VAZ-2107

AvtoVAZ
Industry	Automotive
Founded	1966; 60 years ago
Headquarters	Togliatti, Russia
Products	Automobiles (including Lada Riva/VAZ-2105, 2104, 2107)

The Lada / VAZ-2105, 2104, and 2107 models, collectively branded as the Lada Riva in right-hand drive countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, were also sold as the Lada Nova in Germany and under various other names worldwide. These compact sedans belong to the Zhiguli series, which is based on the Fiat 124 platform, and were manufactured by the Russian automaker AvtoVAZ (previously known as VAZ). Initially introduced in the Soviet Union in 1979, these vehicles entered Western European and international markets during the early 1980s under the Lada marque. The lineup consisted of saloon variants (2105 and 2107) alongside station wagon versions (2104).

Currently referred to as the Lada Classic range, these cars trace their origins to the Fiat 124 chassis, a fundamental element of AvtoVAZ’s offerings since its establishment in the late 1960s. Production at AvtoVAZ’s primary facility in Togliatti concluded in September 2012.

This platform, along with other Fiat 124 derivatives, ranks as the third highest-selling single-generation automobile platform globally, following the Volkswagen Beetle and Ford Model T. It also boasts one of the lengthiest production spans worldwide, comparable to iconic models such as the Volkswagen Beetle, Hindustan Ambassador, Volkswagen Bus, Toyota 70 Series, and Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

History

The Riva series debuted in 1979 with mass production commencing in 1980. It represents a refreshed and updated iteration of the original Lada VAZ-2101 Zhiguli saloon—a licensed Fiat 124 derivative launched in 1970. Development for this facelift began in 1975, with prototype versions completed by 1977; however, Western European markets only received it starting in 1983, aiming at cost-conscious consumers.

The Riva family includes three main variants: the VAZ-2105 saloon, the VAZ-2104 station wagon, and the more upscale VAZ-2107 saloon featuring a chrome-accented grille. In Russia, these are seen as separate models within the "Klassika" lineup alongside earlier VAZ vehicles. They are commonly referred to by nicknames: Pyatyorka ("the five"), Chetvyorka ("the four"), and Semyorka ("the seven").

Mechanically akin to the VAZ-2101, the Riva employs manual gearboxes derived from Fiat designs, coil spring suspension systems, and aluminum alloy drum brakes equipped with cast iron shoes on rear wheels. The smaller-engined VAZ-2105 (65 hp, 1294 cc) upgraded its inline-four engine by replacing the previous chain-driven camshaft with a toothed belt system. Larger engine options for models like the VAZ-2107 included a chain-driven 1452 cc unit or later a 1569 cc engine. In order to comply with emissions regulations starting in 1992, single-point fuel injection systems and catalytic converters were introduced.

The premium VAZ-2107 model launched in 1982 featured enhanced interior appointments and a chrome grille; it was available with either a 1294 cc or a 1570 cc powerplant. Additionally, a Wankel rotary engine version (21079) was produced. The initial station wagon variant (2104) arrived in 1984 offering three engine choices: 1294 cc, 1198 cc, and 1452 cc.

Export demand was robust across Eastern Europe; however, presence in Western markets was limited to countries such as the UK, Netherlands, New Zealand—where they were notably used as taxis—Canada, and Finland—the latter benefiting from closer Soviet relations resulting in higher sales. Canada uniquely offered whitewall tires and briefly marketed the 2107 under the name Dennis Signet. By July 1997, sales ceased in several Western countries due to stricter regulations and economic challenges.

Although withdrawn from most Western markets by 1997, AvtoVAZ maintained production of the Riva as the Lada Classic within Russia. It remained among the most affordable vehicles domestically and continued to enjoy popularity on the used car market well after production stopped.

In 2002, manufacturing of the station wagon shifted to Izhmash (Izh), followed by assembly at Bogdan Group’s LuAZ facility and later at a plant in Cherkasy, Ukraine. The 2107 model was also produced at Ukraine’s ZAZ factory and Suzuki’s facility in Egypt. Production of the 2107 moved within Russia to Izh in August 2011. After nearly thirty years of manufacturing, production ended for the 2105 model in 2010 and for both the 2104 and 2107 variants in 2012.

United Kingdom

The Riva entered the UK market in July 1983 as the 1300GL, with the 21051 model (known as the Riva 1200L) equipped with a engine. British consumers primarily valued the model for its affordability and reliability. By 1986, sales of Ladas in the UK surpassed 20,000 units, almost entirely composed of Rivas, and reached a peak exceeding 30,000 in 1988 following the introduction of the Samara. After the Riva was launched, imports of older VAZ models ceased, although these continued to be sold within the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc countries for several more years.

