8 or even Kamaz oil.
In an effort to extend the life of the cams, the USSR even redesigned the camshaft design! One of the options is additional oil collectors on the housing to retain engine oil and supply it to the levers and cams.
In the future, the camshaft manufacturing technology was improved, and the distribution of high-quality oils became widespread. Therefore, from about the beginning of the eighties, Zhiguli camshafts began to serve until the replacement of 110-120 thousand kilometers, and in some cases - even before the first overhaul of the engine.
Nevertheless, one of the reasons for the "camshaft problem" of the VAZ-2101 was precisely the intervention in the design of the engine by Soviet designers, who insisted on such a scheme, but did not fully understand the possible consequences of such a transfer.
Despite the shortcomings and even design features, for millions of Soviet citizens in the seventies, the Zhiguli became a real revelation. After all, it was the "penny" that allowed all those who were far enough from technology and avoided the old Soviet cars because of the more time-consuming service to comfortably go about their business. And even after almost half a century after the start of production, this model, with a touchingly naive expression of a round headlight, is respected and causes a nostalgic smile on the faces of those who once drove the same car for the first time - and not even behind the wheel, but from the hospital.
In the Soviet automobile industry, the most famous and popular flagship is the Zhiguli. Transport has and was produced until 2012. In the period of its entire existence, it has been improved and modernized more than once. The history of the VAZ-2101 includes many events: the design changed, the technical side was corrected and the concept of the car itself changed.
Cooperation with Fiat
The most famous and first of its kind model is the VAZ-2101, which was produced at the Volga Automobile Plant. At one time, this flagship became possible thanks to an agreement with from Italy - Fiat. Our country was represented by Vneshtorg, which has at its disposal the capacity for the production of light vehicles. This contract was signed in 1966 and was marked by the construction of a plant for the production of domestic flagships.
According to the original plan, it was required to organize the production of several models of the VAZ-2101 transport. One of them was supposed to have a sedan body and a normal type of technical equipment. The second "kopeck" had characteristic features of the station wagon, which were complemented by the luxury class equipment. The first prototype of this lineup was the flagship Fiat 124, which became the best brand for the whole year. It will become the basis for the VAZ-2101 car.
Why Fiat 124 did not fit
During the period of global testing of the flagship, which was necessary to ensure the development of their own brand of transport, manufacturers discovered a number of serious shortcomings. They demanded an urgent decision so that the car could be called the VAZ-2101. The main problem was that the flagship was not suitable for domestic roads, as it had too low ground clearance and did not provide for a towing eye.
This made the modification unsuitable for off-roading, which was extremely common in our territories. This problem was supplemented by a rather weak case, which wore out quickly and was not intended for long-term operation. In addition, our people love outdoor activities, so the production of a car should focus on the endurance of the flagship.
How the VAZ-2101 overtook the Fiat 124
To improve the flagship VAZ-2101, the active rear brake system was completed, and the front axle suspension was improved, which was indirectly different from its predecessors. Has undergone changes, which has received more convenient control. There was an active release of new modifications, which more and more left the original Fiat.
In total, there were more than 800 upgrades, which made the "penny" one of the best. She was able to fully comply with the requirements of the road surface in Russia and had high convenience for active users. The production of these machines has received recognition from international experts.
Factory release VAZ-2101
In 1970, the first six cars rolled off the assembly line, and April 19 is considered the birthday of the Zhiguli brand. The variety of colors was then only represented by red and blue. In a practical test, such machines showed excellent results, so they did not even give in to modifications. Already in 1970, the plant for their production started working at full capacity. So, during the year of operation, 21530 units of transport were produced.
Features of the classification
Among the features of the "Zhiguli" is the fact that the car received a special document ОН 025370-66. This standard regulated the principle of classification and designation of technical composition.
Thus, all produced models acquired a four-digit number. The first two digits gave information about the modification class, and the next two gave information about its model. In practice, the fifth digit was also used, which showed that this machine was a modification. There could be a sixth - destination for export, which determined climatic conditions.
Modification period
For the entire period of production of the car, a large number of vehicles were produced. Among the modifications were flagships designed exclusively for factories, as well as special vehicles such as limousines. For a long time they were sold abroad.
