Lada 1200 (1980) – Charming in its simplicity

The VAZ 2101, better known as Lada 1200 and a Russian cousin of the Fiat 124, which became Car of the Year in Europe in 1967. For those who could not choose between the Italian and the Russian, there was also a Spaniard, namely the Seat 124. Today we are playing Russian roulette in this 37-year-old Zhiguli, which was in production in Togliatti from 1970 to 1988. The center spoke of the steering wheel reads BA3, as this type is called in its home country. The previous owner was Hungarian, as is the case with many old Ladas. The former allies of the Soviet Union were naturally loyal customers of the brand. In the Netherlands, the new price was a lot lower than that of comparable cars. It is not very unlikely that it was forced laborers who had to put the Ladas together.

The sun shines on the wood veneer that adorns the dashboard and the self-built center console. The long gear lever can be guided quite smoothly through the gearbox; significantly more muscle power is required for steering. The robust Lada is built to brave the sandy roads through the taiga or along a steppe and that is how it feels. The suspension could even have been a bit more flexible. This must not have been fun to experience the almost thousand kilometer long trip from Togliatti to Moscow. And if you get a flat tire along the way or have starting problems in the early morning, no problem: the tool set includes a tire repair kit including a pump and even a crank to crank the engine. The design of the 1200 is as simple as it is brilliant. Clean, basic lines. A carriage that is even more angular and chunkier than that of the first Volvo 144. It could hardly be simpler. That simplicity makes this Lada charming and with its low price it is a nice offer for the man or woman with a small budget who also likes to drive a classic. For example, this Lada 1200 was for sale a few years ago for €3,500.