Where they produce Niva 2121. Thirty years that changed the world

Where they produce Niva 2121. Thirty years that changed the world

12.08.2019
Fuel system
4 valves 8 Max. speed 132 Acceleration to 100 km/h 21 10,8-13,4 Cylinder diameter 79 mm piston stroke 80 mm Compression ratio 8,5 Supply system dual barrel carburetor Cooling liquid valve mechanism SOHC Material of block cylinders cast iron Cylinder head material aluminum Cycle (number of cycles) 4 The order of operation of the cylinders 1-3-4-2 Recommended fuel AI-93 In Russia, modifications with the engines listed below were produced piece by piece. Each modification produced no more than sixty. Transmission Characteristics Mass-dimensional Length 3740 mm Width 1680 mm Height 1640 mm Clearance 220 mm Wheelbase 2200 mm Rear track 1400 mm
21214: 1420mm Front track 1430 mm
21214: 1440mm Weight 1150 kg (2121)
1210 kg (21213/21214)
1285 kg (21214-30) Full mass 1550 kg Dynamic Drag coefficient 0,536 On the market Related Chevrolet Niva Similar models AMC Eagle, Dacia 10, Subaru Leone , Suzuki Vitara Segment J segment Other load capacity 400 kg
265/585 l Volume of the tank 42 l Designer

Semushkin Valery Pavlovich constructors:

  • Vladimir Sergeevich Soloviev
Media at Wikimedia Commons

Niva(also known as VAZ-2121 And LADA 4x4) - Soviet and Russian car off-road - a small-class off-road vehicle with a load-bearing body and permanent all-wheel drive.

Serially produced from April 5, 1977 to the present (until 2006 - sold under the brand name VAZ-2121 "Niva", currently sold under the brand name LADA 4x4 ).

Encyclopedic YouTube

    1 / 1

    ✪ VAZ. New Car Niva VAZ-2121 1976 Doc. USSR film

Subtitles

Concept and history of creation

In 1969-1970, the chief designer of VAZ, V.S. Solovyov, came up with the initiative to develop an all-terrain vehicle for residents of rural areas. His proposal was the result of the development of the so-called "type" of the USSR Minavtoprom for 1971-1980, at that time delegated by IMZ (Izhmash). Prototypes of the AZLK-415 and 416 and Izh-14 had already been created, but these cars were not ready for mass production.

In the summer of 1970, the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR Alexei Kosygin set the task for the teams of VAZ, AZLK and Izhmash to create an off-road vehicle with the comfort of mass passenger models. In particular, according to the recollections of the participants in the meeting in the OGK (department of the chief designer) at VAZ, after showing him a metal-gypsum model of “car No. 2” (a luxury version of the Zhiguli, later VAZ-2103), he said the following:

In April 1971, the first technical council took place, at which the design features of the new car were chosen. Proponents of the classical approach to design offered a variant with frame body, dependent wheel suspensions, drum brakes front and rear. There were also more radical proposals, including a transverse layout and independent suspensions. The designers began developing documentation in the summer of 1971, and already in April 1972 the first prototype was made.

In an interview with Itogi magazine, the creator of the Niva, Pyotr Mikhailovich Prusov, said that the car was named after Prusov's children - Natalya and Irina, and the children of the first chief designer of VAZ V. S. Solovyov - Vadim and Andrey.

The designers of the Volga Automobile Plant, still at the development stage, were transferred to perspective model many components and assemblies mastered by the Zhiguli enterprise. Another feature was the completely “passenger” design of the car - there was nothing specifically “all-terrain” in the car, the Niva looked like an ordinary passenger car. Design elements and details of the VAZ-2106 were widely used in the design, and the interior turned out to be almost identical to this model.

In 1972, the first running prototypes of the E-2121 (the so-called "carriers of units") were created, in 1973 preparations for mass production were announced.

In 1974, the first 15 pre-production models were produced, and by the XXV Congress of the CPSU in March 1976, a second batch was made - another 50 cars.

These machines have passed a full cycle of tests, including a run in the Urals and the Urals. For comparison with competing models, experts used the British Land Rover and Range Rover, as well as UAZ-469. For rate driving performance"Niva" combined "passenger" and "all-terrain" test programs. The order to put the car on the conveyor was signed on July 31, 1975.

The first production model of the VAZ-2121 rolled off the VAZ assembly line on April 5, 1977. Shortly after the launch of the assembly line, the production plan for the four-wheel drive vehicle was increased from 25,000 vehicles per year to 50,000 vehicles, and then to 70,000 units precisely because of the success in export markets. By 1981, there were plans to increase production to 100,000 units, but the second oil crisis prevented it. In the early 1980s, about 80% of the produced cars began to be exported, by the way, the Niva became the only Soviet car that was sold in Japan. At the same time, the overpriced price on the domestic market of the USSR, which amounted to about 9,000 rubles in 1977-1979 and 10,300 rubles in 1979-1984, as well as the unusualness of the car as a whole: “impracticality” due to too small trunk And high flow expensive for the then salaries of gasoline, and even "non-prestigious" due to the presence of only two side doors (part of the then motorists associated such a body with the disabled "Zaporozhets") at the highest price among VAZ models, led to a decrease in demand for "Niva" to mid 1980s. However, after the price was reduced in 1985 by about 15%, Niva again became popular [ ] .

Design description

VAZ-2121 (21213/21214) - a car cross-country (SUV) small class. The body is load-bearing, three-door - hatchback type, five-door - station wagon. Transmission with permanent all-wheel drive, mechanical four-speed gearbox (starting with 21213 - five-speed), two-speed transfer case and lockable center differential. Geometric parameters good cross-country ability due to a sufficiently large ground clearance (220 mm), small body overhangs (angle of entry 32 °, exit - 37 °) and a relatively short 2.2-meter wheelbase. The first VAZ-2121 model was equipped with the VAZ-2121 engine, created on the basis of the VAZ-2106 engine, in-line four-cylinder carburetor, with a volume of 1580 cm³. Power 80 l. With. at 5400 rpm, maximum torque 116 Nm at 3400 rpm. On the restyled modification of the VAZ-21213 was installed carbureted engine VAZ-21213 with a working volume increased to 1690 cm³, with a capacity of 81.9 liters. With. at 5100 rpm and a maximum torque of 126.1 Nm at 3000 rpm.

One of the features of the Niva is the use in its design of large-scale units of the VAZ model range. So, from the VAZ-2106 model, a 1.6-liter engine with a timing chain drive, a gearbox and a rear axle gearbox were used (on the first Niva, the main gears from the VAZ-2101 with a gear ratio of 4.3 were used in the axle gearboxes). Nevertheless, the Niva immediately demonstrated a unique cross-country ability for its class.

In October 2016, on the LADA 4×4, VAZ engineers introduced a bearing into the front hubs, which does not require periodic adjustment.

The car has a modernized steering knuckle, an independent mount for the front axle gearbox and gas-filled shock absorbers.

World recognition and export

Most 4x4s produced in the 1970s were equipped with hard-wired all-wheel drive (permanent four-wheel drive used at that time only on the Range Rover), a frame chassis, dependent suspension, simplified bodies with a Spartan interior (except for the same Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz G-class and Jeep Cherokee) and a soft tarpaulin top, as well as low-speed gasoline or diesel engines. Therefore, an SUV with permanent all-wheel drive, a large number of innovative (world-class) solutions such as an independent front suspension, a closed comfortable all-metal load-bearing body, combined with a low (by world standards) price, caused a great sensation, and, subsequently, many imitations.

In 1978, the VAZ-2121 was awarded a gold medal and recognized as the best car in its class for international exhibition in Brno.
In 1979, Niva was awarded the State Quality Mark of the USSR.
In October 1980, the car received a gold medal at the Poznań International Fair.

