The first car "Zhiguli", affectionately and aptly nicknamed by the people "penny", was released in 1970. It was produced for only 14 years, but during this time it managed to be so fond of citizens that in 2000, according to polls of the automobile magazine "Za Rulem", it was recognized as the best Russian car of the 20th century.
Mass motorization
Until 1970, there was no mass car satisfying an undemanding taste and, most importantly, not an excessively voluminous wallet of ordinary citizens of the state of developed socialism in the USSR. Mass motorization began precisely when the first VAZ-2101 rolled off the assembly line of the Volga Automobile Plant. The plant was built specifically for the production of a people's car and fully fulfilled its function.
Four years earlier, the first Fiat-124 appeared on the European market, which a year later became the Car of the Year in Europe. Without hesitation, the leadership of the USSR bought out the license and all the assembly line production of Fiat, beloved by the Europeans, and began to produce a “penny”. True, the model has been modified, taking into account local operating conditions. Strengthened the body, improved the engine, changed the transmission and chassis. But the design of Fiat was not at all advanced, even at the time of release. Fiat was chosen in order to strengthen friendship with the Italian communists and the desire of the USSR to increase its influence in this country.
For students, pensioners and the entire Soviet people
The build quality of the first VAZ-2101 cars was quite high. The equipment is new, the engineering staff trained in Italy. The appearance also turned out to be pretty. "Kopeyka" very quickly gained popularity and became an achievable people's dream. Five years later, the car became the most massive in the USSR. Moreover, there was no competition for him and there was nothing to compare him with.
But not only Soviet citizens fell in love with the "kopeck". Under the Lada brand, it was actively sold abroad, due to the indecently low price it received the status of a car “for students and pensioners”.
The family of "kopecks" (together with the VAZ-21011 and VAZ-21013 variants, which differ in a modernized body and engines of 1, 3 and 1, 2 liters) were produced until 1988. The release of the classic first "penny" was discontinued in 1984. In just 18 years, 4, 8 million "kopeck" cars were produced. This is an absolute record among all Zhiguli models and modifications.
On June 7, 2004, a monument to the “kopeck” was unveiled on Vologodsky Prospekt in Moscow. It was presented in full growth as a gift to the Russians and their descendants by the Lada Favorit company. "Kopeyka" proudly stands on a marble pedestal, and fresh flowers brought by the people in memory of their beloved and faithful car periodically appear at the foot of the monument.
