In the convolution of Soviet central planning, Leonid Brezhnev created a new car company in the 1960s, edging it into the market below Moskvitch, which was Russia’s primary carmaker. The goal was to increase production and expand offerings to include a cheaper option for the thousands of Russians unable to afford a vehicle. While it was bad enough that Russia’s established manufacturer was sidelined, the bitterest blow came when Western partners were courted in order to speed the new models to market. In the end, Fiat was deemed the best fit, and the new VAZ plant was built to engineer the Fiat 124 for Soviet conditions. The 2101 was its first model, launched in 1970 and powered by a 1.2-liter engine. Displacement increased, and the 2102, then the 2103 arrived. These tough little cars were coveted by the citizenry in the entire Eastern Bloc. If you hanker for your own slice of Soviet life, check out this Lada 2103 that Tony Primo found for us here on craigslist, priced at $16,500. Head to Morningside, New York, to bring this baby home.
The 1975 2103 was graced with a 1.5-liter, SOHC engine producing 75 hp and backed by a four-speed manual transmission. This model was a considerable improvement over the 2101. The uprated horsepower, better trim, front disc brakes, and stylish quad headlamps fired demand for this modernized Lada – the factory couldn’t keep up with demand. By standards of the era, the 2103 was not fast, but it managed zero to sixty in about 17 seconds. This example is said to run and drive well.
The interior is full-featured, with several gauges and switches under a hooded binacle, a separate clock, a glove box, faux wood trim, and vent windows. The vinyl upholstery might be improved by the application of a good cleanser; I like the inserts and the snazzy pattern on these rear seats. This car was imported from Lithuania not long ago and shows 55,450 km on the clock.
VAZ’s first plant was opened on the banks of the Volga River – the car’s front badge depicts a shallow-draft boat – a lad’ya – harking to its maritime location. The town that developed around the plant was called Tolyatti, after the Italian communist leader Palmiro Togliatti. The fondness for communists did not sit well with Gianni Agnelli, but other than verbally opposing the politics of Fiat’s new partner, Agnelli maintained a mercantilist outlook. VAZ was privatized in the 1990s, when it was a division of Renault. After Russia invaded Ukraine, the Russian government re-acquired VAZ for what was rumored to be one ruble in 2022. This Lada 2103 is priced on the higher end of typical sales, but when we’re talking about mid-teens, quibbling about a few hundred dollars one way or another for the privilege of owning a rarely-seen Eastern Bloc car seems trivial.
Nice find of an interesting artifact. Mass consumerism comes to the Soviet Union ca. 1970. Ordinary Russians were beginning to complain about the shortage of consumer goods.. I always found a certain irony in that 60’s Fiats (wonderful drivers) made in Italy were known for their propensity to rust (because built largely with imported substandard Russian steel) while these mediocre knockoffs were built to last long enough for you to hate (as you gaze at its lifeless yet fully intact form from your window) for the rest of your life! (just joking) Be that as it may, this example is tangible history. GLWA
Sounds kosher to me!
If I had a “disposable” $16,000, for a classic car, it wouldn’t be for a Russian built FIAT (or a Serbian built one called a “Yugo” either!)
A guy in high school had a 74 FIAT 124. As I remember, it smelled like burning oil and rum. The steering wheels angle reminded me of a city bus. But he could roll a doobie on that wheel, while cradling a Schlitz tall boy between his knees, as he rowed the 4 speed, trying to keep up with traffic!
I bought a 73′ Fiat 124 Sport Coupe 2 – door that seated 4.Sold it at 30 k miles.
Had a ’74 124TC in “telephone company green”. The car was starting to rust when I picked it up brand new. It didn’t burn oil (or rum), but it was the slowest car I think I have ever owned.
This is one cool find Tony Primo and Michelle!!! This is definitely not something you’d see cruising in your neighborhood. I can’t get over how good this one looks and how well preserved it is. I am liking the white walls ( I’m guessing they didn’t have those in Russia ) great write up Michelle!! Thanks!!!
Only thing I know about these things is the car crash videos on YouTube and how bad they squash otherwise your writeup answered some questions I had because I always thought they resembled a Fiat but the tail lights remind me of the 70s Toyota Corolla. Car wizard on YouTube had a red one on his channel for a short time
I saw these running around Kosovo when I was working there back in 2002-04.
This is a very, very cool ride! If this wasn’t 2500 miles away, I certainly would take a look at it. The price is up there, but after a drive and inspection, you have a choice. The color is great, as well as the interior. I still see comments about being squished if in an accident, I drove a lot “squishable” cars in my life and for the most part, they were a hoot to drive. Wonderful find, great write up, as usual.
Nyet Comrade, Nyet!
Way too many Rubles and Kopecks for my taste.
Saw one in NYC not too long ago. Didn’t know what it was at first. Had to look it up. It certainly got my attention. Maybe not worth a ton of money, but it has a cool factor for sure.
Interesting car of little familiarity here in the States. Looks sharp and seems to be a bright color for what we were then taught about eastern Europe and the USSR. Hemmings published an article on one of these that was recently restored. I seem to recall a story told about a girl who owned a Fiat in the 70s or 80s who would always get dusted by guys in their big American cars only to blow past them when roads got twisty.
What a good looking little car, inside and out.
There are hints of a Lada lurking underneath though, the curled up glove box door, the shift knob held on with what looks like some sort of green tape .
At least it matches the colour scheme.
This raises suspicions as to what you’re actually getting , and what your actually getting is a Lada, alas.
Don’t judge a book by its cover.
Still a really nice looking car.
Saw one of these at last year’s McPherson College car show. (Look up McPherson if you don’t know about them, amazing place) I saw it and was so confused as to what it was as I am vaguely familiar with most post WW2 cars, and had never seen anything like it. I got to talk to the owner and hear it’s story, along with taking some very nice film photos of it. Not restored, but fully original, and in overall decent condition for spending its entire life in Russia, and having been imported to the states only a few months prior to the show.
Nobody beats Fiat for styling. But there’s no way to get away from Fix-It-Again-Tony. My first car was a ’62 Fiat 600D. It was the closest I ever came to a sports car. It was so much fun to drive. But Tony was always waiting.
I like it
Back in 1981 I worked for my dad’s cousin’s dealership in Northern Sweden that also sold VAZ (A suitable note for this website is that for many years they didn’t use the Lada name in Sweden as lada in Swedish means barn!)
What is not well known is how very different the VAZ is to drive than the Fiats they are based on. The Fiats are light, agile, rev happy, good handling. The VAZ are very different. Heavy, recalcitrant, lots of NVH. But they were rugged, re-designed to cope with bad roads, terrible gas and shade tree mechanics. Durable things, but very little joy in driving them.