"Niva" (since 2006 - LADA 4x4) has been and remains one of the leaders in the export of AvtoVAZ. The very first two special versions"Niva" were export: VAZ-21211 with a 1.3-liter engine (for countries with expensive fuel and high taxes on engine size) and VAZ-21212 right-hand drive.
The right-hand drive version of the Niva was in very good demand in the UK and even came in small quantities to Japan.

Since the middle of 1993, a modification of the VAZ-21215 with a Peugeot XUD9 diesel engine has been produced for export in small batches. The export potential of the gasoline Niva has been preserved in non-CIS countries to the present. In 2003-2007, the plant successfully adapted LADA 4×4 to Euro 3 and 4 standards, and the only car with a classic family engine was brought to Euro-5 standards. Moreover, this happened even at the time of the release of "2107", but the progenitor did not receive Euro-5 approvals. A number of foreign tuning firms created on the basis of the Niva versions with cabriolet and pickup bodies, as well as sports racing and tuning options.

For more than three decades, out of 1.8 million Nivs produced, more than 500 thousand units were exported to more than 100 countries of the world. Every year, about 15 thousand Nivs were exported to the countries of Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Eastern and Western Europe, including Germany, France, Italy, England, Spain, the Benelux countries and Greece. In these countries, as well as in Japan, despite the fact that the SUV is no longer delivered to the Land of the Rising Sun, to this day there are clubs of Niva lovers. There are "Niva" in Australia, Greenland, Iceland and Canada.

At the same time, in the USSR itself, Niva was not popular for a long time, since at a high price (9,000 rubles at the time of launch, 10,300 after a rise in price in 1979, later the price was again reduced to the original one) did not fully possess consumer qualities neither a full-fledged off-road vehicle, nor a passenger car, and in conditions when a new car was purchased by a consumer essentially once in a lifetime, it was considered insufficiently roomy and versatile for daily operation. In addition, due to work with overload, many parts of the car, and in the first place - the engine, had a reduced resource compared to the base model, the car was more expensive to maintain and more difficult to repair.

For 2016, LADA 4 × 4 from assembly kits supplied by AvtoVAZ is assembled by Asia-Avto from Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan. Previously, the Niva was assembled from SKD kits in Greece, Egypt, Ukraine (LuAZ plant) and in Ecuador, where almost two and a half thousand cars were assembled in 2001 alone.

Trademarks "Niva" and "Niva"

According to data from the Register of Trademarks of the Federal Service for Intellectual Property, the Niva and Niva trademarks were registered in 1976 by the Volga Association for the Production passenger cars mobile".

In 2001 registered license agreements granting the right to use both trademarks. JV "GM-AvtoVAZ" became the owner of the exclusive license for them, however, the copyright holder of the trademark remained the same.

In 2010 car studio Pininfarina S.p.A was going to buy out the license for the Niva trademark from JV GM-AvtoVAZ, but the deal did not go through.

Motorsport

Niva also achieved success in motorsport, becoming the winner of such prestigious rally raids as Paris-Dakar, Paris-Tunisia, Pharaohs Rally, Paris-Beijing and others. Long years official dealer VAZ in France Jean-Jacques Poc to participate in the marathon "Dakar" exhibited a team on the "Niva" at his own expense. Also, for European owners of the VAZ-2121, there were Nivalp competitions, which can be compared with the Camel Trophy series.

Niva world records

  • World altitude record: in 1998, the Niva all-terrain vehicle climbed to the base camp near Everest to a height of 5200 m, and in 1999 on the Tibetan plateau in the Himalayas took a height of 5726 m above sea level;
  • "Niva" conquered the North Pole - during the international parachute action in April 1998, the VAZ-2131 "Niva" was dropped with a parachute, and after landing on ice and releasing from the lines, it was wound up and successfully overcame a given route;
  • The Niva served for 12 years at the Russian polar station Bellingshausen in Antarctica, where roads do not exist in principle. The Togliatti all-terrain vehicle was operated in the temperature range from -54 to +40 ° C for the transport of goods and towing ships. The total mileage of the car was 11,800 km;
  • In 1999 and 2000, the Lada-Niva-Marsh snow and swamp vehicle, created on the Niva units, conquered the North Pole twice.

Safety

The body of the Niva is strong: the front left pillar has shifted only 60 mm. Alas, this is the only positive thing. The driver risks his head: the impact on the “steering wheel” that has risen 165 mm upwards is not strong (HIC 605), but dangerous - the contact of the “upper jaw” of the dummy with the rim was unstable. Leg injuries are also more than likely: the clutch pedal went 300 mm back and 85 mm up, the load on the right thigh exceeded the tensile strength of the tibia, and the injury safety of the lower part of the front panel is below any criticism. The passenger is at risk of a head injury from hitting the glove box lid (HIC 871) and fractured ribs. According to the EuroNCAP methodology, Niva does not score at all for safety!

This result is quite natural, since the car was developed more than thirty years ago and has a common aggregate base with the “classic” (VAZ 2101 - VAZ 2107) family. In practice, this means that the driver of a car involved in such an accident at a speed of 64 km / h will certainly be injured.

There is no possibility of improvement without a radical reworking of the car, including the power circuit of the body.

One of the problems identified by crash tests was the problem of spars deformation. In the press in 2002-2003, there were notes that AvtoVAZ was experimenting with solving this problem by filling the cavities of the side members with foamed materials in order to improve the nature of the deformation of the body (in order to comply with the requirements of the UNECE Regulation R 94 R 94, that is , successfully passing the frontal crash test at a speed of 56 km / h). However, the results of crash tests were not given anywhere, and there is no data on whether the restyled Lada 4 × 4 has become safer.

On June 20, 2011, a car with ABS went to the AvtoVAZ test site. The test result was the launch of a version with ABS and BAS under the index 21214-40-021. This version has been released since October 1, 2011.

Modifications "Niva"

