Did you know that the first VAZ-2101 was almost an exact copy of the Italian Fiat 124? But Soviet engineers made it more durable and cheaper – this is how a folk legend was born!
? Interesting facts about the “kopeck”
✅ Year of birth: 1970 (the first copy rolled off the assembly line on April 19).
✅ Why “kopeck”? The number “1” in the name reminded people of a coin.
✅ Engine : 1.2 l, 64 hp – for the USSR it was a revolution !
✅ Price : 5500 rubles (approximately 3 annual salaries of a worker).
? How was VAZ redesigned for the USSR?
— Strengthened the suspension (Fiat wouldn’t have been able to withstand our roads).
— Replaced aluminum parts with cast iron (cheaper and more reliable).
— Added “frost resistance” (−30°C? No problem!).
? Why did the “kopeck” disappear?
— By 1988 they had produced 4.85 million units.
— An outdated design (replaced by VAZ-2105 and “Samara”).
? Did you know?
The last “kopeck” was sold in 2012 — it was in production for 42 years!
