50 YEARS OF “KOPEYKA” VAZ-2101. SYMBOL OF A NEW AGE

In April 1970, the production of the VAZ-2101, the first model of the newly built Volga Automobile Plant, began. With its appearance, a truly massive motorization of the USSR began, and the Lada brand is still the most popular in recent times.

In the days of the USSR, in all the republics that were part of it, a personal car remained a luxury available to the elect. And it was not even the high prices or the system of distribution of goods. There were simply not enough cars for everyone. This was partly due to the relatively small scale of output for a huge state.

The turning point in history was the construction of the Volga Automobile Plant. Its capacities made it possible to significantly increase the offer, and the model range was interesting, modern, relevant and, most importantly, perfectly adapted to the current operating conditions. The giant's firstborn was the VAZ-2101 Zhiguli, which was popularly dubbed the “penny” or “one”. A trial assembly of the sedan was launched on April 19, 1970.

AVTOVAZ honors its first child by annually celebrating April 19 as the Day of the First Car. This year the car is already half a century old.

ITALIAN WITH SOVIET

Probably, even people who are far from being passionate about cars know that the VAZ-2101 has Italian roots. It was based on the FIAT-124 sedan, which received the prestigious European Car of the Year title in 1967. In terms of dimensions, it was ideally suited for the role of a mass model for a Soviet buyer. However, the very first tests revealed that the operating conditions in the Old World and in the USSR are significantly different, and the machine needs structural improvements.

Outwardly, Zhiguli and FIAT are difficult to distinguish from each other, but the bodies hide a serious difference in technology. A completely different engine with a VAZ-2101 with an overhead camshaft was installed on the VAZ-2101, the suspension design was changed, other components were used in it, and the transmission was strengthened. The strength of the body was also increased, taking into account the quality of Soviet roads and the inevitable overloads during operation by the owner. And, of course, the ground clearance has become larger (this measure has not lost its relevance when adapting for foreign cars in recent times today).

The total amount of design improvements amounted to about 800 items. This, of course, is not the development of a car from scratch, but it is by no means copying with a light “make-up”. The reliability of the VAZ-2101 has been proven by time: as of the beginning of last year, more than 350 thousand “kopecks” were registered recently. And many of them are still used for their intended purpose! Moreover, like almost any age model, the Zhiguli is now an object of desire for collectors and lovers of various kinds of tuning. Their popularity in this field is played by a large number of options on the market at affordable prices.

FROM TOGLIATTI TO EUROPE

But let's go back half a century. On April 19, 1970, six sedans left the assembly line – two blue and four cherry. Until the end of the year, 21.5 thousand cars were made in Togliatti, and already in 1971 the annual circulation exceeded 172 thousand. The record – 379,007 cars – belongs to 1973. And that was just the beginning.

A year after the launch of the series, the Soviet novelty was presented to the world at the international motor show in Brussels, and deliveries began to foreign markets, where the VAZ-2101 performed quite successfully. The name “Zhiguli” for export did not take root, and it was replaced by the well-known and now the name Lada. Now only representatives of the classic rear-wheel drive family are called “Zhiguli”, and Lada has long become a single brand for all AVTOVAZ models. First, deliveries of the VAZ-2101 were arranged to the CMEA countries (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance), later they were introduced to residents of Western Europe – France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland. VAZ-2101 was sent to more remote regions, for example, to Africa.

In European operating conditions, the margin of safety inherent in the Soviet car, perhaps, was not needed by everyone. However, over the years, the owners realized that the imported VAZ for them is more reliable than the original and native FIAT-124. In addition, according to some parameters, our car turned out to be more comfortable, had better dynamics. So it was just right for the Italians to regret that they had created a full-fledged competitor for themselves with their own hands.

CLASSIC!

A whole family grew out of the VAZ-2101, which later, after the release of the front-wheel drive Lads, was dubbed the “classic”. The first to join the “penny” was the VAZ-2102 station wagon and the luxury VAZ-2103. The latter then transformed into the “six”, and the longest life was prepared for models with square headlights – 2104, 2105 and 2107. They were finally removed from the assembly line only in the 2010s.

The ancestor of the family and the brand itself was produced in several modifications. The lion's share fell on cars with engines of 1.2 and 1.3 liters for the Soviet and European markets. They also made cars with right-hand drive, with one and a half liter and rotary engines for special services.

RACING CAREER

The list of merits and records of the “penny” even includes a round-the-world trip with a length of 50,000 km. But more often the sedan proved its survivability and other best qualities on sports tracks. They released a novelty almost immediately, in 1971. For the debut at the Baltika Rally, the car was awarded the prize “For Courage and Will to Win”. And in the USSR circuit racing championship, a separate Zhiguli class was quickly formed.

At the European rally of the same year, the Tour of Europe, the Soviet team won the silver cup with three cars. The race passed through the territories of 14 countries, its length was 14,000 km. The crews of Girdauskas ‒ Madrevits and Lukyanov ‒ Karamyshev also won awards in the individual competition. Two years later, the VAZ-2101 brought both silver and gold cups from the Tour of Europe 1973.

Last but not least, the car owes its success to the engine – reliable and well amenable to forcing.

The racing career of the model has not ended to this day. “Penny” along with more modern classmates can be seen on various rallies and even drifting. And at the meetings of vintage cars, she is an indispensable guest. Among the international successes of the 21st century, we note the first place in the class won in the classic car competition at the legendary Nürburgring in 2004.

CAR OF ALL-UNION SIGNIFICANCE

On a national scale, motorists officially admitted their sympathy for the “one” in 2000. The magazine “Behind the Rulem” organized a vote among readers – the election of the best state and Soviet car of the 20th century. Of the 80 thousand respondents, every fourth (24.5%) voted for the VAZ-2101. The second place was taken by the GAZ-21 Volga, and the third, quite unexpectedly, was the freshest Lada at that time – the ten.

From 1970 to 1988, 4.8 million VAZ-2101 left the gates of AVTOVAZ. This is the most massive model of both the plant and the entire Soviet and current auto industry. And if we add to this the millions of copies of all “relatives” from 2102 to 2107, then the Togliatti family will be able to claim a very prominent place on a global scale.

AVTOVAZ honors its first child by annually celebrating April 19 as the Day of the First Car. This year, the car is already half a century old. This means that the program of festive events will be especially bright. The main meetings of the “kopecks” will be held in Togliatti and Moscow, but certainly not limited to these cities. AG