  • VAZ-21211 "Niva" - Soviet off-road passenger car. Serially produced from 1977 to 1987. It had a VAZ-21011 engine (cylinder diameter 79 mm; piston stroke 66 mm). The engine is equipped with a carburetor 2105-1107010, two mufflers instead of three and an ignition distributor 30.3706-01. A driven disk 2103 is installed in the clutch. Gearbox with other gear ratios [ ] .
  • VAZ-2121 Niva (export name Lada 4x4 Niva) - the base model with the VAZ-2121 engine (1.6 l, 80 hp, 116 N m) and 4-speed. Checkpoint. Several prototypes of the VAZ-E2121 were created in 1972-1975. At the end of 1976, a pilot batch of Niva was produced. All cars of this series had the color "Golden Ocher" and differed in the location of the headlight cleaners - on experimental industrial machines, the gearmotor shafts "stick out" from the front panel, and not from the grille, as on serial machines. The model was mass-produced from April 1977 to the end of 1993, existing on the conveyor in parallel with the new model 21213 for six months;
  • VAZ-21211 ( Lada Niva 1.3) - export modification with engine 21211 (adapted engine VAZ-21011 1.3 l, 69 hp, 94 Nm). It has been produced since 1978 for countries with increased taxes on engines with a volume of more than 1500 cm³ (mainly the Benelux countries and Southern Europe). It was in limited demand due to the low off-road engine torque and poor dynamics on ordinary roads;
  • VAZ-21212 (Lada Niva 4x4) - export right-hand drive modification. It was produced in limited quantities, primarily for the English market. Also delivered to Australia, New Zealand, Mozambique, Jamaica. It is known about the sale of a small batch of “right-handed” Nivs to Japan, where Soviet cars did not penetrate either earlier or later;
  • VAZ-2122 project "River" - an army amphibious vehicle of a company commander. Developed on the basis of VAZ-2121 units. In 1976-1985. 27 amphibian prototypes were made with a utilitarian pressurized open 2-door body. In 1987, a modified sample of the VAZ-2122.600 "River" passed state tests, but the amphibian was not mass-produced due to conversion;
  • VAZ-21213 ( original title"Taiga" did not take root) - a restyled model of the "Niva" with a redesigned back bodies with a reduced loading height (a different form of the rear door and rear lights), a more powerful and high-torque VAZ-21213 engine (1.7 l, 82.8 hp, 125 Nm) with a Solex carburetor and contactless ignition system, in addition, the car began to be equipped with a 5-tbsp. Gearboxes and axle reducers with final drive 3.9 (this made it possible, taking into account more powerful engine slightly reduce operating fuel consumption), an aluminum radiator, a redesigned interior and instrument panel (the interior and instrument panel have become largely identical to the VAZ 2108) and a number of other changes. In 1993, a transitional batch was released with standard engine VAZ-2121.
  • VAZ-21214 (Lada 4x4) - modification of model 21213 with a VAZ-21214 engine (1.7 l, 82.8 hp, 127.5 Nm) equipped with central fuel injection. Since 2002, this model has been equipped with the VAZ-21214-10 (Euro-0) engine with distributed fuel injection, upgraded in 2006 to Euro-2 (21214-20) standards, in 2008 to Euro-3 (21214- 30) and, finally, in 2011 under Euro-5 (for export) and Euro-4 (for domestic consumption). Since 2006, in accordance with the JV agreement, GM-AvtoVAZ has been renamed Lada 4 × 4 3-door.
  • LADA 4x4M is an updated and modified version of LADA 4x4. The first steps were taken at the beginning of 2009, and the final mastering of the updates was completed at the end of 2011. Changed internal and external lighting fixtures, upholstery, transmission units. Some of the components are unified with the Chevrolet Niva project. The most important change is the alteration of the rear suspension, which significantly increased the stability of the car on bumps, primarily the so-called "comb". Power steering (GUR) is installed on all models, on some - anti-lock system brakes (ABS). Since 2013, the front side lights have been used as daytime running lights, that is, they light up brightly when the engine is turned on, when the side lights are turned on, the brightness decreases.
  • VAZ-21215 - an export version with a Peugeot XUD 9SD diesel engine, produced in 1999-2007. The modification was produced in small series for export, so the standard assembly included an improved body kit (bumpers, spoilers, linings, alloy wheels and so on.);
  • VAZ-21216 - an export version of the model 21213 with a right-hand drive and a VAZ-21213 carburetor engine;
  • VAZ-21217 - export version of model 21213, with a VAZ-2121 engine (1.6 l);
  • VAZ-21219 - a transitional combined modification with a body and suspension from the VAZ-2121 and a 1.7-liter engine and transmission from the VAZ-21213. The interior and the rear window washer reservoir are also kept from the VAZ-2121. Produced in 1993-1994.
  • VAZ-2121B - an armored cash-in-transit vehicle based on the VAZ-2121. It was created in 1992 by specialists of the subsidiary AvtoVAZ company PSA Bronto. Produced limited edition in 1992-1993 Foamed polymers for anti-fragmentation armor were tested for the first time. It served as the starting point for the creation of the BRONTO Force family of armored vehicles.
  • VAZ-2121F - an export commercial version based on the VAZ-2121 and 21213 models with a van-type body. The rear of the cabin was converted into a cargo compartment by replacing the side windows (on the back door saved) with metal panels, removing the rear seat and trim. Behind the front seats there is a tubular protection against cargo displacement during braking. The van version of the Niva is manufactured in small batches at AvtoVAZ's OPP for delivery exclusively to the markets of non-CIS countries, whose local legislation provides for tax incentives for such commercial vehicles.
  • LADA 4x4 "Lynx" - a small-scale hunting model of the Lada 4x4 car. Introduced in 2009 by a subsidiary AvtoVAZ PAO Bronto. In the body, the wheel arches have been modified to provide increased wheel travel and dimensions, and rubber arch extensions have been installed. External mirrors with increased rear-view area are installed. Self-locking screw-type differentials are installed in the front and rear axles.
  • LADA 4x4 Urban is a version of a three-door SUV. It differs from the original model in bumpers, a radiator grill, a steering wheel, the presence of an air conditioner, a floor tunnel , power mirrors and power windows. The car has been produced since October 2014 by VIS-Auto. At the end of 2015, Lada 4x4 Urban entered the German market. In 2015, the production of Lada 4 × 4 5D Urban (based on the VAZ-2131) started.
  • LADA 4x4 Bronto is a special off-road version of the car prepared by VIS-AVTO.

Elongated versions of LADA 4x4

  • LADA 4x4 Fora (VAZ-212180 "Fora") - a version of model 21213 extended by 30 cm. It was produced in small batches from 1996 to 2011 by PSA Bronto (vin code "X7G"). It differs from the base model in the doors and doorways increased in width, the rear part of the roof raised due to the plastic superstructure and the wider rear triple seat type 2108. The standard equipment of the Fora includes an automatic fire extinguishing system in the engine compartment from the Force armored car, and behind surcharge - power steering, air conditioning and a plastic "kenguryatnik" in front of the radiator grille. Due to the use of wheels of increased diameter (light-alloy wheels of the Togliatti company "Slick" with tires "Nokian HRC"), the "reserve" was taken out of engine compartment and fixed above the rear bumper;
  • LADA 4x4 Force (VAZ-212182 Force) is an armored cash-in-transit version of the VAZ-21218 model. In addition to the reservation system, it is additionally equipped with an automatic fire extinguishing system in the engine compartment, an explosion-proof fuel tank; additional battery, air conditioning, remote control of the right door lock from the driver's seat. As additional equipment an armored floor, light-signal beacons, etc. are offered. Since the Force is 430 kg heavier than the Handicap, suspension springs made of a larger diameter bar and reinforced shock absorbers are used;
  • LADA 4x4 Landole (VAZ-212183 "Landole") - all-wheel drive car with an open body
  • VAZ-2129 "Utiliter" - a commercial modification of the "Cedar". It differs from the base model in the absence of a rear seat and rear side windows barred from the inside. It was produced by the piece under the order for AvtoVAZ OPP and did not receive distribution;
  • VAZ-2129 "Kedr" - a model extended by 50 cm based on the standard VAZ-21213. "Kedr" was created in the early 1990s as a carrier of aggregates for a promising

The transport system of the Soviet Union was largely “tailored” for the economic activity of the country. With cars designed to transport goods or people, everything was clear. But a passenger car for personal use, but to please the eye, correspond, if you like, fashion trends and at the same time would be quite reliable - such models for a long time there was quite a bit. And, without a doubt, one of them is the VAZ 2121 Niva.

In the photo: VAZ 2E2121, prototype, 1973

Four-wheel drive - cheaper

By the end of the 60s, it became clear that it was urgent to design a cross-country vehicle, moreover, for the needs of the common population. During these years, all-wheel drive passenger UAZs were already being produced, but they were not even enough for the needs of the army, so for most motorists such a car remained pipe dream. And so, in 1970, the then Chairman of the Council of Ministers Alexei Kosygin instructed three auto giants at once - AZLK, AvtoVAZ and Izhmash - to create, as he put it, a car "for the village." And VAZ coped with this task better than its competitors.

At first, the designers thought to take the usual Zhiguli as a basis, increase the ground clearance and equip with all-wheel drive, but then they decided to make a fundamentally new car from scratch. The result was the world's first comfortable small SUV. Interestingly, jeeps abroad mainly had a switchable front-wheel drive, dependent suspension, a frame structure and a very modest interior.

1 / 2

2 / 2

In the photo: VAZ 2121 "Niva", prototype, 1975

Our developers did everything the other way around: permanent all-wheel drive, independent suspension, the body is load-bearing, and the interior is comfortable and beautiful. However, few people know that the all-wheel drive of the first Niva was made not only for greater stability on the road, but also because it turned out cheaper, because ready-made VAZ units were used to optimize production costs.