The publication Autocar in the UK praised the Riva for its competitive price (£3,158), enhanced driving dynamics, and generous standard features such as adjustable headlights, velour upholstery, a heated rear window, and a comprehensive 21-piece toolkit. Nevertheless, its simplistic interior design and outdated styling prevented it from directly challenging premium competitors like the Ford Sierra or Vauxhall Cavalier. While sales remained stable into the early 1990s, rising competition from economical brands including Daewoo, Hyundai, Kia, and Proton caused a significant downturn. Economic difficulties combined with insufficient investment to comply with increasingly stringent EU emissions regulations led to Lada's withdrawal from the UK and several European markets on 4 July 1997. Efforts to adapt carbureted engines to meet EU catalytic converter standards were unsuccessful, resulting in early failures during MOT inspections.

Following the market exit, many remaining Rivas were exported back to Russia due to local shortages and their relatively better export-oriented specifications. As of 2021, numerous right-hand-drive Rivas originating from the UK continue to be operational across Russia and other former Soviet republics.

New Zealand

In New Zealand, the vehicle was marketed through the New Zealand Dairy Board, which acquired them in exchange for shipments of mutton and butter sent to the Soviet Union. This barter arrangement ended in 1990.

2104

Estate variant

VAZ-2104 – standard model featuring a VAZ-2105 1.3L carbureted engine paired with a 4-speed manual gearbox
VAZ-21041 – equipped with a 1.2L engine (VAZ-2101) using four carburetors; not produced commercially
VAZ-21042 – fitted with a 1.5L engine (VAZ-2103), configured for right-hand drive
VAZ-21043 – powered by a 1.5L carbureted engine (VAZ-2103), available with either a 4- or 5-speed manual transmission; interior and electrical components upgraded from VAZ-2107 standards
VAZ-21044 – export version featuring a 1.7L single-point fuel injection engine (VAZ-2107) with a 5-speed manual transmission
VAZ-21045 – proposed export model equipped with a 1.8L single-injection engine (VAZ-2107), though never produced
VAZ-21045D – limited production diesel variant powered by a 1.5L VAZ-341 engine paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox
VAZ-21047 – enhanced model with an improved 1.5L carbureted engine (VAZ-2103), fitted with a 5-speed manual transmission and upgraded interior; export versions included a grille from the VAZ-2107
VAZ-21048 – pre-production diesel version using a 1.77L VAZ-343 engine; did not enter mass production
VAZ-21041i – equipped with a 1.6L fuel-injected engine (VAZ-21067), combined with a 5-speed gearbox; interior and electrical systems derived from VAZ-2107; front seats sourced from IL-2126
VAZ-21041 VF – hybrid configuration featuring radiator from VAZ-2107, a 1.5L injected engine (VAZ-2103), 5-speed transmission; interior and electrical components from VAZ-2107; front seats borrowed from Izh-2126

Pickup variant

VAZ-21043-33 Pikap – powered by a 1.5L engine delivering 52 kW; produced by PSA VIS-Avto between 1991 and 2012

2105

Lada 2105 – equipped with a carbureted VAZ-2105 engine (1.29 L, 64 PS, 92 Nm) paired with a 4-speed manual gearbox;
Lada 2105 b – powered by a VAZ-2103 engine featuring distributed fuel injection (1.6 L, 73 PS, 110 Nm, Euro-2) and a 5-speed transmission;
Lada 21050 – utilizes a VAZ-2105 engine combined with a 5-speed manual gearbox;
Lada 21051 – fitted with a carbureted VAZ-2101 engine (1.2 L, 59 PS, 85 Nm) and a 4-speed manual transmission;
Lada 21053 – comes with a carbureted VAZ-2103 engine (1.45 L, 71 PS, 104 Nm) and a 4-speed gearbox;
Lada 21053-20 – features a VAZ-2104 engine with distributed injection (1.45 L, 71 PS, 110 Nm, Euro-2) alongside a 5-speed transmission;
Lada 21054 – produced in limited quantities for traffic police, Interior Ministry, and FSB; equipped with a carbureted VAZ-2106 engine (1.57 L, 72 PS, 122.5 Nm), an extra fuel tank, and battery;
Lada 21054-30 – powered by a VAZ-21067 engine with fuel injection (1.57 L, 72 PS, 116 Nm, Euro-3) and fitted with a 5-speed gearbox;
Lada 21055 – diesel variant produced on a small scale by Barnaultransmash (1.52 L, 53 PS, 96 Nm);
Lada 21057 (Riva) – export model of the VAZ-21053 featuring right-hand drive and single-point injection engine (Euro-1), manufactured from 1992 to 1997 for the UK and other left-hand traffic countries;
Lada 21058 (Riva) – export version of the VAZ-21050 with right-hand drive; produced between 1982 and 1994 for the UK and similar markets;
Lada 21059 – launched in 1980 as a special edition for traffic police and security services; powered by either two-rotor VAZ-411M or larger displacement VAZ-4132 Wankel engines (120–140 PS), equipped with a four-speed manual transmission; capable of reaching speeds up to 112 mph and accelerating from zero to 60 mph in nine seconds; priced at 52,000 rubles;
VIS-2345 – pickup truck based on the VAZ-21053/54 chassis manufactured by JSC VAZInterService from 1995 until 2006;
Lada 2105 VFTS – rally car developed at the Vilnius factory under Stasys Brundza; homologated according to FISA Group B regulations; powered by a tuned carbureted VAZ-2106 engine (1.6 L,160 PS) paired with close-ratio transmissions; weight-saving features included aluminum doors starting in 1986;
Lada 2105 VIHUR – rally vehicle produced by DOSAAF's "Vihur" association in Tallinn; homologated for Group A-2/1 category with unmodified engines in compliance with rules.