Among the transport, the first car, the "kopeck", was especially popular. This was a good solution in terms of technical equipment, which is confirmed by user reviews. Therefore, this car became the basis for subsequent modifications. The release of VAZ-2101 modifications made it possible to satisfy the requests of a larger number of buyers.
The first model that has undergone changes is the VAZ-21011. Its main difference was the engine. The transport received, as well as the volume, which was 1.3 liters. The car's design also underwent modifications. Now the radiator was also cooled through an improved ventilation system. For this, several slots were added and the shape of the lattice itself was changed. Later it was decided to add new taillights.
Replenishment of the model range
Soon, the 21013 model was released, which received a less powerful engine, which was previously used in the original "penny". He had a volume of 1.2 liters. All other changes were sourced from newer models. Buyers reacted in two ways to these changes.
Lada 1200
This Zhiguli model was actively produced for export needs. Then it was produced under the name Lada 1200 and was distributed throughout the USSR. The total number of such cars produced was 57,000. A little later, the car was positively received by more distant countries, therefore it was actively exported for sale.
Since "Zhiguli" were known in the far abroad, a separate modification of the VAZ-21014 and 21012 was released. They were characterized by the execution of the steering wheel on the right side, which corresponded to the norms in some states. A stronger spring suspension was located on the right wheel of the vehicle. This was due to the non-standard weight distribution due to the offset of the modification controls. The production of such machines continued until 1982.
Pickup production
Since during the times of the Union, even waste was used so that nothing was wasted, defective flagships were actively used for recycling. The factories converted them into small pickups that were used on the production site. In practice, the entire rear part of the vehicle roof was completely cut off, so it ended after the front seats. A rear wall was installed, which created a compact cabin.
It was decided to weld the rear doors of the car to increase the carrying capacity of the pickup. Thus, the new model could handle a weight of 300 kg. This variation was not allowed into production, but some motorists specially altered their cars in this way.
Oddly enough, the classic "penny" has also been modified into an elongated model. It was actively used in Cuba, where it was used in the field of taxi transportation. Proceeding from the unfavorable condition of those roads, the Zhiguli could cope with the assigned tasks without any problems.
Creating an emblem
Since it was required to highlight the car and make it recognizable, an original logo was created. During the existence of the brand, it has been redone three times. Among them stood out a silver rook floating on a ruby \u200b\u200bbackground. She was positively received by buyers and was in transport until 1971.
True, it was soon decided to change the logo, because it contained the name of the city of Togliatti, which was not in demand due to the growth of the brand. Also, the inscription on the car was later removed to hide the location of the strategic object from prying eyes.
Among the variants of the VAZ-2101, the history of the creation of the "inverted" logo also deserves special attention. The manufacturers changed the position of the letter "I", replacing it with R. The reason for this was an order in Italy, where the logo manufacturer made a mistake in spelling the letter for -2101. Such emblems did not go into wide production, they were taken apart by employees as souvenirs. There were 30 of them in total, and it is extremely difficult to get them today.
Of particular note is the tool bag that came with the original machine. It even had a trigger handle. Overseas, this would have caused shock, but the instruction indicated that the tool was intended solely for starting a vehicle in winter.
The VAZ-21011 model was the only one with a suspended pedal. Before that, all cars had only floor options. They were complemented by the installation of a washer button, which was also on the floor. All subsequent time it was located on the dashboard.
A prerequisite for the VAZ-2101 car was also the use of domestic parts for the production of Zhiguli models. True, in some "kopecks" spare parts from Weber like shock absorbers have been found more than once. They were slightly more powerful than our counterparts, and spark plugs worked more efficiently.
Overall vehicle rating
Experts have a positive opinion about the quality of the VAZ-2101 vehicle. In the Soviet automobile industry, the production of Zhiguli was a real breakthrough for factories, which raised all technologies to a new level. This flagship proved to be excellent in driving for both experienced drivers and beginners who have just acquired a transport license.
For the first time, domestic drivers came across a car that could work quite quietly, had fuel, and also heated the interior well in the cold season. Of course, these advantages would not have been possible without borrowing technical innovations from Italian colleagues. The release of such machines made it possible to achieve a lot for the "penny".
