2101 "Lada" is a Soviet rear-wheel drive car of small class with a body type sedan. The first model, produced at the Volga Automobile Plant. On the basis of VAZ-2101 was created the so-called "classic" family of VAZ cars, which was on the conveyor until September 17, 2012. For the release of this model in May 1972, the Volga Automobile Plant was awarded the International Prize "Golden Mercury". In 2000, the VAZ-2101 was named the best domestic car of the 20th century according to the results of the All-Russian poll conducted by the magazine "Behind the wheel". During the entire production period (from 1970 to 1988), the Volga Automobile Plant produced 4.85 million VAZ-2101 cars of all modifications with a sedan body. On 16th of August 1966 in Moscow, was signed a general agreement between the Italian company Fiat and the Soviet Vneshtorg on scientific and technical cooperation in the development of cars. Within its framework, the project of building a car factory in the territory of the USSR was approved. This agreement determined the models themselves: two cars in the standard configuration with bodies of sedan (VAZ-2101) and station wagon (VAZ-2102), and a luxury car (VAZ-2103). As a prototype for the "norm", Fiat 124 was immediately identified. In the summer of 1966 the first meeting of Soviet specialists with an Italian car took place. During tests on Soviet roads, the cars showed serious problems with the durability of the body and the rear disc brakes. A small ground clearance and the absence of towing eyelets made it difficult to operate the machines in the village. The dissatisfaction of the Soviet engineers was also caused by the lower-shaft engine, which is absolutely unpromising from the point of view of further development of the design. All the remarks of Soviet specialists were taken into account by Italian designers. As a result, the VAZ-2101 began to differ from the Fiat 124 with brakes (rear appeared drum mechanisms, quietly carrying bad roads), a suspension (the front was reinforced, the rear one - a complete replacement for a more modern one with five reactive booms instead of a jet pipe), cardan transmission (an open shaft with an intermediate support), reinforced clutch and modified synchronizer design in the gearbox. Even in terms of comfort, the VAZ-2101 proved to be better than its prototype due to the possibility of transforming the seats into full-fledged berths, which were subsequently appreciated by thousands of owners.
