The VAZ-2103 Zhiguli is a deluxe compact sedan car (''small class, passenger car, model 3'' in the Soviet classification), produced by VAZ, introduced in 1972 and produced until 1984. Better known by its export name Lada 1500 outside of its native

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

and popularly nicknamed the ''Troika'' () in its domestic market. The car was developed jointly by VAZ and

FIAT Fiat Automobiles S.p.A., commonly known as simply Fiat ( , ; ), is an Italian automobile manufacturer. It became a part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in 2014 and, in 2021, became a subsidiary of Stellantis through its Italian division, Stellant ...

at the same time as Fiat 124 Special, and the two models had the same basis and influenced each other. The 2103 was built under

license A license (American English) or licence (Commonwealth English) is an official permission or permit to do, use, or own something (as well as the document of that permission or permit). A license is granted by a party (licensor) to another part ...

and tailored to the Soviet and Eastern European markets. The 2103 externally differs from its predecessor, the VAZ-2101. Firstly, by its four, that is, double sets of headlights, different grille and direction pointers, moldings on the sides of the body and larger taillights. Its main difference - the more powerful straight-four petrol engine. In addition, this model is distinguished by the presence of a vacuum brake booster as well as self-adjusting rear brakes and internally on the new

Fiat 125 The Fiat 125 is a large family car manufactured and marketed by Italian company Fiat from 1967 to 1972. Derivatives were built under license outside Italy until the 1990s. As launched the car was unusual in blending saloon car passenger accommodat ...

based front panel. The interior was also more upmarket with a different

steering wheel A steering wheel (also called a driving wheel, a hand wheel, or simply wheel) is a type of steering control in vehicles. Steering wheels are used in most modern land vehicles, including all mass-production automobiles, buses, light and hea ...

, cloth interior trim on export versions (in place of the VAZ-2101's vinyl) and an improved

dashboard A dashboard (also called dash, instrument panel or IP, or fascia) is a control panel (engineering), control panel set within the central console of a vehicle, boat, or cockpit of an aircraft or spacecraft. Usually located directly ahead of the ...

featuring wood imitation,

tachometer A tachometer (revolution-counter, tach, rev-counter, RPM gauge) is an instrument measuring the rotation speed of a axle, shaft or disk, as in a motor or other machine. The device usually displays the revolutions per minute (RPM) on a calibrat ...

, oil pressure gauge and front panel clock.Thompson, p. 111.

History

Known as the Zhiguli within the Soviet Union, the main differences between the VAZ-2103 and the Fiat 124 Special are the use of thicker-

gauge Gauge ( ) may refer to: Measurement * Gauge (instrument), any of a variety of measuring instruments * Gauge (firearms) * Wire gauge, a measure of the size of a wire ** American wire gauge, a common measure of nonferrous wire diameter, especia ...

steel for the bodyshell (so the 2103 weighed , the Fiat lessThompson, p. 109.), an overhead camshaft engine (in place of the original Fiat OHV unit), and the use of aluminium

drum brake A drum brake is a brake that uses friction caused by a set of Brake shoe, shoes or Brake pad, pads that press outward against a rotating bowl-shaped part called a brake drum. The term ''drum brake'' usually means a brake in which shoes press o ...

s on the rear wheels in place of

disc brake A disc brake is a type of brake that uses the #Calipers, calipers to squeeze pairs of #Brake pads, pads against a disc (sometimes called a

rake Rake may refer to: Common meanings * Rake (tool), a horticultural implement, a long-handled tool with tines * Rake (stock character), a man habituated to immoral conduct * Rake (poker), the commission taken by the house when hosting a poker game ...

rotor) to create friction. There are two basic types of brake pad friction mechanisms: abrasive f ...

s. The car featured a starting handle for cranking the engine manually should the battery go flat in Siberian winter conditions, an auxiliary fuel pump and improved soundproofing. It was later joined by the -powered 21035 and the (VAZ 21011-engined) 21033. VAZ was forbidden from selling the car in competing markets alongside the

Fiat 124 The Fiat 124 is a small family car manufactured and marketed by Italian company Fiat between 1966 and 1974. The saloon superseded the Fiat 1300 and spawned station wagon, four-seater coupé (Fiat 124 Sport Coupé, 124 Sport Coupé), and two-seate ...

; however, exports to Western European nations began in 1974 when the 124 was discontinued in favour of Fiat's newer 131 Mirafiori model. The VAZ-2103 was sold in export markets from the mid-1970s to early 1980 essentially as a "de luxe" version of the VAZ-2101. In the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, it was sold from May 1976 until May 1979 and it was the second Lada car to be sold in this market. Although starting to be slowly replaced with its successor, the

VAZ-2106 The VAZ-2106 Zhiguli (alternatively Zhiguli 2106) is a sedan (automobile), sedan produced by the Soviet Union, Soviet (later Russian) automaker VAZ, and later, after the breakup of the Soviet Union, also by Russian Lada Izhevsk, Izhevsk Avto and U ...

already from 1976, it remained in production until 1984. It was the first VAZ model to be discontinued, despite not being the oldest one. This was mainly due to the complexity of production and the expense of its chrome plated elements, both of which were severely reduced in VAZ-2106. Reviewers from the French L'Auto-Journal called it "an extremely serious working instrument, able to operate in the worst conditions" and "a well-made car capable of being serviced anywhere, even by its owner".

Changes and models

* VAZ-2103 (1972–1984) — 4-door saloon was equipped with a straight-four. Compared to the Fiat 124 Special, modifications were done to the suspension, carburetor, and some other parts in order to satisfy the wide range of Russian climate conditions. All of these models were adapted to local roads and had a suspension able to provide a comfortable ride, even on tough gravel roads. This Lada was a hit in the Soviet Union. The more expensive VAZ-2103 was considered a prestigious model and was very popular among Soviet white-collar workers. Unfortunately, the

Tolyatti Tolyatti or Togliatti ( , ; , ), known before 1964 as Stavropol, is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city in Samara Oblast, Russia. It is the largest city in Russia which is neither the administrative center of a federal subjects of Rus ...

plant where Lada was produced could not keep up with consumer demand and people had to wait for years to get the chance to buy a car. The 21032 was the right-hand drive version. * VAZ-21031 (1975) — small-scale production as the factory was ramping up for the

, engine (VAZ-2106). No export. * VAZ-21033 (1977–1983) — similar to VAZ-2103, engine (VAZ-21011), exported as the Lada 1300S. * VAZ-21035 (1973–1981) — similar to VAZ-2103, engine (VAZ-2101), exported as the Lada 1200DL. The estate version VAZ-2102 was also available equipped with engine VAZ-2103 (1.5 L) and panel also known as Lada 1500 Combi (VAZ-21023, 1500 DL Estate).

References

{{Lada timeline 1970 to date Compact cars Sedans Cars of Russia 1970s cars 1980s cars 2103 Soviet automobiles Italy–Soviet Union relations