In 1970, the pioneer of a whole dynasty of VAZ cars came off the assembly line of the Volga Automobile Plant in Togliatti. It was a small car 2101, or, as it is called in the people, a "penny". A licensed copy of one of the models of the Italian Fiat. The first swallow immediately fell to the taste of the many thousands of Soviet motorists. The car was expensive, but the lucky ones that she got did not notice the expenses. After the Muscovites with Zaporozhtsy, the "kopeck" was a light in the window. Spacious interior, quick, quick engine, noiseless on the go, the car has become a dream for many.
A year later VAZ released another model, it was already a station wagon with a reinforced undercarriage. From VAZ 2102, the technical characteristics of which repeated the model 2101, were enthusiastic villagers. In the cargo hold could be laid almost half a ton of cargo, reinforced springs of the rear suspension easily withstand the load. With the tailgate open, the floor level was higher than the doorway, so any load could be loaded and unloaded by sliding, which is of no small importance. For example, at the next VAZ universal 2104, the opening of the tailgate has already been raised above the floor, and this created enormous difficulties in loading.
So, the new car VAZ 2102 was built on already tested units and units 2101. The engine is longitudinal, four-cylinder, in-line, carburetor. Very neat, compact block of cylinders with pressed liners, from quality gray cast iron. Upper gas distribution, valve. On the camshaft the rotation was transmitted from the crankshaft by a double chain, through a peripheral sprocket with a tensioner shoe. At the front end of the camshaft there was also a double gear. The engine worked in a four-stroke mode, the valves were driven by levers, supported by special supports. The valves were equipped with two return springs.
All the engines of the VAZ cars were highly revolving, just such a mode of operation was the guarantee of the life of the piston group and the crankshaft. At insufficiently high rpm, the engine oil supply system lost pressure, the moving parts did not receive sufficient lubrication. The ignition was usual, the electric circuit of the car did not differ from the standard one. The engine cooling system VAZ 2102 was a closed two-circuit. The cooling liquid was continuously circulated, driven along the contour by a centrifugal pump with a plastic impeller. The temperature regime was maintained by a thermostat and a fan, the inclusion of which depended on the heating of the sensor in the lower radiator chamber.
The rotation of the engine crankshaft was transmitted via a gearbox to the propeller shaft with two needle crossings, then to the hypoid mechanism of the rear axle. The braking system VAZ 2102 was dual-circuit, the front wheels were equipped with disc brakes, rear - with drum brakes.
The machine was constructively rational. The exterior was quite modern, although it did not differ with any special twists. It was possible to a certain tuning VAZ 2102, for example, some owners to the regular rear bumper added one more - it turned out a double rear bumper, and it was very impressive. The roof of the VAZ 2102, especially if the car was white, pasted with a black thin artificial leather, the car at the same time became just a beauty. For a long time VAZ 2102 was produced in its basic version and was withdrawn from production only in 1985.