2107

Lada 2107 (engine: VAZ-2103, inline-four cylinder, carburetor);
Lada 21072 (engine: VAZ-2105, inline-four cylinder, carburetor with timing belt);
Lada 21073 (engine: Grade 8, single-point injection – intended for European export);
Lada 21074 (engine: VAZ-2106, inline-four cylinder, carburetor);
Lada 21076-20 (engine: VAZ-2104, point fuel injection);
Lada 2107–71 (engine: VAZ-21034 designed for petrol A-76, produced for the Chinese market);
Lada 21074-20 (engine: VAZ-21067-10, distributed injection compliant with Euro-2 standards);
Lada 21074-30 (engine: VAZ-21067-20, distributed injection meeting Euro-3 requirements);
Lada 21077 (engine: VAZ-2105, carburetor with timing belt – exported to the UK);
Lada 21078 (engine: VAZ-2106, carburetor – UK export model);
Lada 21079 Debuted in 1982; equipped with two-rotor VAZ-411M or VAZ-4132 Wankel engines paired with five-speed manual transmission; capable of high speeds and accelerating to sixty mph within nine seconds; priced at approximately 58,000 rubles; initially developed for federal agencies such as traffic police and KGB;
Lada 2107 ZNG (engine: VAZ-21213 featuring point fuel injection).

Other versions

The lineup featured models such as the Riva Signet, Riva 1200, Riva 1300, Riva 1500, and Riva 1600, available in "E" and "L" trim configurations. In Finland, the local distributor offered a turbocharged variant known as the Lada 2107 Turbo.

A limited quantity of rally-spec vehicles were fitted with Wankel rotary engines paired with Weber DCOE dual-choke carburetors.

Assembly operations in Egypt

Starting in 2000, AvtoVAZ collaborated with Amal Foreign Trade Company to assemble Lada vehicles targeting the North African region. Due to the absence of a dedicated manufacturing facility, assembly took place at a Suzuki factory located in Cairo. Production of the Lada 2107 persisted there until 2015, during which time the Lada 2110 model was also introduced.

Safety

Upon its debut in the early 1980s, this automobile complied with safety requirements set by both the UNECE and GOST. Nevertheless, by 2001, the 2107 model was rated zero out of sixteen points in a frontal collision test conducted by Russia’s ARCAP program, earning no stars. This poor performance was attributed to its antiquated structural design and safety features based on outdated testing standards.

In 2002, the magazine Za Rulyom evaluated two Lada 21053 units: a freshly manufactured 2002 car and a pre-owned 1994 example. The newer vehicle met UNECE regulations 12-03 and 33, whereas the older one failed to satisfy standard 33. The assessment raised doubts about whether the 2002 model could comply with more rigorous safety norms introduced later that year.

End of production

Although the car maintained steady sales within Russia and certain former Eastern Bloc nations throughout the 2010s, production of the 2105 ceased at AvtoVAZ’s Togliatti facility towards the end of 2010 after nearly three million vehicles had been built over three decades. Subsequent production of remaining variants was fully transferred to the IzhAvto plant near Izhevsk.

The 2107 model shifted manufacturing to IzhAvto in August 2011, marking the conclusion of Fiat 124–based models being produced at Togliatti after a continuous span of 41 years and over fourteen million cars manufactured.

By September 2012, production of the sedan series ended when the final 2104 rolled off IzhAvto’s assembly line. The Izhevsk plant then discontinued Classic series models in favor of producing the Lada Granta. Nonetheless, as late as 2014, manufacturing of the 2107 persisted in Egypt.

External links

Lada and Fiat model (Russian)
Lada Cars reviews, images, infos (English)