The drivers were very attracted by the opportunity in which the VAZ-2101 car could start without problems in the winter. Previously, it took a lot of time for this, using a blowtorch, as well as hot water in a bucket, but the "penny" could start active work even without using a starter. This was possible with the Weber 32 DCR, a Fiat carburetor with two chambers. A little later, they were actively sold in the USSR under the name of their modification DAAZ-2101.
The appearance of the "penny" was a success for the entire Union. At that time, it was necessary to demonstrate the capabilities of domestic production and also prove its significance. It was the release of this line of cars that made the brand famous all over the world. And to this day, these cars are actively present on our roads.
Today, car companies rely heavily on modern technology. They are using ever new solutions to make the driver's job easier. But many have forgotten about the build quality for which Zhiguli is known. For this reason, many people still use old and proven "pennies".
VAZ-2101 "Zhiguli" is a rear-wheel drive passenger car with a sedan-type body. The first model produced at the Volzhsky Automobile Plant.The Fiat-124 of 1966 was taken as a basis. The design was modified taking into account the Soviet conditions - the ground clearance was increased, the suspension and the body were strengthened, the rear disc brakes were replaced with drum brakes as they were more resistant to dirt and durable, a “crooked starter” (engine crank) was added. Outside, an outside rear-view mirror appeared (on the left), the door handles became recessed. The design of the engine was changed - the camshaft was moved to the head, the distance between the cylinders was increased (so that their diameter could be increased). Vehicle weight has increased by 90 kg. More than 800 changes were made in total.
The first VAZ-2101 at the AvtoVAZ museum
On April 19, 1970, the first car was assembled on the main conveyor of the Volga Automobile Plant. The very first copy was brought off the assembly line by the Italian chief instructor Benito Guido Savoini. The assembly was attended by locksmiths of the Volga Automobile Plant V. Prisyazhnyuk, I. Osipov, V. Gusev, V. Orlikhin and V. Glazunov. After 19 years of operation, the first commercial vehicle took an honorable place in the museum of the Volga Automobile Plant.
This car is the initial representative of all the classics of VAZs. In fact, the VAZ 2101 and the following modifications received an excellent adaptation to the roads of the USSR with a foreign car - the 1966 FIAT 124. However, the VAZ 2101 engine was more progressive, thanks to the upper location of the camshaft in the cylinder head. The ground clearance was increased by 30mm, the suspension had to be redesigned and reinforced. The modification of the body VAZ 21011 (1974), which received much more comfortable front seats and progressive control mechanisms, and also ashtrays, which were moved from the rear armrests, and began to be located at the rear on the door panel, changed the most. Also, this modification was supplemented by a more powerful 69-horsepower engine with a working volume of 1.3 liters. These cars have a different radiator grille with frequently encountered crossbars, located horizontally, in the lower part of the front panel there were 4 special slots for ventilation. Bumpers VAZ 2101 began to be made without fangs and rubber pads were located along their entire length.
On the pillars of the VAZ 2101 body, they began to have special exhaust ventilation holes in the rear, which were covered with original grilles, brake lights and turn signals received reflectors. A reverse signal was installed on the car. After some time, they began to produce a version of the VAZ-21013, which has a body 21011 and a 1.2-liter VAZ 2101 engine. The "police" version of the VAZ-21016 received a powerful 71-horsepower (77hp to the outdated GOST) engine VAZ-2103.
The export version of the car was called Lada 1200. Over 57 thousand cars were sent to the countries of the Socialist Commonwealth - the GDR, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Yugoslavia. Soon "Lada" appeared on the roads of Germany, France, Great Britain, Austria, Switzerland, Egypt and Nigeria.
The production of the VAZ 21011 car was stopped in 1981, and the VAZ 2101 was stopped in 1982. Then they began to produce only a kind of "kopeck" VAZ-21013.
Thirty years after industrialization, possessing one of the most powerful economies in the world, having created an atomic bomb and launching a man into space, the USSR buys a full production cycle car plant for foreign currency on credit for the production of a foreign small car. How could this happen?
By the end of the 60s, fundamental problems had already emerged in the country's economy, which, 20 years later, brought the largest superpower of the planet to the grave. Many gigantic construction projects and large-scale projects have failed. The economic reform increased the purchase prices for food and workers' wages. Demands of the population grew, and there were fewer and fewer competitive goods. It was time for scarcity. The opened flow of petrodollars delayed the ending of this drama, but could not influence its natural outcome.
