VAZ-2101

Last updated
VAZ-2101
1980 - VAZ 2101.JPG
Overview
ManufacturerVAZ, now AvtoVAZ
Also called
  • Lada 1200/1200S
  • Lada 1300
  • Lada 2101 [1]
  • VAZ-2101
Production1970–1988
Assembly Togliatti, Samara Oblast, Russia
Body and chassis
Class Compact car
Body style
Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Related
Powertrain
Engine
  • petrol:
  • 1.2 L VAZ-2101 I4
  • 1.3 L VAZ-21011 I4
  • 1.5 L VAZ-2103 I4
Transmission 4-speed Manual
3-speed Automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase 2,424 mm (95.4 in)
Length
  • 4,075 mm (160.4 in) (sedan)
  • 4,060 mm (160 in) (estate)
Width1,610 mm (63 in)
Height1,382 mm (54.4 in)
Curb weight 955 kg (2,105 lb)
Chronology
Successor

The VAZ-2101"Zhiguli", commonly nicknamed "Kopeyka" (for the smallest Soviet coin, 1/100 of the Russian ruble), is a compact 4-door sedan or wagon, called small class, passenger car, model 1 in Soviet classification, and produced by the Soviet manufacturer AvtoVAZ, introduced in 1970 as the company's first product.

Contents

The car is a licence-built version of the Fiat 124, that was heavily modified and tailored for the rough climate and road conditions across the Soviet Union and much of the Eastern Bloc countries. Subsequently, it was widely, and successfully exported to the West under the Lada brand, for over two decades. The station wagon version (correspondingly based on the Fiat 124 Familiare) was known as the VAZ-2102.

Development

The lightweight Italian Fiat 124, which had won the 1967 European Car of the Year, [2] was adapted in order to survive treacherous Russian driving conditions. Among many changes, aluminium brake drums were added to the rear, and the original Fiat engine was dropped in favour of a newer design made by NAMI. This new engine had a modern overhead camshaft design but was never used in Fiat cars. The suspension was raised to clear rough Russian roads and the bodyshell was made from thicker, heavier steel with reinforcement in key chassis areas after cracking was discovered during durability testing. The first Lada models were equipped with a starting handle in case the battery went flat in Siberian conditions, though this was later dropped. Another feature specifically intended to help out in cold conditions was a manual auxiliary fuel pump.

Some of the improvements developed by VAZ engineers were quietly applied by Fiat to the 124 in its final years of production - for example the chassis strengthening; internally within Fiat these updated models are denoted "124R", the "R" standing for 'Russian'.[ citation needed ]

Engines fitted to the original Lada 2101 start with the 1.2l. The drivetrain is a simple rear-wheel drive setup with a live rear axle. The engine is an inline four with two valves per cylinder and a single overhead camshaft.

History

The 2101 is a re-engineered version of the Fiat 124 produced under licence from Fiat and tailored for the nations of the Eastern Bloc, but was widely exported to the West as an economy car. Although the facelifted and modernised VAZ-2105, 2104 & 2107 versions largely replaced it in the West in the early 1980s, it was still produced for the domestic market as late as 1988. Known as the Zhiguli (for the hills found near the plant [3] ) 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, drum brakes on the rear wheels in place of disc brakes, and a bespoke engine. 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.

Under the licensing agreement with Fiat, VAZ were forbidden from selling the car in Italy in order to protect Fiat's lucrative home market, nor was it permitted to sell it in any export market in competition with the 124; however, exports to Western Europe began in 1974 when the 124 was discontinued in favour of Fiat's newer 131 Mirafiori. The 2101 was exported under the Lada 1200, Lada 1300, Lada 1200S and Lada 2101 [1] until 1989 and was positioned as a budget "no frills" offering; it was sold in the United Kingdom from May 1974, until the arrival of the Riva in 1983. It was the first Lada to be sold in the United Kingdom. [4]

The first year, 22,000 were produced, and capacity reached 660,000 by 1973. [3] Sales reached one million on 21 December 1973, and one and a half million in 1974. [3] In May 1974, it went on sale in Britain, priced at £979. [5]

The 2101 was built, virtually unaltered, from 1970 until 1982. [6] The slightly upgraded 21013 continued to be built until 1988.