"All-wheel drive Fiat"

The first running prototypes appeared in 1972. They were tested in the Urals and Central Asia, compared with British cars, such as Land Rover and Range Rover, as well as our 469th UAZ. The test programs were different - both "passenger" and "off-road". Compared to its competitors, the Niva felt worse in long, difficult sections, but on the other hand, it overcame short bumpy sections so dynamically that the testers even came up with a special term - “flyability”.

In the photo: VAZ 2121 "Niva", prototype, 1976

And so that the curious did not pay much attention to the tests of the new mass-produced SUV, the emblems of the non-existent Formika brand were on the prototypes, and “secretly” they told everyone that they were testing a new Romanian all-wheel drive Fiat. Very many, of course, believed in this and passed this rumor from mouth to mouth as an accidental sensation.

And the car somehow immediately turned out so successful that to put it off mass production did not become a long box. The order to put the car on the conveyor was signed in the 75th year, and in the 76th its production began. As was customary in those days, the event was timed to coincide with the next party congress. First they produced 25 thousand cars a year, then - 50 thousand, then - 70. And almost immediately the car began to be exported, and in huge quantities - up to 80 percent of all models produced! By the way, the Niva was the only Soviet car that was actively sold in Japan.

In the photo: VAZ 2121 "Niva", 1977

Abroad, our Niva was very expensive, which, by the way, cannot be said about other Soviet cars that were sold in distant and not very distant countries. Equipment at export models has always been an order of magnitude better than cars for the domestic market. They had panoramic mirrors, extended wheels, and special tires. And even rear wipers there were, while at first domestic cars they usually didn't. If we add to this hatches, unusual radiator grilles, winches, headlight protection, kenguryatniks, steps, foglights and other additional structural details, it becomes clear why our Niva has become legendary abroad.

She was appreciated both in the Benelux countries and in the UK. In Germany, for the purchase of "Niva" were recorded in the queue, as for "Mercedes". One Austrian car magazine wrote about this: "The Russians carefully analyzed the market and definitely fell into an empty niche." And with the weather, as they say, we were lucky: in 1979 Europe was hit by unprecedented snowfalls. Not accustomed to such vagaries of nature, the owners of elegant passenger cars, and, indeed, even heavy jeeps skidding in these snowdrifts, looked at the super-passable Niva with envy. And our SUV did not care.

Export hit

"Niva" was sold in more than a hundred countries of the world, and collected in six: in Latin American Brazil, Ecuador, Panama and Chile, as well as in Greece and even in Canada. In Austria, for several years, this car occupied 90 percent of the off-road segment of the market, and they especially fell in love with it, they say, in France and England: there are clubs of Niva lovers, and even admirers publish magazines about it.

"Niva" and extreme

Of course, like the UAZ in its time, the Niva won many outstanding victories. For example, in 1998 she managed to climb Everest. Of course, not to the very top, but the testers quite successfully and independently reached the base camp, and it was at an altitude of 5,200 meters. Then, a year later, this record was broken by another half a kilometer - in the Himalayas, on the Tibetan plateau: 5726 meters. By the way, the British also sent their famous Land Rover to the mountains, and he even reached the mark of 5642 meters on Elbrus, however, he didn’t drive there by himself, but was dragged in with cables and winches. Then the "Niva" reached the highest point of the sacred Japanese Mount Fuji. Then, all in the same 98th, our SUV conquered the North Pole. It was completely enchanting: the Niva was lowered onto the Arctic ice with the help of a parachute, and it started up there and reached the conditional extreme point of the Earth.

Ordinary Soviet "Niva" worked in Antarctica for 15 years. It was brought to our polar explorers back in 1990. And although the total mileage over the years amounted to about 12,000 kilometers, you can imagine in what conditions! After all, there are no roads or heat in Antarctica - only snow. Red "Niva" became the first wheeled vehicle that was used for communication between stations.

In the photo: Lada 4x4 Niva, Paris-Dakar rally, 1981

Against the backdrop of all this, the brilliant performances of the Soviet all-terrain vehicle in marathons like the Paris-Dakar or, say, the Tunisia Rally or the Algiers Rally seem to be something taken for granted. The Niva won the 1984 Atlas African Rally, and then out of 120 cars that started, only a third reached the finish line. And then, in 1986, Soviet racers took all three prizes at the Australian Vin Safari. By the way, the participants generally did not call this event anything other than a mockery of people and technology.

Special versions and modernization

Among the interesting developments, it is worth noting the floating Niva, designed for the needs of the army. It was successfully tested, but the project remained a project. But visitors to the military automobile museum in Ryazan can see this prototype. Another interesting experimental model was made in the form of a microtruck and was called "Corporal". And the most unexpected development was made for the Yuri Nikulin circus. This "Niva" could be driven by ... bears. The car was open and elementary in control, and such a number really existed in the circus program.

Export shipments of Niva have now become small. This is a modification of the VAZ 21215 with a Peugeot diesel engine. It is adapted to modern environmental standards, but foreign firms, no, no, and yes, they will create some kind of convertible, pickup truck or even a sports car on its basis.

Well, since 2009, a restyled version of the Chevrolet Niva has been released, the design of which was developed by the Italians. The people still affectionately call her “Shniva”, “Shiva” and “Shevik”, and although GM engineers made more than a thousand small changes to her design, and outwardly she became completely different, but still a lot remained inside and from the good old Niva, so it's still a pretty patriotic car.

In fact, Niva became the ancestor of a new, very desired class cars. And this alone was enough for us and our auto industry to be respected even more abroad.

A cross-country passenger car with permanent all-wheel drive and a load-bearing three-door station wagon body, developed by the Volga Automobile Plant, with a factory index VAZ-2121, was named "Niva". First serial SUV left the conveyor on April 5, 1977. In addition to Russia, the car is also produced in the city of Lutsk (LuAZ, Ukraine) and in Ust-Kamenogorsk (Asia Auto, Kazakhstan).

The history of the car began in 1970, more precisely in the summer of this year. Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR Alexei Kosygin set the task of creating a comfortable off-road passenger car. In addition to specialists from VAZ, specialists from AZLK and Izhmash received the same task. Specialists of the Volga Automobile Plant transferred to the promising model many components and assemblies of the already mastered Zhiguli with design elements and details of the VAZ-2106 car, it turned out to be a completely passenger car that did not look like an SUV. The salon was also almost identical to the sixth model Zhiguli.

The first running models appeared in 1972, and in 1974 15 pre-production samples were already created, which were submitted for state tests. The cars passed a full cycle of tests, and on July 31, 1975, an order was signed to put the car on the conveyor.

And on April 5, 1977, the first serial SUV VAZ-2121 left the VAZ assembly line. The production plan quickly grew from 25,000 to 70,000 vehicles per year, and later about 80% of the produced cars began to be exported.

VAZ-2121 received a load-bearing three-door station wagon body, designed for 4 people including the driver, permanent all-wheel drive and a manual 4-speed gearbox. The transfer box is two-stage. This compact SUV had practically no analogues in the whole world. In 1988, VAZ-2121 received a gold medal at the 53rd International Fair in Poznan. No other domestic passenger car had such success in the international arena, applications for it came from all over the world.

To meet the demand for the VAZ-2121 abroad, two special export versions of the VAZ-21211 and VAZ-21212 were developed. The first modification was intended for countries with expensive fuel and high taxes on engine size, so it was equipped with a 1.3-liter engine. The second modification of the VAZ-21212 was intended for countries with left-hand traffic, so her steering wheel was located on the right side, this modification was in very good demand in England. Over the entire period of production, the Niva SUV has been exported to more than 100 countries, and the number of exported copies has exceeded 500,000.