Money is the blood of the economy. Salaries, for which nothing can be bought and which settle under the mattresses of the workers, not only force the State Bank to issue the ruble, but also make the political situation unstable. The country was in dire need of a massive, high-quality and expensive consumer goods, which would become visible evidence of an increase in living standards and could attract citizens' savings. The new car was ideally suited to these requirements. Later it became clear that the calculation was correct: even at a price of four annual average salaries of a Soviet citizen, the firstborn of the Volga Automobile Plant instantly became a deficit - the future car enthusiast had to wait several years to buy it.
It was not easy to choose the best candidate for the role of the people's car. European novelties were not suitable for a huge country with different climatic zones, bad roads, undeveloped infrastructure, low production culture, outdated GOST standards and low quality of fuels and lubricants.
Original Fiat 124, as you can see, the car has a lower fit, there are no exterior mirrors, another form of false radiator grille and other door handles. At the Dmitrov test site, comparative tests of the applicants were carried out. Italian Fiat 124as well as French Renault R16 and. For comparison, we also tested Ford Taunus 12M, Morris 1100 and Skoda MB 1000... The domestic auto industry was represented by Moskvich and Zaporozhets. According to the test results, French Renault and Peugeot were noticeably ahead of the Italian sedan. But they love some and marry others. It suddenly turned out that the choice does not lie in the technical plane, but is dictated by the foreign policy interests of the state. “Leonid Ilyich personally” intervened with a recommendation to pay attention to Italian cars. Of course, it was impossible not to listen to such a high opinion, and the contract with the Italians was signed in August 1966. The loan rate was reduced to 5.6% per annum. Played a role that through agents of the KGB launched disinformation about successful negotiations with the Renault concern.
THE NAME OF "ZHIGULI" PROVED TO BE SOUND WITH THE FRENCH SOLO "SUTENER", "ALFONS"
Can be unmistakably distinguished by the bumper with fangs and white sidelights. At the very first modification - 21011 - “the fangs- disappeared and the diffusers turned orange, as prescribed by the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. The front dimensions (then they were called "sidelights") are equipped with two-filament lamps: weak light - side light, bright - direction indicator. The outside rear-view mirror was installed at the insistence of Soviet designers: it was not on the Fiat 124. The first cars did not have a ring signal button. The Italian designers were sure that the driver of a reliable European car did not need either a manometer or an ammeter.
Even Renault apologists agreed that Fiat's choice, if not ideal, was at least not a failure. Autumn 1966 Fiat 124 became a laureate of the Paris Motor Show, in 1967 he was awarded the title "Car of the Year".
But the Fiat 124 samples brought to the USSR collapsed at the very beginning of the tests at the test site. The run on the "Belgian" paving stones turned out to be fatal for the front suspension arms. The sand, which was sprinkled on the icy roads, rubbed the rear disc brakes 600 kilometers away. For a week of testing, the body cracked, the rear axle broke. It seemed that the runabout from Turin was not destined to conquer the Siberian winter roads and the Kazakh steppes, and she could not stand the muddy country road of the Non-Black Earth Region. A long process of strengthening all the weak points of the car began.
At first, Italian engineers were dismissive of the advice of specialists from NAMI. But they quickly realized how valuable the test results and peer recommendations were. In Italy, they even built an analogue of a test cobblestone pavement from the Dmitrov training ground. The changes affected almost all vehicle components. Strengthened front suspension. Changed the attachment points of the rubber bumpers. The rigidity of the body has been radically increased. The design of the rear axle and suspension has been improved. We did not lose sight of hundreds of details - from the emblem on the radiator grille to the sub-jacks. The real battle was over the engine. The Italians offered a motor with a lower camshaft. Soviet specialists insisted on the launch of a new promising engine with an overhead camshaft into production. At some point, the Italians proposed a compromise: to start with the production of lower-bed engines, and after the completion of tests in Italy of a new engine, to install a technological line for its production at the Volga plant free of charge. But Soviet engineers proved to be adamant and insisted on the upper shaft engine as the only one for the new car. All experiments with shields, which were designed to shelter the rear brake discs from the dirt flying from under the front wheels, were unsuccessful. With reluctance, Fiat residents replaced their pride - rear disc brakes with drum brakes. Ultimately, all the comments of the Soviet side were eliminated by the Italians. Designers from Turin even created an emblem for the Volga Automobile Plant, based on the Cyrillic letter "B", stylized as a boat. On the radiator grill of the first cars there was a nameplate with a boat and the signature "TOGLIATTI". Curious fact: the first batch of emblems received from Turin arrived with an error: the Italians wrote in a hurry “ TOLRTTI ". Later, the name of the city under the boat was removed altogether, so the first emblems are now highly valued by collectors.
