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VAZ-2101

Manufacturer	AutoVAZ
Also called	Lada 1200 Lada 1500 Kopeyka (~ one cent) Zhiguli Klassika (Classics)
Production	1970-1984
Successor	Lada Riva
Class	Family car
Body style(s)	4-door sedan
Layout	FR layout
Platform	Front-engine rear wheel drive
Engine(s)	1.2 liters, carburetor
Transmission(s)	4-speed mechanic
Wheelbase	2,424 mm (95.4 in)
Length	4,043 mm (159.2 in)
Width	1,611 mm (63.4 in)
Height	1,440 mm (57 in)
Curb weight	955 kg (2,105 lb)
Fuel capacity	39 L (10 US gal; 9 imp gal)
Related	Fiat 124 SEAT 124

The VAZ-2101 is a compact ("small class" in Soviet classification) car, sedan, produced by AvtoVAZ and introduced in 1970. Better known as the Lada outside of its native Russia, it was a localized version of the Fiat 124 tailored for the Soviet and Eastern European market.

Known as the Zhiguli within the Soviet Union, the main differences between the VAZ-2101 and the Fiat 124 are the use of thicker gauge steel for the bodyshell, an overhead camshaft engine (in place of the original Fiat OHV unit), and the use of aluminium drum brakes on the rear wheels in place of disc brakes. Early versions of the car featured a starting handle for cranking the engine manually should the battery go flat in Siberian winter conditions, and an auxiliary fuel pump.

AvtoVAZ were forbidden from selling the car in competing markets alongside Fiat 124; however exports to Western European nations began in 1974 when the 124 was discontinued in favour of Fiat's newer 131 Mirafiori model. The 2101 was sold in export markets as the Lada 1200 and Lada 1300 until 1989

[edit] Modifications

• VAZ-2101 (1970) — first variant was equipped with 1.2 liter engine
• VAZ-21011 (1974) — engine 1.3 l instead of 1.2 l. Further changes included self-adjusting drum brakes on the rear axle, this setup was also fitted to the VAZ-2101. Flat forward turn light glasses instead of the roof-shaped ones on the VAZ-2101. The "horns" on the bumpers were removed and replaced with a rubber strip running the whole length of the bumper. The rear lights were also flattened in a similar manner like the turn indicator glasses and the passive reflector (previously a separate part underneath the main rear lights) was incorporated as a small, square-shaped part in the rear light glasses themselves. Material and coloring of the instrument panel was changed from the original black on light gray to white on black, the instrument panel lighting was altered as well. The export series were designated the Lada 1300.
• VAZ-21013 (1977) — similar to VAZ-21011, engine 1.2 liters, exported as the Lada 1200 with an upgraded version (incorporating the exterior and dashboard changes introduced with the VAZ-21011) called Lada 1200S. Also, a break version was available, called Lada 1200 Combi.
• VAZ-21016 — modification for Soviet militia, engine 1.5 l (from Vaz-2103)

VAZ-2101 Cross

VAZ-21011

A home-made limousine version of a Lada 2101, in Trinidad, Cuba

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