VAZ-2101 "Zhiguli", VAZ-2102 "Zhiguli"

Model	VAZ-2101 "Zhiguli" (sedan)	VAZ-2102 "Zhiguli" (hatchback)	VAZ-2103 "Zhiguli" (sedan)
Seating	5
Net-weight, kg [lb]	955 [2100]	1010 [2220]	995 [2190]
Full load weight, kg [lb]	1355 [2980]	1440 [3170]	1430 [3150]
Load weight, kg [lb]	-
Total trailer weight, kg [lb]	-
Length, mm [in.]	4043 [159]	4059 [160]	4116 [162]
Width, mm [in.]	1611 [63.5]
Height, mm [in.]	1440 [56.7]	1458 [57.4]	1440 [56.7]
Base, mm [in.]	2424 [95.5]
Minimal clearance, mm [in.]	170 [6.7]
Minimal radius of turn, m [yards]	-
Maximum speed, km/h [mi/h]	140 [87]	137 [85]	150 [93]
Maximum horsepower, h.p. [kW]	64 [47] @5,600 rpm		78 [57.4] @5,600 rpm
Engine capacity, liters [cm³]	1.198 [1,198]		1.45 [1,452]
Gear ratios	-
Main gear ratio	-
Mileage, liters/100km [miles/gal]	6.9[34.5] @90/ 9.4[25] @120/ 9.2[25.5] in city	8 [29] @ 90/ 10.8 [22] @120 & city	7.3[32] @90/ 9.6[24.5] @120/ 9.8[24] in city
Breaking distance, m [yards]	-
Fuel tank capacity, liters [gal]	39 [10.3] (Ai-93)	45 [12] (Ai-93)	39 [10.3] (Ai-93)
Years of production	1970-1983	1971-1985	1972-1983
Type of engine	VAZ-2101, 4 linear cyl., ohc, carb.		VAZ-2103, 4 linear cyl., ohc, carb.
Compression ratio	8.8:1	8.8:1	-
Acceleration from 0-100 km/h [0-62 mi/h], sec.	22	23	16
Wheel formula	4 X 2
Pictures	96 KB (color, "Zhiguli" in a forest [4]) 96 KB (color, side view, drawing [106]) 36 KB (b/w, side view [54]) 142 KB (color, front view, VAZ-21011 at a show [3]) 36 KB (b/w, side view [4]) 97 KB (b/w, front view, racing car [4]) 62 KB (color, side view, racing car [4]) 21 KB (b/w, front view [16]) 108 KB (color, front view, in "Semagino" [Len. obl.], export model from Finland [30])	86 KB (color, side view, drawing [106]) 11 KB (b/w, Lada 1200 side view, station wagon [98]) 8 KB (color, side view, station wagon [12]) 88 KB (color, front/rear view, VAZ-21011 and VAZ-2102 meet on a road [3]) 76 KB (b/w, side view [4])	88 KB (color, side view, drawing [106]) 125 KB (color, front view [3]) 31 KB (b/w, front view [16])

Photos of VAZ-2103 contributed by Ingo Dietzsch [123]. Here is a short history of his 1973 car, being used in GDR [East Germany] from the date of its registration.

This VAZ-2103 "Zhiguli" is almost completely original. Its first owners, two female teachers in northern GDR, always kept it in a very good condition and drove it only 110.000 km from the initial registration in November of 1973 until mid-1990's. They probably had very good "connections" to get this car as the 2103 type was very popular and most people who wanted one had to wait 10 - 15 years (!) to get it. For usage in GDR [as opposed to internal use in the USSR] some changes had to be made: cars were fitted with rear mud flaps, hazard warning flasher and safety belts. Very useful was the lockable fuel door (fuel was in short supply and expensive...). When I got the car it was in a really fine condition, including first engine, first paint and an unused tool kit. One little hole had to be welded, the lower parts (sills, wheel arches and front apron) had to be repainted. The rest seems to be original, except for the radio (I hope to get the original one), the clock (this comes from a later type) and front number plate holder.

30 KB (color, front view)

16 KB (color, side view)

21 KB (color, rear view)

26 KB (color, side view w/ open doors)

23 KB (color, engine view)

17 KB (color, tool kit from VAZ-2103)

The VAZ-2101 started coming off the production line in 1970. It was a Soviet modification of Italian Fiat 124 (12 KB [54], 5 KB [98]). The primary difference was a Soviet rugged engine. VAZ-2103 also appears to draw its appearance from Fiat 131 Brava (47 KB [55]). In USSR this generation of cars is known as "Zhiguli" and that's how I commonly refer to them. But to foreign markets these cars are known as "Lada". As with most other Soviet cars, high demand and practically no competition meant that the design and mechanisms had very few changes over the 20 years of production. This car was also indexed as 2100 or "Riva". It was imported to Canada, eastern Europe and Finland, perhaps some other pro-Soviet countries.

Page created on Sunday, December 27, 1998. Page last updated on Monday, December 03, 2001 12:38:36 PM EST.

Here is info on VAZ-21011, VAZ-21013, VAZ-21021, VAZ-21023, and VAZ-21033
Model	Wheel Formula	Full Mass, kg [lb]	Max speed, km/h [mi/h]	Engine, h.p. [kW]	other info	Pictures , descriptions
VAZ-21011 (sedan)	4 X 2	1355 [2980]	145 [90]	VAZ-21011, 4 linear cyl., carb., 1.300L, ohc, 70 h.p. [51.4 kW]	slightly less miles/gallon, accels to 100 km [62 mi] in 18 sec., years of production 1974-1988	same as VAZ-2101
VAZ-21021 (hatchback)		1440 [3170]	145 [90]		slightly worse fuel economy, accels in 20 sec., years of production 1971-1985	same as VAZ-2102
VAZ-21033 (sedan)		1430 [3150]	150 [93]		slightly worse fuel economy, accels in 18 sec., years of production 1972-1983	same as VAZ-2103
VAZ-21013 (sedan)		1355 [2980]	142 [88]	VAZ-2101, 4 linear cyl., carb., 1.198L, ohc, 64 h.p. [51.4 kW]	accels in 20 sec., years of production 1978-1988	same as VAZ-2101
VAZ-21023 (hatchback)		1440 [3170]	150 [93]	VAZ-2103, 4 linear cyl., carb., 1.450L, ohc, 78 h.p. [57.4 kW]	better fuel economy, accels in 18 sec., fuel tank is 57L [15 gal], years of production 1972-1983	same as VAZ-2102
VAZ-21018, VAZ-21019 (sedan)		lighter then VAZ-2101	?	VAZ-311 [53] [on VAZ-21018], one of first VAZ rotary combustion engines, 70 h.p. [52 kW]; VAZ-411 [53] [on VAZ-21019], another RCE, 115 h.p. [86 kW]	these cars were only experimental, some were made for police ["GAI"] as they were more powerful and light-weight.	34 KB (color, this VAZ-21018, made in 1978, is the first VAZ with VAZ-311 rotary combustion engine [53])