1975 VAZ-2103: A Soviet Time Machine

An automobile that was produced in numbers well into the tens of millions doesn’t seem so unique, but what if one of those cars hadn’t been touched for more than forty years before its rediscovery? That’s the story behind this Soviet-era survivor that shows just under 150 kilometers on the clock, and it’s all original despite the Curtain coming down decades ago. It’s a time capsule from an altogether different history than most of the cars in our Made to Drive series, and though it’s not a sporting machine by any means, the VAZ-2103 “Zhiguli” is still one of the most significant cars ever built. Let the proud owner of this 1975 example tell you why.

Drive Tastefully®

[erichakanson]

I love cars with history and aura. Petrolicious always does a fantastic job of relaying the car's own story, no matter how valuable the car may or may not be. Being not only a car guy but a lifelong student of European history, I love when the two are combined. Like in the case of this Vaz, cars often play a role in the larger history of a certain place, not just the automotive aspect. And the fact that they were cranking out 2200 of these a day is a testament to the communist worker. Although with this particular car, it was probably hidden away in a barn for so long because it was evidence to the case of the KGB agent who was deemed "no longer useful." So after he was knocked off, the car had to be stashed somewhere! Great job Petrolicious!

[icebreakertech]

I love that it's not just about the car but what it represented to a lot of people. Lovely thing.

[MrAnryan]

My father had one back in the day. White Lada (VAZ) 2103. It was the first car i ever drove. I still remember it. I was 13 then and full of desire to drive anything with 4 wheels. I'm 23 now and still remember with joy my first touch with driving this car. The clutch was bad, the gearbox was hard to shift and oww that steering...I was always kidding my dad that the steering wheеl was stolen from a 50s bus. But somehow i felt attraction, the noise, the carburator...Even today i still say to friends that these cars do have a soul. You need to drive it in order to feel it. This gorgeous movie set me back with nice memories from a decade ago. Thank you Petrolicious for sharing not only western masterpieces but eastern too.
Ahh, and also Lada in old historic bulgarian language means "Love".
Greetings from Bulgaria.

[NOMUSCLEGARAGE]

The best car of Soviet era. Please let my guys make video about Niva for Petrolicious!)

[DriversSide]

It’s so incredibly square! The rear taillights look like the tail lights on old Alfas

[danc]

Ma bucur sa vad asa ceva pe Petrolicious! Keep up the good work!

[TinLeadHammer]

VAZ is the name of the company/factory: Volzhski Auto Zavod, that is, Volga Car Works (not to be confused with Volga cars made by Gorky car works). The cars themselves were sold in the Soviet Union as "Zhiguli", but this name was considered hard to pronounce for export markets and also sounding similar to gigolo, so on the export markets it has been sold as Lada. Starting from the 2108 model in 1986, VAZ switched to Lada for the domestic market as well.

[VolvoSafeandStyle]

удивительно увидеть наш автопром на столь почтенном канале

[bpm_music]

This should have russian subtitles! I can add it if you allow it in settings.

[AndySnap]

Another beautifully filmed video from Petrolicious, amazing how you keep such a high standard. Great to see a more 'humble' car featured, and what a fine example it is too, with a very knowledgeable owner.

[irakli]

In fact, no matter what car is on the video, people from all over the world are united by the love of the memories they leave. Machines can be different, someone has Julia, someone has Fiat, some people: Lada. Вut the memories are almost identical). In general, I was wildly surprised to see this car here, almost all of my childhood was spent with these Ladas)

[inplay]

Советская классика ! Я на такой учился ездить и сдавал на права.
Спасибо за видео ! Неожиданно :)

[AnthonyDonnellyTT]

That's a beautiful car. I, for one, love it. I love its simplicity, its boxy, well proportioned classic shape and the fact that she's decked out nicely inside with tachometer, and various other gauges. Totally dig it :)

[Kaynert]

This car is so awesome. I enjoyed one these days. Awesome video and great scenes👍

[DmitriyOleynik]

I was as a passenger in this kind of car today. Brakes were not working and it stalled a couple of times, lots of fun during just 1km drive!

[MrGrentch]

I love that car. And fair play to the owner for finding, preserving and driving it.

[StevenJeNova]

Beautiful video, again, Petrolicious! All done superb (except audio). I like these box'y cars, in design. And it's great to get the history & context. More of this.

[kep]

Nice too see Soviets car in your channel, good staff

[napa]

Great to see Petrolicious make a video about VAZ. I happe to own a 21063. I daily drive it to school, but at the moment it is waiting for winter to end, and roads to be clear of salt.

[Gearz]

The VAZ-2103 (or Lada 1200 / 1300 if it was exported) was basically a license build Fiat 124 Special.
Most of the cars in the Soviet era were built to last, simple, efficient and to be easily fixed by the owner.
The actual VAZ was of better quality than it's Fiat predecessor. Apart from the VAZ factories, it was also licence built by Seat in Spain as the SEAT 124, in Turkey as Tofaş Murat 124, in South Korea as Asia Motors Fiat-KIA 124, up till a few years ago it was still built by Lada-Egypt.