Over the years of production of the VAZ-2121, he had many modifications, both with a carburetor and with injection engine, there were also elongated 3-door modifications manufactured by the Togliatti company PSA Bronto, armored cars, amphibious vehicles, etc.

Modifications

The base model with a VAZ-2121 carburetor engine with a volume of 1.6 liters and a power of 80 horsepower. Equipped with a 4-speed gearbox. This model was mass-produced from April 1977 to the end of 1993.

Established in 1992 by the specialists of the subsidiary VAZ company OAO Proizvodstvo Special Vehicles Bronto "armored cash-in-transit vehicle based on VAZ-2121. This modification served as the starting point for the creation of the BRONTO Force family of armored vehicles (/).

Export double commercial version based on the VAZ-2121 and 21213 models with a van-type body. The rear part of the cabin is turned into a cargo compartment by replacing the side windows, with the exception of the rear door, with metal panels. The rear seat was removed along with the trim, and tubular protection was installed behind the front seats, which protected the driver and passenger from shifting the load when braking. This modification was produced in small batches for non-CIS countries, where benefits were provided for such commercial vehicles.

VAZ-2121 "Sahara"

mono say homemade car, resulting from the work of two employees of one of the divisions of the VAZ, from scraps of the body of the running models of the Niva in 1991, they assembled 6 copies of pickups. Later, it was decided to make closed cars with a roof raised at the rear (and convenient, and there is a lot of space, and everything is closed from bad weather). The basis for the design was the model of the French Matra-Rancho.

The appearance of the car was drawn by Viktor Trusov. It was decided to lengthen the wheelbase of the standard Niva by 300mm, which made it possible to push the rear seat out of the zone rear wheels, providing comfortable accommodation for three passengers at the rear. To ensure greater capacity, two folding additional seats were placed at the rear on the sides of the body (only on the first experimental machine). The rear roof was made removable. Instead of standard bumpers, two original "kenguryatniks" were installed.

VAZ-21211 "Lada Niva 1.3"

Export modification for countries with high taxes on engine size, over 1500 cm 3, and expensive fuel, was equipped with a 21211 1.3-liter carburetor engine with a power of 69 horsepower. This modification has been produced since 1978, mainly for the Benelux and Southern Europe.

Export right-handed modification for countries with left-hand traffic. It was produced in limited quantities for the market in England, Australia, New Zealand, Mozambique and Jamaica.

VAZ 2129 "Utiliter"

The commercial modification of the VAZ-2129, which was manufactured piece by piece at the pilot production of AvtoVAZ, differs from the basic model in the absence of a rear seat and rear side windows barred from the inside. This modification did not receive distribution.

VAZ-2130

Restyled modification of the VAZ-2129 with a modified interior layout and a five-seater body. Triple rear seat type 2108 moved forward. According to unverified information, the model index was subsequently changed to 2129-01. This model was produced in small batches from 1993 to 1994 and served as the basis for the creation of the 5-door model VAZ-2131-01.

VAZ-2131

A five-door model extended by 500 millimeters due to the insertion into the standard body of the VAZ-21213. Produced in OPP AvtoVAZ since 1993. The car was created on the basis of the model 2129 "Cedar" by adding a rear pair of doors. The wheelbase and length of the car were changed accordingly, the distance between the front and rear seats was increased by 125 millimeters. Has also changed fuel tank, now its volume has become 65 liters. In the people, this car was nicknamed the crocodile.

VAZ-2328 "Wolf"

An off-road vehicle with a short double cab and a pickup truck body based on the VAZ-2131 model, which was supposed to be put into production in parallel with the VAZ-2329 pickup truck, was released by LADA-Tul, but due to low demand, only an initial batch was produced.

VAZ-2329 "Bear"

A model of a car that was produced in small series at the AvtoVAZ OPP with an extended 5-seater cab and a load-bearing pickup-type body, created on the basis of the VAZ-21213 model. The rear overhang has been increased by 300 millimeters and the load capacity is 650 kg. The car received the original rear seat, which, when folded, forms a flat cargo area.

Lada 4x4 Urban (Lada 4x4 Urban)

A version of a three-door SUV produced since October 2014 by VIS-Auto, which differs from the original model in bumpers, a radiator grill, a steering wheel, air conditioning, power mirrors and power windows.

VIS-2346

A family of pickup trucks with a semi-frame chassis based on Niva units, which have been produced since 1996 by the Togliatti company VAZINTERSERVICE, which produces two versions of the pickup truck in small series: with a short double cab (VIS-2346) and with an extended 5-seater cab (VIS-23461 ). Previously, a VIS-23464 pickup truck with a one and a half four-seater cab and a VIS-2348 pickup truck with cab panels from LADA Samara 2. The car is equipped with a reinforced spring rear suspension.

VAZ-1922 "March"

Snow and swamp-going vehicles on ultra-low pressure tires with permanent all-wheel drive, which received the factory index VAZ-1922 and the name "Marsh", are intended for off-road use and in difficult climatic conditions. In 1995, the Marsh snow and swamp vehicle, built on the basis of the VAZ-2121 car, was first demonstrated to the public at the Moscow car showroom. Since 1996, the Togliatti enterprise OJSC “PSA “BRONTO” has been engaged in serial production.

FVK-2302 "Bizon"

Double flatbed truck based on the long-shaped "Niva", with a pickup-type body. The car has a frame chassis, based on the Niva units, a short double cab and a wooden platform. The rear suspension was spring, the rear axle was from UAZ, and the engine was VAZ-21213. It was produced in small series by the Togliatti company "Eastern Ring" from 1993 to 1995. The pickup was not in great demand.

"Niva" VAZ-2121 and its modifications

Text: Evgeny Konstantinov
Photo: Andrey Khorkov

In my opinion, the name of this car is not just some kind of name for "agricultural motives". NIVA is an abbreviation (which means, like any abbreviation, it should be written exclusively in capital letters), meaning nothing less, but “The Best Invention of the Volga Automobile Plant”! And, by the way, it really is. Cars that have survived a quarter-century anniversary on the assembly line with a minimum of structural changes can be counted on the fingers all over the world. The majority turns into moral junk much faster. And "NIVA" and today remains in demand by buyers. Moreover, it is enough to open any advertisement newspaper, and it turns out that "NIVA" is also the most popular SUV in the world. secondary market...

In April 1977, the Volga Automobile Plant made a real revolution. His new model, VAZ-2121 "Niva", practically had no analogues in the practice of the world automotive industry! Today, this scheme with a spring suspension, permanent all-wheel drive and a monocoque body is perceived as the norm for a compact SUV. And in the late seventies, all this was a discovery. New SUV proved to be practical, comfortable and cheap. No car with a 4x4 formula had such a set of qualities before. Most all-terrain vehicles of those years were utilitarian vehicles with a military background. Permanent four-wheel drive and full-fledged driving comfort could actually be offered only by the Range Rover, which appeared six years earlier. But completely different dimensions, weight, the presence of a frame, and most importantly, the price niche did not allow talking about any kind of imitation on the part of the "VAZ". Yes, comfortable SUVs existed in those years, but among models with a plug-in drive: exclusive luxury cars like Monteverdi and expensive versions of "Americans" converted from pickups. But it was a completely different path of development. "Niva" stood apart. In fact, she founded a whole new class of all-terrain vehicles.

No other Russian passenger car has come close to such success in the international arena. Autoexport received applications from all over the world. There were also two special export versions: VAZ-21211 with a 1.3-liter engine (for countries with expensive fuel and high taxes on engine size) and VAZ-21212 with right-hand drive. The latter, by the way, was in very good demand in England.

