Station wagon "VAZ-2102", well tailored according to the patterns of "pasta"

We are such a post-Soviet, Russian people - we protect equipment. They have a 50-year-old car there that has either rotted in a landfill, or is polished to a shine as an exhibit in some museum. And we still carry potatoes from the dacha, catch from the river, mushrooms from the forest.


We have already gone through a dozen times and even forced the engine, patched up holes in the body, repainted. We changed the wiring, found where to plug the on-board computer and speakers, installed ... In a word, our drivers carefully and attentively look after the first Zhiguli station wagons VAZ-2102. A very successful model of the Volga Automobile Plant is worth remembering and respecting.

Leap into history

The seventies of the last century were interesting and revolutionary in many ways. The Beatles were already openly rushing from all irons, Vyacheslav Zaitsev sewed unheard-of bold outfits, the wind blew wide youth “flares”, and the guys in the military registration and enlistment office were shaved off long, shoulder-length tresses. Already freedom, prosperity, already a festival in Sopot, own rock bands, but there is an acute shortage of cars for personal use. Somehow the Soviet worker lagged behind the oppressed workers of the decaying West.


Rushed to catch up immediately. In 1966, the Soviet government entered into an agreement with the Italian Fiat on the design and construction of an automobile plant, and the development of passenger car designs. The Soviets purchased a license to produce the Fiat 124, which became the basis for all subsequent Zhiguli. Bought an outdated, already discontinued model. No, take the 125th, more advanced version! But for the Soviet people, this was a triumph, rejoicing, pride in the country. A breakthrough, a leap into the future, and, most importantly, they did it for ordinary people.

Immediately at the plant, it was planned to produce the basic version (VAZ-2101 - "penny"), "luxury" (VAZ-2103) and a car that was held in the Italian specification as a "family" - Familiare. This concept meant a large and roomy car that combines a passenger compartment and a luggage compartment under one roof. The cargo-passenger version in the station wagon subsequently came out, receiving the name VAZ-2102.

The birth of the VAZ-2102 model

The excitement about the first Zhiguli has not subsided yet, as our station wagon appeared. It was 1971. The model was expected: citizens have already appreciated the practicality of the car according to the GAZ-22 and AZLK station wagons. But the first went only to the elite of society, the second was extremely small, and then the main part went to state needs, and the people got scanty remnants.


Before the release of the basic model, Soviet engineers made a number of changes to the design. "Row" was measured by a list of 800 items. Some of them:

✅ Increased ground clearance up to 170 mm
✅ Upgraded the suspension
✅ Abandoned rear disc brakes
✅ Reinforced body elements
✅ Replaced the lower engine layout with a more advanced one with an upper shaft arrangement

All improvements also concerned the station wagon - a truly massive people's car VAZ-2102. Yes! Added a hole under the "curve" starter. Where without him?

Overview of the station wagon "VAZ-2102"

A beautiful car appeared before the eyes of the happy owners of the Zhiguli in a new body. The glazing area was amazing - a clean aquarium! The front part, including the doors, one to one coincided with the "penny". But exactly to the central pillars: further transformations followed.

If in the sedan the roof ended at the level of the rear axle, then in the station wagon the panel extended further, to the very end. Here it fell at an angle of 125 °, that is, it was already the fifth tailgate. She received solid chrome decorative details, and original vertical stern lights flaunted on the sides. The rear doors have changed, they have become straight, a stamping has appeared on the roof for greater rigidity. The left mirror (there was no right one at all) was attached to the fender on the sedan, and moved to the door in the station wagon.


Visually, the “dream of summer residents and speculators” looked more than a “penny”, although the cars had one wheelbase - 2 mm. But in fact, the station wagon was even shorter by 424 mm.

Overall dimensions of the 5-seater station wagon:

✅ Length - 4 059 mm
✅ Width - 1 mm
✅ Height - 1 mm
✅ Luggage compartment volume - 345 l, with the rear sofa folded - 1 l

The force of the crankshaft was transmitted to the wheels with a dimension of 165/80 R13, and the spare tire was located under the trunk floor. The curb weight of the car was 955 kg, the carrying capacity of the VAZ-2102 was 250 kg (only who would have considered this!). The gas tank held 45 liters of AI-92 fuel.


The car warmed up unexpectedly well in winter, starting was easy. It was a revelation. The wits threw the phrase "Zhiguli" - Tashkent into the masses. Users were pleased with the abundance of light and air, soft, comfortable chairs. I admired the many small details that make traveling, loading the car and transporting luggage easier. The reliability of the wagon was amazing: for the first three years it did not break down and did not require anything other than an oil change.

Specifications "VAZ-2102"

The weight of the carburetor power unit of the "two" station wagon, installed in 1971, was 114 kg. Engine location - front, longitudinally.


Parameters of the 8-valve motor:

✅ Volume - 1,2 l
✅ Power - 64 liters. With. at 5 rpm
✅ Torque - 89 Nm at 3 rpm

Later, rear-wheel drive cars were assembled with 1,3-liter units, giving 70 hp. With. There was also a one and a half liter 77-horsepower engine.

The engine was paired with a 4-speed manual gearbox. Suspension independent: front - double wishbone, rear design - in the form of a helical spring. The braking system is represented by front disc and rear drum mechanisms.


The maximum speed of the 1,2-liter version reached 137 km / h, the 1,3-liter - 145 km / h.

Fuel consumption data (l/100 km):

✅ In the city - 9,4
✅ On the track - 6,9
✅ In mixed mode - 9,2

The unhurried base station wagon motor reached the first “hundred” in 23 seconds, the 70-horsepower one in 20 seconds.

Export modifications of the VAZ-2102

All the best to the bourgeoisie! So, apparently, they decided at AvtoVAZ and sent abroad small, but very high quality and well-equipped batches of our station wagons. The car was called Lada-1200 Сombi and could, for example, be right-handed to please the inhabitants of countries with left-hand traffic. The station wagon had a windshield wiper and a fifth door glass washer, seats with headrests.


For foreign users, foglights, a two-tone body color, and a vinyl roof covering were optionally offered. Well, and it’s absolutely breathtaking - in capitalist countries you could get an automatic 3-speed transmission!

The cars were in great demand abroad. Not surprising, because they were practical, comfortable, roomy, and cost less than local analogues. For the British, our manufacturer tried especially: the roof and chassis were made of thicker metal, they installed a heavy-duty starter, powerful batteries, and improved the clutch and exhaust system.

Well, it's nice that the country of the Soviets looked good in the eyes of the capitalists. And our compatriots were already happy that from 1971 to 1986 they produced a wonderful type of transport for them. In total, about 667 thousand station wagons came out of the factory gates, well tailored according to Italian patterns. Today we still meet them on the roads: neither a nail nor a wand to you, "losers"!