AvtoVAZ celebrates the birthday of its first model VAZ-2101

On April 19, the Volzhsky Automobile Plant celebrates “The Day of the First Car.” On this day in 1970, six pre-production cars were assembled: two blue and four cherry, which symbolized the colors of the RSFSR flag. The date is also considered the birthday of the VAZ-2101, which is also called “unit”, “kopeck” or “zero-first”.

The prototype of the “kopeck” was the Fiat 124, recalls the AvtoVAZ press service. However, Soviet specialists almost completely redesigned the design: more than 800 changes affected the engine, transmission, suspension, body and other systems.

In 1971, the “kopek” entered the race tracks. At the debut Baltika rally, the car was awarded a special prize, and soon the team won the Tour of Europe.

VAZ-2101 was popular. Its production continued until 1988. And the Zhiguli family, generated by the “unit”, was produced until 2012.

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The history of the “kopek” can be counted in different ways: from the moment the contract was signed with Fiat, the debut of the VAZ-2101 in the Soviet press, and the start of production on April 19, 1970 exactly 56 years ago.

But you can dig deeper and remember the dramatic events of the spring of 1966, when the history of the Zhiguli could have ended before it began. At this moment, the Soviet delegation in Italy was packing its bags: the conditions of the Italian side were unacceptable. Details are in the material of Motor magazine.

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