The basic version for the domestic market was originally equipped with a 1.6-liter VAZ-2121 carburetor engine with a timing chain drive. In fact, it was the "sixth" motor (the most powerful in the "Zhiguli" range) with a crankcase, allowing you to place a front axle gearbox under it. But for all its simplicity, unpretentiousness and reliability, this power unit turned out to have one significant drawback for an all-terrain vehicle - a torque peak noticeably shifted towards high speeds. This did not allow to take heavy sections of tension. But thanks to a good ratio of power and weight, the car was able to effectively "fly" through deliberately ambush areas.

Complete with a 1.6-liter engine, a standard four-speed gearbox was installed on the Niva. To increase traction, the main pairs with a number of 4.44 were first used. But less than a year later they were replaced by 4.3, and in the mid-80s, for the sake of increasing efficiency, they completely stopped at 4.1. In this form, "Niva" existed until 1994. It was then that the car underwent the most serious modernization in its entire history.

During 1994, a huge number of transitional modifications with different indices were released, but in the end, the VAZ-21213 version with a 1.7 liter carburetor engine became the base one (it is today that makes up the bulk of the cars on the secondary market). A year later, the injection model VAZ-21214 and two “three-doors” with indices 2129 and 2130 “stretched” by half a meter appeared. The latter did it simply: they cut a short car in half and welded an insert with windows into the middle. Depending on the index long cars equipped with engines of 1.7 and 1.8 liters. In 1996, they were replaced by the five-door VAZ-2131, and almost at the same time the Fora saw the light - a three-door modification extended along the doorway by 300 mm (it received the index 21218).

Body

When we talk about the "Niva", the first thing that comes to mind is the three-door short version (colloquially "behemoth"). It should be noted that it is most suitable for off-road and is rightfully famous for its excellent cross-country ability. At least there are few cars that, without special training, would “make” it in off-road conditions. But at the same time, we must not forget that the safety margin of the car is not designed for continuous operation on heavy off-road. The body suffers first of all: several years of intense loads - and now on power elements dents appear on the bottoms, and then cracks on the side members in the gap between the front suspension spring and the shock absorber mounting bracket. Before selling them, of course, they could have been brewed, but the fact that the car was “folded” can be determined by indirect signs. First of all, this is evidenced by a characteristic bulge (the size of a penny) on the stamping of the front wing (closer to its rear part).

In the city, the body suffers for a different reason. The corrosion resistance of the Niva is by no means up to par and is comparable to the VAZ classics. As for the "high landing", it only slightly prevents the formation of rust on the thresholds. Most problem areas– all panel joints, tailgate edge and windshield frame. However, in cars of recent years of production, due to poor-quality painting, rust pockets can occur anywhere. That is why annual anticorrosive and constant preventive tinting of fresh chips and scratches are desirable. Contributes to corrosion and wet floor insulation, which is extremely difficult to dry. Otherwise, both in terms of strength and torsional rigidity, this is the best of the VAZ bodies. Especially pre-styling - with a short tailgate. But these days, finding a pre-1994 car with decent hardware is a stroke of luck. And if they were preserved somewhere, then certainly not in Moscow.

In 1999, the bumper was decently dropped in weight and became “soft”. And before that, it was possible to bring down fences with a duralumin channel (tried). The fact that elongated machines have the worst geometric cross-country ability, but better handling quite natural. But there are terrible legends about long-wheelbase bodies. Allegedly, they break in half from time to time, and on off-road they are generally twisted with a screw. The food for these conversations was given by three-door "crocodiles" and the very first "five-door", which really did not differ in particular strength. True, no one saw the machines completely falling apart into separate parts, but there are welding cracks on individual copies, and obvious rust on the seams in the middle of the body is a common thing for them. However, the rigidity of the five-door "crocodile" was improved quite quickly, and most of the VAZ-2131 does not cause any trouble from this side. The medium base "Handicap" VAZ-21218 is not inferior to the base model at all.

Engine

Became mainstream 10 years ago carburetor motor VAZ-21213 with a volume of 1.7 liters and a capacity of 79 liters. With. in its design it is similar to its predecessor and is also distinguished by reliability and unpretentiousness. In addition, he received a contactless ignition system. It has noticeably better traction on the bottoms (compared to the 1.6-liter). As for the resource of both motors, the plant declared it to be only 90 thousand km. True, this figure is very conditional. On the one hand, engines are known that easily exceeded the two hundred thousand mark, on the other hand, they require a bulkhead after fifty. Lottery - the quality control system created by Fiat engineers at VAZ has not been working for a long time. And, sadly, but the bulk of the engines produced at the turn of the millennium, tends more towards the second digit. Along with the new engine, "Niva" received a new, more powerful generator. He has one weakness, unknown old car: built-in relay-regulator - over time, it needs to be replaced. And to get to it, you need to remove and partially disassemble the generator, which, given the cramped layout of the engine compartment, takes quite a lot of time and effort. On the VAZ-2121, the relay-regulator was separate part and was attached to the upper surface of the wheel arch with two nuts. Injector 1.7-liter engines could be equipped with both GM single injection (1997–1999) and Bosch distributed injection (since 1999). Since last year, they have completely replaced carburetor power units from the assembly line (they continue to be supplied in spare parts and for long-wheelbase versions produced by OPP). The injection version is somewhat more powerful and, thanks to the knock sensor, is able to digest low-grade gasoline if necessary. But, oddly enough, it is more demanding on the quality of the oil than the carburetor one (valve hydraulic compensators are installed in the block head). As for single injection, it is reliable, but in the event of failure of any electronic component, the search for a spare part may be delayed.

The 1.8-liter VAZ-2130 engine, developed in 1995, never reached the “big” conveyor. It is produced at the OPP and is standardly installed only on long-wheelbase vehicles. But due to the presence of these units in free sale, short-wheelbase cars with this engine are also found on the secondary market. The power system on 1.8-liter units is mainly carbureted, and distributed injection occurs only rarely. The characteristics of this engine are more suitable for an SUV - it has the highest torque of the entire range of Niva engines. However, quality instability is also the highest ...

Transmission

The transmission hum and vibration inherent in each Niva cannot be completely eliminated. This design feature. The gearbox and transfer case are two different units and are connected by a very short intermediate shaft with a rubber vibration damper.

The rear cardan works at the maximum possible angles of fracture of the crosses, and at the slightest imbalance, it also vibrates noticeably. But in general, the vibrations of a serviceable machine are small. If they intensify, this indicates a problem. The reason may be a soured cross in the universal joint, biting the CV joint of the promval or broken splines. The centering of the transfer case may also be disturbed. Due to vibrations, the mounting eyes sometimes burst. Fortunately, they are removable and in case of breakage do not require replacement of the transfer case housing. If the car has never left the asphalt, its control levers of the Republic of Kazakhstan may turn sour from inactivity. Since 1999, fine-grained gears have been installed in the razdatka, which significantly reduced noise, but ... increased the reject rate.

The old four-speed gearbox is also an almost eternal unit, but, alas, this cannot be said about the five-speed gearbox, which has been standardly installed since 1994. The fifth gear unit is especially troublesome. Often, after 30 thousand mileage, the gearbox requires a bulkhead (it costs about 3,000 rubles). How long it will work later depends solely on the quality of the spare parts and the conscientiousness of the master.

The front-wheel drive CV joints are quite reliable, but the rubber boots wear out and often tear when driving off-road. And since the replacement takes a lot of time (you have to disassemble the entire drive), then at the first repair it is better to immediately install imported “gum bands” that are suitable in size. They are, of course, more expensive, but more elastic and durable. If the Niva has discs with a smaller offset than required (ET 50), get ready to replace the front wheel bearings (they are absolutely not designed to absorb cantilever loads). In addition, the tapered design of these bearings requires precise adjustment.