VAZ-2101 "Zhiguli" Front suspension: independent, on wishbones and coil springs, with telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers and torsion bar; rear: dependent, spring on four longitudinal and one transverse levers, with telescopic shock absorbers Steering: double roller globoid worm Curb weight: 955 kg Maximum speed: 140 km / h Price in 1970: 5500 rubles Price now: 50 thousand-500 thousand rubles |
For a new car, not only a new plant was being built - in parallel, a network of related enterprises was created, equipment from suppliers was updated, and GOSTs were rewritten. Other oils and lubricants appeared, the production of new plastics was mastered. What happened, for which, in fact, Fiat was bought: the automotive industry of the USSR entered a new technological level. Even the factory index of the car - VAZ-2101 - laid the foundation for a new system of designation and classification of cars in the Union. VAZ - Volzhsky Automobile Plant. 21 - small car. 01 is the first model in this class.
The name of the new car did not appear immediately either. In November 1968, Za Rulem magazine announced a competition for the name of a new runabout. Readers sent tens of thousands of options, among them were "Directive", "Memorial", "Novorozhets", "VIL 100" (in honor of the centenary of V. I. Lenin). The name "Lada" was immediately suggested by more than one and a half thousand readers of the magazine. Then, few knew that the competition was being held in vain: back in 1967, the name "Zhiguli" was approved by the director of the plant, Polyakov. And Fiat was tasked with developing a stylized lettering for the car's decoration. Later, when the cars are exported, Zhiguli will still be replaced by Lada: the name of the Volga cliffs turned out to be consonant with the French nightingale “pimp”, “gigolo”.
The car plant, which took six years to build, was built in three years. The construction was announced as a shock Komsomol construction site. There was no shortage of people or funding. After the completion of construction, the labor collectives of the new enterprise were formed from former builders. They were in a hurry to launch: the first Zhiguli had to be made for the centenary of Lenin - April 22, 1970. We managed even with a margin: on April 19, the first test batch of cars rolled off the assembly line. Of course, the conveyor did not start working in full force right away. For some time, the cars were assembled from components received from Italy - one and a half thousand car sets were bought together with the plant. The first train to Moscow was loaded with finished products only in the fall, by the November holidays.
The car enthusiasts greeted the car with enthusiasm. The magazine "Za Rulem" long before the appearance of "Zhiguli" on the streets told in detail about the new car. It was surprising that a car designed in Italy starts in frost more confidently than domestic cars. The reason for this was the excellent two-barrel carburetor. This "Zhigulevsky" carburetor will then be fitted by motorists on the Volga, the Muscovites, and even the Zaporozhets. Pleased with the resource. The engine had a full support crankshaft, i.e. on both sides of each crank were the main necks. Developed main and connecting rod bearings distributed dynamic loads well. Effective oil cleaning with a new standard filter (it was immediately called "Zhigulevsky") also contributed to an increase in resource. The air filter with a replaceable paper element was then a novelty.
It provided finer cleaning and did not sweat with oil like the filters on most other Soviet machines. The engine was designed for the use of antifreeze coolant. In the USSR, there was no adequate quality antifreeze. Scientists from the Research Institute of Organic Chemistry have created antifreeze specifically for the new car. Due to the coefficient of thermal expansion greater than that of water, an expansion tank was added to the cooling system - for the first time in the Soviet Union. With such a cooling system, the stability of the temperature regime of the engine increased, thermal shocks from pouring warm water into the frozen engine were excluded. With a compression ratio similar to that of Moskvich, the Zhiguli engine tolerated low-quality gasoline better. Due to the lower heat load and the better shape of the combustion chamber, detonation began later. The resource also increased due to the fact that the designers made the motor 2101 short-stroke: the piston stroke is 66 mm with a cylinder diameter of 76 mm, and the lower the average piston speed in the cylinder, the less wear. All the measures taken together ensured engine mileage without overhaul of more than one hundred thousand kilometers. It was provided. Some "Muscovites" and "Volgas" went even more, but with them - as luck would have it, and the quality of VAZ products was very stable by Soviet standards.