Models

VAZ-2101

Lada 1200 in Hunedoara, Romania Lada VAZ 2101 in Hunedoara, Romania.JPG
Lada 1200 in Hunedoara, Romania

VAZ-2102

The estate version of the VAZ-2101 (based on the Fiat 124 Familiare) was known as the 2102 and was available from 1971. It was replaced by the 2104 (Lada Riva in some markets) in 1985. Over 660,000 were built by end of production in 1986. [18] In May 1974, it went on sale in Britain, priced at £979. [5]

VAZ-2103

The 2103 (known in export markets as the Lada 1500) was very similar to the 2101, and had many common features with the Fiat 124 Special that was developed at the same time as the 2103, but with an external trim closer to the larger and more upmarket Fiat 125. It can be identified by four headlights, a squarer appearance to the front grille, and a different interior. Some markets also received the VAZ-2106, or Lada 1600.

Technical specifications

TypeVAZ-2101VAZ-21011
Mass, dry890 kg
Mass, roadworthy955 kg1010 kg
Max. permissible mass1355 kg1400 kg
Length4073 mm
Width1611 mm
Height1440 mm
Wheelbase2424 mm
Track width (front)1349 mm
Track width (rear)1305 mm
Ground clearance (fully laden)170 mm
Turning raidus5.6 m
Ramp angle (front)36 °
Ramp angle (rear17 °
Tyres114-330 mm (4½-13 in)
Engine codeVAZ-2101VAZ-21011
Engine typeWater-cooled, straight-four, Otto,
counterflow cylinder head, duplex-chain driven overhead camshaft
Fuel systemTwo-stage downdraught carburetter type 2101-1107010-02
Displacement1198 cm31294 cm3
Bore × Stroke76 mm × 66 mm79 mm × 66 mm
Compression 8,58,8
Rated power (GOST–14846)46 kW (62 PS) at 5600 min−151 kW (69 PS) at 5600 min−1
Rated power (DIN 70020)44 kW (60 PS) at 5600 min−148 kW (65 PS) at 5600 min−1
Rated power (SAE J1349)48 kW (65 PS) at 5600 min−1
Max. torque (GOST–14846)87 N·m (8.9 kp·m) at 3400 min−193 N·m (9.5 kp·m) at 3400 min−1
Fuel typePetrol
AI-93 GOST 2084-67
Top speed140 km/h145 km/h
Acceleration (0–100 km/h)22 s18 s
Stopping distance (at 80 km/h)38 m
Fuel consumption (combined, l/100 km)8.0 l9.0 l
Gradeability (1st gear)34 %
Fuel tank volume39 l
Source [19] [20]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Prospekte Sales Brochures Lada 2101 Wagen Auto Car Fahrzeug, www.ebay.com.au, as archived at web.archive.org
  2. ↑ "Previous winners". caroftheyear.org. Archived from the original on 8 August 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 Thompson, Andy (2008). Cars of the Soviet Union : the definitive history. Somerset, UK: Haynes Publishing. p. 106. ISBN   978-1-84425-483-5. OCLC   191923909.
  4. ↑ Peter Rogers. "Lada Owners Club of GB UK Lada history". Lada-owners-club.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Thompson, p.116.
  6. ↑ Thompson, p.104 caption.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Thompson, p.109.
  8. ↑ Braunschweig, Robert; et al., eds. (11 March 1976). Automobil Revue '76 (in German and French). Vol. 71. Berne, Switzerland: Hallwag AG. pp. 443–444. ISBN   3-444-60023-2.
  9. ↑ Thompson, p.16.
  10. ↑ Thompson, pp.109-110.
  11. 1 2 3 Thompson, p.110.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Thompson, p.111.
  13. ↑ Thompson, p.115.
  14. ↑ Thompson, pp. 115, 235-236.
  15. 1 2 Thompson, p.235.
  16. ↑ Thompson, p.236.
  17. ↑ Thompson, pp.115 and 236.
  18. ↑ Thompson, p.115 caption.
  19. ↑ V. A. Vershigora, L. I. Vihko, Y. M. Solotaryev, Y. M. Pashin, K. B. Pyatkov: Avtomobili „Zhiguli“, Mechanical engineering publishing company, Moscow 1977, p. 2
  20. ↑ Werner Oswald (ed.): Kraftfahrzeuge der DDR. 2nd edition, Motorbuchverlag, Stuttgart 2000, ISBN   3-613-01913-2, p. 161
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