Chassis

The Niva suspension is simple, durable and reliable. At the same time, it provides decent comfort and very decent handling for a short-wheelbase car. Often this provokes fans of active driving to turn any trip into a “stage of the World Cup in rally raids”. Indeed, the suspension adequately withstands shocks. tram tracks, "speed bumps" and "low flight" over a bumpy primer. But, carried away by such a ride, you can jump. First of all, shock absorbers die and springs sag, and over time, the trailing arms of the rear axle also bend. Some "athletes" manage to bend even the beam of the bridge. Moreover, if it is bent slightly and it is imperceptible visually, then the bridge will continue to work as if nothing had happened. That's just wheel bearings will have to be changed very often. And this is a whole story that services do not like very much. There they “throw” the axle shaft assembly, which costs around 1800 rubles.

In front of the "jumps" will begin to break ball joints and steering knuckles. Fortunately, the ball bearings of the Niva never, unlike the same Zhiguli, suddenly fall apart and, long before their death, they begin to warn the driver with knocks and a nasty squeak that occurs when the anther breaks and dirt gets inside. For cars that constantly drive off-road, this is a common thing.

The bipods of the steering gear and the pendulum lever of cars before 1994 and after are different. Thanks to the replacement, the steering wheel became lighter, but this had to be paid for by an increase in the turning diameter. In addition, the plastic bushings in the pendulum arms have been replaced with bearings.

The braking system of the Niva has not fundamentally changed since 1977. One circuit in it acts only on the front wheels, the other - on both axles. On the VAZ-2121, the rear brakes require periodic clearance adjustment. But if the working cylinders from the “penny” are replaced with self-supplying ones from the “five” (installed since 1994), one tedious operation in car maintenance will become less.


Outcome

So what is Niva today? Yes, the same as twenty years ago ... A compact and dynamic universal SUV, endowed with excellent cross-country ability. Great option both for a novice off-road conqueror and for an experienced one (especially when he is able to adequately assess the prospects of the “road” and is forced to move around the city a lot). And finally, this is a worthy transport for a “romantic trip”. Ability to drive fast on any road voluminous trunk(in a double version), the ability to repair anything in any locality of our vast homeland and ... Europe. And all this for a very reasonable price! True, over the past three years, Niva has almost doubled in price. The reason lies in the excitement caused by promises to remove it from production, replacing the more expensive and less off-road Chevy, the design of which, by the way, has much in common with the "old lady". As a result, today they are asking for more for a three-year-old car than it originally cost! The appearance of the "heiress" was reflected in a technical way. Recently, the plant has been constantly changing the design of the classic Niva, unifying it with the Chevy. As a result, "original" parts disappear from the sale. So, now the front axle drives, front wheel hubs, axle shafts and stockings of the rear axle are in short supply. As for the rest of the spare parts, the unification built into the design with the classic Zhiguli can play a trick on you: some of their parts are very similar, but not identical. And sellers don't always know about it.

Average prices for used Niva vehicles of various modifications and model years, $
1990 1994 1998 2000 2002 2003
2121/21213 1000 1400 2500 3300 4200 5000
21214 (injection) 2900 3600 4500 5000
21218 ("Handicap") 3600 4900 5400 6100
2131 (5 doors) 3500 4500 5000 5700


"Our earthly compass".

On the basis of the VAZ SUV, not only several pickup trucks (which differ in the length of the base and the number of seats) were created, but also the Nadezhda minivan. Appeared in production program OPP VAZ-2120 in 1999, it is perceived not just as a seven-seater "Niva", but as a car of a completely different class. Moreover, this is how it is: Nadezhda is the first Russian minivan! Despite the fact that the chassis is completely borrowed from the VAZ-2131, the body and all inner space cars are redesigned. Access to the passenger compartment is through a sliding door on the starboard side. The seats can be moved and folded, which allows you to transform the interior according to own will. True, in the case of a full load, it is better to allocate the back row to children: five adults in the passenger compartment fit with difficulty. All-terrain capabilities of "Nadezhda" are also on top (especially against the background of classmates). And what other civilian minivan boasts a ground clearance of 220 mm? Movement along the crossroads is limited only by rather long overhangs and low-lying plastic bumpers.

But because of the limited release, Nadezhda is rarely found on the secondary market and is expensive ($2,000-7,000). However, the latter is justified by other consumer properties and a rich level of equipment (a sunroof and power steering are present by default).


Do you OFFy our ROAD?

IN last years on sale from time to time "Niva" pop up, decorated with a sticker "We OFFy your ROAD". What is she talking about and is it worth paying attention to such an inscription at all? Was this car really used mainly off-road, or was it just seriously prepared to conquer it? And in general, is it worth refraining from buying this copy, or, on the contrary, consider it a rare success?

The history of the motto is as follows... About five years ago, this phrase was invented by wits from the Moscow Niva Club. And put it on club jerseys. Soon the same stickers appeared on the cars of some members of the club. And then, about a year later, these stickers somehow got into the free market.

And what is the result? You will not believe it, but today you can even find a VAZ-2106 mono-drive sedan, decorated with this proud inscription. In general, the conclusion is this ... This inscription "does not affect the patency" and does not really say anything. As for belonging to the Niva Club ... then, a “real nivovod” can tell you a lot of interesting and instructive things in words ...


Completely correct does not happen.
Yuri KUNIKOV, VAZ 2131.

This is my second Niva. The first one was short. Therefore, the "crocodile" was taken quite consciously. Parents are getting older, it has become uncomfortable for them to climb into the back seat. Again, in a crocodile you can carry more junk with you, and the tank is one and a half times more capacious. With the difference in prices that was in 2002 - 800 dollars - there was no point in taking a short one. For three years the machine happy. More precisely, I am pleased with how the car is conceived, but how it is made is a disgrace! Very low quality, failure on failure. For example, one after the other, both hubs fell apart, and the reverse gear unit collapsed in the box. Acquaintance with the new car began with the fact that I did not get home. I broke the clamp and leaked antifreeze. But, surprisingly, the machine rarely fails when it is really needed. But it's almost never perfect. For the past six months, I have been steadily giving three hundred dollars a month for repairs.

This "Niva" is not as dynamic as the short one, but it is very stable on the track. I didn't notice any difference in performance. It seems to me that sometimes it even wins due to the fact that you usually plant a short car in its entirety, and here you have an extra half meter in length, which allow you to leave the stern on solid ground. I have never met such places where I would cling, but I feel more confident on soft soils. And on a dry country road, due to the length, you can keep more high speed. Dimensions interfere only in the parking lot, but this is a matter of habit. Especially after I installed parking sensors. I have changed a lot of things. Regular chairs are garbage. After a trip to them, you need to immediately see a massage therapist. Regular mirrors are small and folded from the wind, I replaced them with normal, heated ones. A foreign car would be cheaper.


"Niva" is budget.
Alexander PAPOROTSKY, VAZ-21218.

I climbed on foreign cars and I know how expensive it is to restore them after you tear off the front axle. And here everything is simple - as it broke off, it was repaired. And yes, it's comfortable enough. This is my second Niva. The first was the 213th. Then a child appeared in the family, and in order to fit the whole family, I really wanted the Fora. Purposefully looking for her, but I realized that buying a new off-budget. I took a used one, the first one I saw. And now I go to her for three years. serious problems did not have. Everything is like everyone else. There were two busts of the box, there was a replacement of the intermediate shaft. Everyone who saw and serviced my car said that it was assembled better than the general level, but exclusively poor quality painting. When I became more involved in all sorts of forest adventures, I gave the Niva to the NKS to be raised a little and put on bigger wheels. What I enjoyed and calmed down, did not turn it completely into a "combat" machine. True, after that the shock absorbers began to come off. Already broke them six times.