The drivetrain also inspired optimism. The gears turned on perfectly, and those who had just moved from the Moskvich even had to get used to the low speed of the wings. Torsional vibrations of the transmission were absorbed by an elastic rubber coupling on the propeller shaft. The front disc brakes (for the first time on a domestic car) were so effective that drivers were advised not to use their capabilities to the fullest without the need, it was difficult for the car going behind to brake just as quickly. Even the little things were thought out: a place to store the tool in the trunk. Lightweight and comfortable jack, with a little effort on the handle - even a fragile girl could lift the car. Ashtrays, cigarette lighter, sun visor with a mirror for a passenger.
In 1973 the film The Incredible Adventures of Italians in Russia was released. The viewer saw with his own eyes the eternal rivalry between Zhiguli and Moskvich. And the new "treshka" in all the tricks and chases looked much more dynamic than the competitor.
1982 year. The painting "Traffic Inspector" about the conflict between a principled inspector who honestly does his job (performed by Sergey Nikonenko) and an arrogant director of a service station, who believes that some people are allowed to do anything. His role was organically played by Nikita Mikhalkov. An attentive viewer could notice that the inspector uses a service "one", while the hero Mikhalkov has a hundred cubes more "charged" and prestigious 11th model.
2002 year. Ivan Dykhovichny shot a real eulogy of the VAZ-2101. The film "Kopeyka" is a chronicle of the life of one of the first cars produced at the Volzhsky Automobile Plant. A grotesque comedy full of passion and farce. A whirlpool of events, in the center of which is the legendary Soviet car. FIAT 124 SAMPLES BROKEN AT THE very BEGINNING OF TESTS AT DMITROVSKY POLYGON
Of course, not everything was perfect: you had to carefully monitor the ball joints. The boot is torn - water and dirt will quickly do their job. Zhigulenki cars with inverted wheels standing on the side of the road were not uncommon. After the "rationalization proposal" in the early 80s, the camshaft manufacturing technology was simplified, and the shafts began to "fly". It turned out that the upper shaft engine was brought in a hurry. Under conditions of oil starvation, the cams of the "rationalized" camshaft ground down very quickly.
And if such a drawback as not quite comfortable seating position of the driver obviously could not be eliminated without rearranging the body, then offensive little things that annoyed drivers for years caused bewilderment. The car factory could not win over all the decades of production of the classic family: when the diaphragm broke, the crane splashed hot antifreeze on the front passenger's legs. In frosty winters, the sliding bearings of the stove fan rotor sang. Snow fell asleep in the heater air intake grille.
However, many wishes of the drivers were fulfilled. The inconvenient floor gas pedal was quickly replaced with a suspended one. Improved the windshield washer. Modernized electrical wiring. Self-adjusting rear brakes have been introduced. Fewer and fewer components were brought in from Italy, more and more productions were launched on site. This made it possible to quickly upgrade the manufactured machines.
And over time - to expand the model range. The first appeared a modification with a station wagon, an analogue of the Italian Fiat 124 Familiare... VAZ-2102 went into production since 1971. It was especially appreciated by summer residents and tourists.
The older model of the company, proposed by the Italians for development as a luxury option, looked very much like the 124th, but was a little larger. Not a big difference, but a high degree of unification was extremely important for Soviet conditions. As a result, it was decided to release a luxury alternative to "one" on its own platform. So there was a "treshka" - BA3 2103... And the Italians sold their license to the Poles for production at the FSO plant.
prototype VAZ 2103
"Edinichka" was destined for a long life on the conveyor - it was produced until 1988. But since the beginning of the eighties, with the advent of more prestigious cars, it is increasingly called a "penny". Even after the end of the production of model 2101, cars of the classic family were assembled at VAZ for another 24 years.
