VAZ-2103 Zhiguli Cabriolet

Description
The VAZ-2103 cabriolet is a mid-sized car, produced by AvtoVAZ and introduced in 1970. Better known as the Lada outside of its native Russia, it was a localised version of the Fiat 124 tailored for the Soviet and Eastern European market.

Known as the Zhiguli within the Soviet Union, the main differences between the VAZ-2101-2103 and the Fiat 124 are the use of thicker gauge steel for the bodyshell, an overhead camshaft engine (in place of the original Fiat OHV unit), and the use of aluminium drum brakes on the rear wheels in place of disc brakes. Early versions of the car featured a starting handle for cranking the engine manually should the battery go flat in Siberian winter conditions, and an auxiliary fuel pump.

AvtoVAZ were forbidden from selling the car in competing markets alongside Fiat 124; however exports to Western European nations began in 1974 when the 124 was discontinued in favour of Fiat's newer 131 Mirafiori model.

200,000 Ru