Compared to a short car, Fora is more comfortable. Completely different sensations for entering a turn, for stability

It has been 40 years since this masterpiece of the Soviet automotive industry rolled off the assembly line. It was a brilliant design decision for the time. Not a single all-wheel drive car in the world possessed such qualities as the engineers of the Volga Automobile Plant endowed Niva. Nowadays, in any modern SUV, the same principles are used that were laid down in the Niva in 1977: permanent all-wheel drive, load-bearing body, spring suspension, high ground clearance and short wheelbase.

The car began to be in demand not only in the territory of the Soviet Union, but throughout the world. As a result, the demand for various modifications for each country has increased. With the growth of popularity, the need for individuality has also grown (after all, many do not want to ride the same Niva as others). Therefore, improvements had to be made not only in relation to the engine and internal elements, but also the body, which has also been repeatedly tuned.

The number of Niva modifications has grown every year, and at the moment it is not difficult to lose count. In this review, we will tell you about all the options and modifications of cars with worldwide recognition and a long history, proudly called Niva. And let's start the review, of course, with the very first Niva that rolled off the assembly line.

The first issue of the Niva (VAZ-2121)

The Niva, which solemnly left the gates of the Volga Automobile Plant on April 5, 1977, laid the foundation for all subsequent modifications. The car had a short three-door base, spring suspension with an independent front axle, permanent four-wheel drive and a sealed body. All these qualities subsequently did not change and are still used in the global automotive industry. The interior of the car was more than comfortable and could compete with many foreign competitors. At that time, no one was particularly puzzled by the choice of color performances, so the car was produced in a single color with the name Golden Ocher. On the first Niva, a carburetor engine with a volume of 1.6 liters and a power of 80 hp was installed, as well as a four-speed gearbox.

The most economical Niva (VAZ-21211)

This model was developed specifically for export to countries where the cost of gasoline forced people to opt for more economical cars. The displacement of the engine on this modification was 1.3 liters with a power of 69 horsepower, which could not but affect the dynamic characteristics and traction when driving off-road. As a result of a weak engine and high mass, the cross-country ability fell, which was unacceptable for the Niva. All this has led to the fact that sufficient demand for this modification The fields did not appear. But, despite this, cars were exported abroad in small batches, mainly to Europe.

The most powerful Niva (Lada 4×4 Niva Poch)

This modification was the product of the efforts of French engineers, whose task was to modernize the Niva for rally sporting events. And, I must say, they did a good job - after all, this model even managed to participate in the famous Paris-Dakar. A lightweight non-metallic hood was installed on the Niva Poch and wheel disks from Porsche. But the most interesting thing was located under the hood - instead of 4 cylinders, 6 fairly large cylinders fit there, the total working volume of which was 3.5 liters. At the same time, the power they gave out was 310 "horses", which was very impressive result for those years. These models were built 8 pieces.

Right-handed Niva (VAZ-21212)

There was also an export option for countries with left-hand traffic. It was the only Soviet car that was exported to Japan. Before and after this delivery (one small batch was delivered) Soviet cars not observed in this country. Most copies of this model were exported to England. In our time, it is already difficult to meet a "right-handed field" - if only among connoisseurs of retro cars. Specifications this model did not differ from the basic version. The same 1.6-liter engine and 4-speed mechanical box gears.

This model was developed by order of the Ministry of Defense exclusively for equipping the USSR army. The same VAZ-2121 was used as a base, the metal roof of which was replaced with a fabric awning. The car had 2 gas tanks and was equipped with a 1.3 liter engine. The cooling system has been seriously modified so that less water and more air enter the engine compartment. The bumpers were designed so that any military vehicle could push through the Niva without damage if it got stuck in the mud or on the water. In addition, a winch was added to the car, usually used on UAZs. The amphibian developed a speed of just over 4 km / h when moving through the water.

Perhaps many will now be surprised, but diesel engines were indeed installed on the Niva. This happened at the end of the second and beginning of the third millennium. This version of the Niva was not designed for domestic market and produced exclusively for export. Diesel engines with the XUD9SD index were borrowed from the French auto giant Peugeot. In addition to the engine, the car also received a number of changes in the body. A lot of plastic was added on top of the usual body, and backdoor, providing access to the trunk, has been extended to the level of the bumper for comfortable loading. Due to the lengthening of the door, the rear lights had to be made vertical.

Hydrogen elements in the composition of this car created electricity, which was already acting on electric motors. As you can see, the classification environmental regulations allowed the possibility of operating a car in absolutely any country, because this car did not make noise and did not waste the usual fuel. Unfortunately, this model has not yet been mass-produced. The car was introduced in 2001, which is how its history ended - only photographs remained. Let's hope that in the near future the domestic manufacturer will start producing cars with similar installations serially.

This version of the Niva was created in 1992, as the result of perestroika was the beginning of the formation of a new banking system, which in turn gave rise to demand for given type cars. Only a few enterprises operating in the banking sector could afford to buy expensive armored foreign cars. Therefore, the Togliatti giant took over the function of supplying Russian banks with armored Niva. The body became bulletproof, and in the corners of the side windows there were special loopholes designed for defensive actions in the event of an attack by intruders, who, by the way, were not few in the 90s.

Such a field was developed specifically for export to foreign countries, where this type of body was in great demand. The back of the car was actually turned into a cargo compartment - the windows were replaced with metal inserts, and the rear row of seats was simply absent. Inside the van there were retaining fasteners for cargo. In addition, for safety, special crossbars were installed in cars that protect the driver and passenger from shifting the load forward when braking. In general, it turned out to be a good option, but such a Niva noticeably loses in competition with many similar cars - this is due to the fact that commercial vehicles its off-road qualities are not needed, which only add to the cost of operation and maintenance.

Niva cabriolet (Lada Niva Cabrio)

German engineering minds were used to create this modification. And the first thing these minds guessed was to completely cut off the roof. That's right - "UAZ" with a tarpaulin, why not Niva repeat this experience. wheel arches were widened and protruded beautifully to the sides. The front arches flowed smoothly into front bumper, and the rear lights "moved" into the body rear bumper- all this added to the appearance of many advantages. Since the body of the Niva is load-bearing, it was necessary to solve the problem of its deformation by integrating a metal pipe into the base of the body. So now you know that some Niva had an integrated frame.

There was also a modification for travelers, which consisted of two independent parts - the front of the car was a pickup truck made from short wheelbase Niva. On top of this pickup, the second part was laid and tightened with two fasteners, which actually consisted of a room with windows and a door. This part had one wheel axle, absolutely identical to the wheelbase of any other Niva. Since the car was large enough, large mirrors were screwed onto the front fenders for safety. About 2 of these models were made. In connection with the collapse of the USSR, the production of this Niva ceased.

The model turned out to be extremely noticeable, because the body was noticeably modified for buggy-style: there are no doors, instead of a roof there is a curved structure made of metal pipes, on the front of the car there is a kenguryatnik. The machine is also equipped with power steering. Among other things, a lot of different body kits have been added (including an additional air intake on the surface of the hood) and plastic lining throughout the body. This vehicle designed exclusively for the summer season. If the car is reduced by one and a half times, then you get a full-fledged ATV with a round steering wheel and a small roof from the rain (or, again, Buggy).

Related Articles
More articles from this category
Bon zhorno, seniors and senoritas See what it is Bon zhorno, seniors and senoritas See what "signorina" is in other dictionaries
Flirt chat with a girl Flirt chat with a girl
Brad Pitt's fantastically beautiful wives Best roles: Brad Pitt's fantastically beautiful wives Best roles: "Fight Club" and other films
Can you get fat from bread? Can you get fat from bread?
How to sit on a transverse twine - secrets and exercises How to learn to sit on a string How to sit on a transverse twine - secrets and exercises How to learn to sit on a string
Drinking alcohol dilates or constricts blood vessels in the brain Drinking alcohol dilates or constricts blood vessels in the brain

© 2023 globusks.ru - Car repair and maintenance for beginners