Sitting behind the wheel of a “kopeck” today, you get a double impression. On the one hand, the VAZ "classic" is now the most prestigious car. Even the foppish "six" once became "shah". Such people buy to drive in the country, as the first car, which is not a pity to crash, for one season. It is difficult to admire a car that, with the departure of the now exotic Zaporozhets, has firmly taken the place of the worst choice available. On the other hand, it is ridiculous to approach a car that is older than you by the standards of the modern era. Yes, it is difficult to find a comfortable position of the driver's seat in the “kopeck”: either the pedals are close, or you have to reach behind the gear lever. At a speed of more than 100 km / h, the car "prowls". For the non-inertial seat belts to work properly, they must be carefully adjusted so that the palm does not squeeze between the belt and the chest. But let's not forget that belts became mandatory only in 1979, and in 1970 they were still a wonder.
Fiat 124 finished production in 1974. If the Soviet analogue then gave way to a new generation of cars, now we would have a rare specimen of a car worthy for its time. But the "classic" lived almost 40 years longer (we will not pretend that the VAZ permanent facelift has seriously changed anything) and by the end of production the car was hopelessly outdated.
And yet, a series of facelifts, multiple encores and a protracted farewell to the public for so many years is not the fault of the machine. So people decided. And the car only honestly worked - drove. Then - dudes, artists and store managers. Now - taxi drivers, builders and small traders. And ahead of her is the age of elegance. Retrosals, unhurried car races and car exhibitions. This is probably how it should be with a good car.
Santim ... What could have been a penny in 1970? Here are two main contenders from the land of good wine, cheese and small cars.
In 1965, when the new Renault car first appeared in public, it caused a real sensation: the Renault 16 was a roomy family car without being neither a respectable sedan nor a practical station wagon. In fact, he laid the foundation for a new class of cars: family front-wheel drive hatchbacks. He has become an object of imitation for many firms. It is not surprising that this particular car won the title "Car of the Year" in 1966, the trophy went to the French for the first time in history.
The technical details are interesting: the car had a torsion bar suspension. To fit the long torsion bars under the bottom, it was necessary to make a slightly different wheelbase on the left and right: the wheels on the starboard side were 70 mm closer to each other than the wheels on the left side. From the outside, the difference was not noticeable, but it was possible to make a very light, strong and simple suspension, which was distinguished by softness and large strokes. If you try to move in reverse gear with the handbrake tightened, the rear of the car rises by more than 30 cm.The car was produced for 15 years, and even in 1980, when the company decided to start producing the next generation hatchback, the demand for a hopelessly outdated market inertia is enormous.
Years of issue: 1965-1980 Issued: 1 million 845 thousand pcs. Body: load-bearing, steel, 5-door 5-seater hatchback Engine: in-line, four-cylinder, displacement 1600 cm3, petrol, OHV, carburetor, compression ratio 8.0: 1 Maximum power: 83 hp at 5750 rpm Brakes: hydraulic, with a vacuum booster, two independent circuits, front disc, rear drum Curb weight: 1060 kg Maximum speed: 165 km / h Price in 1965: 12992 francs Price now: 500-3000 EUR |
Production began in 1965. The car was produced with a wide range of bodies: there were sedans, hatchbacks, station wagons, two-door coupes, convertibles and vans. The car was very popular: from 1969 to 1971, it was the best-selling car in France. And this is not surprising: the car was distinguished by enviable economy. The engine range from 1.1 to 1.3 liters included diesel options. The transverse arrangement of the engine and the width of the body is greater than that of similar small cars, made the interior unusually spacious for a car of this class.
It was successfully exported. Derated versions of engines were produced for developing countries. Until 1976, when production of the car was stopped, 1.6 million cars of all modifications were produced.
Years of issue: 1965-1976 Issued: 1 million 604 thousand pieces. Engine: in-line, four-cylinder, displacement 1130 cm3, petrol, OHV, carburetor, compression ratio 8.8: 1 Maximum power: 53 hp at 5800 rpm Steering: rack and pinion Brakes: hydraulic, front disc, rear drum Length: 3735 mm, width: 1560 mm, height: 1300 mm, wheelbase: 2305 mm. Curb weight: 851 kg Maximum speed: 145 km / h Price in 1965: 13,457 francs Price now: 400-2800 EUR |
