The VAZ Revolution and Mass Motoring
The era of “developed socialism” and mass motoring. The giant plant at Tolyatti, built with Fiat, turns out the Zhiguli — the most numerous car in Soviet history. The Niva appears, one of the first compact crossovers in the world. Garage co-operatives spring up across the country, a Soviet subculture of their own.
Historical background
1970: the first VAZ-2101. The Fiat agreement was signed in 1966 and the town of Tolyatti was essentially rebuilt for the plant's workers. 1977: the Niva goes into production. This is the Brezhnev era of stability and stagnation, and a car becomes the great Soviet dream.
An average wage is 120–180 roubles a month. A VAZ-2101 costs 5,500 roubles, a GAZ-24 9,150 and a Niva 9,000. The wait for a Zhiguli runs five to seven years, and the postcard announcing your right to buy is a family occasion. Garage culture is at its peak.
Key events
- 1970Model
On 19 April the first “kopeyka” leaves the line in Tolyatti and mass motoring begins
- 1970Model
The new Volga replaces the GAZ-21 with the sober styling of developed socialism
- 1971Sport
The works Moskvich team runs strongly in the Tour of Europe rally marathon
- 1974ModelVAZ-2103
The “troyka”, a luxury Zhiguli with a 1.5-litre engine and extra chrome
- 1977Model
One of the world's first compact crossovers: a unitary body and permanent four-wheel drive
Models of the era
All 28 in the catalog
