In the 60s, an agreement on mutual cooperation was signed between the Italian automobile company Fiat and representatives of the USSR Minavtoprom. The contract provided for the design and construction of the plant, as well as the transfer of documentation for cars in standard and luxury equipment options.
Initially, the Fiat-125 was offered for the role of a luxury model, which was structurally different from the standard version cars. However, this option complicated production and did not suit the Soviet side. A compromise was the Fiat 124 Special , which served as the prototype for the third model of the VAZ plant , which went into production in 1972.
The third model of the VAZ
The new car received the designation VAZ-2103. The technical characteristics and appearance of the Italian and Soviet cars were quite close. But there were also differences in design due to operating conditions of machines in the USSR.
"Troika" received a rich appearance. The car increased the number of elements with chrome spraying. Front mounted on two headlights for dipped and high beam. Taillights have increased in size. The novelty was the marker lights at the ends of the doors. At night, they well defined the boundaries of the open body door.
Interior decoration once again emphasized the higher technical characteristics of the VAZ-2103. The instrument panel received a completely different configuration and was equipped with a tachometer. The external elements of the dashboard were pasted over with a film imitating wood. The heating and ventilation system had a deflector for supplying warm air to the rear row of seats. The floor of the car was covered with fleecy carpet, which improved acoustic comfort inside the passenger compartment. The rear seat was equipped with a folding armrest.
In general, the technical characteristics of the VAZ-2103 made it possible to make the car much more comfortable and prestigious, which was reflected in the price, which amounted to 7,500 rubles.
Powertrain
A novelty was the engine on the VAZ-2103, the technical characteristics of which improved markedly. He received a new cylinder block and crankshaft, which increased the volume of cylinders to 1.45 liters. Motor capacity of 75 liters. from. accelerated the car to a speed of 150 km / h.
The gearbox remained four-speed, but with slightly modified gear ratios. The number of teeth in the rear axle gearbox was also increased. These changes made it possible to more fully realize the high technical characteristics of the engine in the VAZ-2103.
Brake system
The increased dynamics of the car required more effective braking performance. The VAZ-2103 was equipped with a brake booster and a device for automatically controlling the clearance in the rear brakes. This decision allowed to reduce the volume of routine maintenance of the car. For the first time in the USSR radial tires were used, more adapted for high speeds.