1985 Lada AutoVaz 2102 Combi
"Lada's history can be traced back to the 60's when a car plant opened as part of a joint venture between communist Russia and Italy. Built on the Volga river, the factory triggered the accelerated development of a nearby Italian communist named town Toglietti who eventually grew around the plant, forming a small industrial community. Fiat models were the basis of early Ladas who were intended as a "people's car" from their inception. The platform of the Fiat 124 was adapted to meet the requirements of Russian driving conditions and the engine was replaced with a newer design sporting an overhead camshaft." Thx autoevolution.com
For consignment, a 1985 Lada AutoVaz 2102 Combi with a title verified 7,573 actual miles. Early Lada's shared the round headlights of the source Fiats, but later iterations wore square headlights but retained the metal bumpers even after Fiat had switched to plastic bumper covers. Just some cues in case you ever see two in the same place!
Exterior
This well maintained little wagon is festooned in Corrida Red which gives this angular ride a sporty flair. In profile, the rear pillar drops diagonally, giving the breadbox some character, while amber topped tail lights mirror the angle until the entire rear hatch meets the chrome bumper which becomes the leading edge for the back, throwing shade on a single reverse light underneath. Four doors adorn this car in perfectly symmetrical proportions, and the short hood is headed by what is often referred to as a "cute face," single round headlights, wide grille, and laser straight chrome bumper. Also cute are the 13-inch wheels with dog dish hubcaps and 175/70R13s. Uniquely shaped door handles and designed indentations on the roof demonstrate some variation on the slab sided wagon. The paint and metal work is very nice on the car and other than the holes on the hatch for European license plate mounts, we could not find any imperfections on the outside.
Interior
Lada's are known for rather sparse interiors, (a common theme in Soviet made cars), but this one has surprisingly elaborate and decorative door panels in black vinyl with only the rear right passenger panel suffering from a bit of wrinkling. Low back bucket seats, also in black vinyl, occupy the front and are in very good shape while the rear bench shows some waviness to the front piping but is in otherwise great shape. BA3 appears on the steering wheel and that's the series name into which the AutoVaz falls, and the wheel itself shows some patina, wrapped in an aftermarket cover. Up front, a simple speedometer that goes to 160, but before you try it, know that it's in kilometers! A woodgrain decorated mid panel has a few toggle switches and vent controls and feels more upscale than your average Russian product. A red knobbed shifter lives at the top of the floor mounted unit surrounded by the rubberized covering that coats the floor, perfect for the rainy Budapest days, (this car was imported from Hungary). The perforated vinyl headliner is in good shape and features handles for each passenger. The cargo area has a smooth mat and its sidewalls continue the pattern of the door panels. As Borat would say, very nice!
Drivetrain
Under the hood is a clean and diminutive 1198cc SOHC inline 4 cylinder rated at 59 horsepower and fueled by a single 2-barrel carburetor. A 4-speed manual sets in motion and sends power to a solid rear axle. Disc brakes are found up front and drums in back. The battleship gray cam cover and air cleaner case provide a clean contrast to the red walled engine bay.
Undercarriage
Driver quality underneath with minimal surface rust but occasional spots of grimy build up. Much of the underside is constructed of flat pans while the driveshaft runs down a center tunnel. A single exhaust flows through a stock style exhaust then exits through a contoured gap in the rear valance. Suspension is composed of coil springs up front and a 3 link with coil springs and a panhard bar in the back.
Drive-Ability
This car is the first Lada we've had the pleasure of representing, but we've had our share of Fiats and the feel is very similar though the condition of the particular car is excellent. The engine eagerly revs its way onto the black top and delivers a snappy ride and passengers are not spared the sound of the engine and exhaust. The cabin is simple and comfortable, and the size of the car makes it a fun, almost novelty-like excursion. And with so few features on board, the checklist scores 100 for functionality. While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase.
There are Ladas in America, even a small Facebook group and aftermarket parts sources. But it's likely you'll be the only one at the next car show and if individuality is to your liking, this little Russian wagon will, ironically, make you a standout rather than be an invisible part of the larger population. Off the charts, unusual, and it will likely elicit many curious questions from onlookers, so inquire at the mall about this fine example from eastern Europe!
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price.
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