Lada · 1980–2012

Lada Riva

The Lada / VAZ-2105, 2104 and 2107, collectively marketed as Lada Riva for right-hand drive models (in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand), the Lada Nova in Germany, and by multiple other names and markets, are a series of compact sedans of the Zhiguli line-up (Fiat 124-based cars), built by Russian car manufacturer AvtoVAZ (formerly VAZ). Introduced in 1979 in the Soviet Union, and progressively introduced to Western European and global markets from the early 1980s, under the Lada brand, they were sold as saloons (2105 and 2107), and station wagon (2104) versions. Today they are generally referred to as the Lada Classic series, being derived from the original Fiat 124 platform which has been the now-iconic mainstay of the AvtoVAZ lineup since the company's foundation in the late 1960s. Russian production at the company's main plant at Tolyatti ended in September 2012. Along with the other Fiat 124 derivatives, it is the world's third best selling, single generation automobile platform, after the Volkswagen Beetle and the Ford Model T, and one of the longest production run platforms alongside the Volkswagen Beetle, the Hindustan Ambassador, the Volkswagen (Type 2) Bus, the Toyota 70 Series, and the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: VAZ-2106 · Successor: LADA Granta

All Lada Riva data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

History

Although introduced in 1979 and first produced in quantity in 1980, the Riva's origins are older: it is a modernised and restyled version of the original Lada type VAZ-2101 Zhiguli saloon, which was introduced in 1970 as a modified license copy of the Fiat 124. VAZ began development work on the facelift version as early as 1975, and the first prototypes were built in 1977, although it would not be until 1983 – three years after its release in the Soviet Union – that the car was made available in Western European markets, and like its predecessors - aimed squarely at the budget end of the market. The Riva itself is officially designated – and known in the home market – as VAZ-2105 (base saloon [sedan]), VAZ-2104 (station wagon), and VAZ-2107 (deluxe saloon identified by the large chromed grille). In Russia, VAZ-2105, VAZ-2104, and VAZ-2107 are considered to be different cars rather than variants but nonetheless all of them are part of a single "Klassika" ("Classic") family along with older models such as the VAZ-2101. They are popularly known as Pyatyorka ("the five"), Chetvyorka ("the four") and Semyorka ("the seven"). Mechanically, the car is virtually identical to the first-generation VAZ-2101, featuring the Fiat-derived manual transmissions, coil spring suspension all round, and aluminium alloy drum brakes with cast iron brake shoes on the rear wheels. The smaller-engined variant, the 66 PS (48 kW; 65 hp) 1,294 cc (79.0 cu in) version (VAZ-2105) had a revamp of its inline four-cylinder compared to the original VAZ-2101 (Lada 1200). The old OHC design had its camshaft driven by chain, while the new one had a toothed belt drive. Some modifications of the Riva's larger-engined version (VAZ-2107) carried on with the 1,452 cc (88.6 cu in) chain-driven OHC engine coming o

Models

=== 2104 === Estate edition VAZ-2104 – VAZ-2105 engine, a 1.3-litre (79 cu in) carburetor, 4-speed transmission (CAT), the base model VAZ-21041 – engine VAZ-2101, 1.2-litre (73 cu in), 4-carburetors. PPC. Not commercially produced. VAZ-21042 – engine VAZ-2103, 1.5-litre (92 cu in), right hand drive. VAZ-21043 – engine VAZ-2103, 1.5-litre (92 cu in) carburetor with a 4- or 5-speed. CAT, in versions with electrical equipment and interior of the VAZ-2107. VAZ-21044 – engine VAZ-2107, 1.7-litre (100 cu in), single injection, 5-speed. CAT, export model. VAZ-21045 – engine VAZ-2107, 1.8-litre (110 cu in), single injection, 5-speed. CAT, export model - did not enter production VAZ-21045D – VAZ-341 engine, 1.5-litre (92 cu in), diesel, 5-speed. PPC. VAZ-21047 – engine VAZ-2103, 1.5-litre (92 cu in), carb, 5-speed. CAT, an improved version with the interior of the VAZ-2104/7. Export modifications were equipped with the radiator grille of the VAZ-2107. VAZ-21048 – engine VAZ-343, 1.77-litre (108 cu in), diesel, 5-speed - pre-series, never entered production VAZ-21041i – engine VAZ-21067 1.6-litre (98 cu in) injector, 5-speed gearbox, with the same interior and electrics as the VAZ-2107, the front seats of the IL-2126. VAZ-21041 VF – radiator design VAZ-2107, VAZ-2103 engine of 1.5-litre (92 cu in) injector, 5-speed gearbox, interior and electrical VAZ-2107 car, the front seats of the Izh-2126. Pickup Edition VAZ-21043-33 Pikap – 1.5-litre with 52 kW, produced from 1991 to 2012 at PSA VIS-Avto. 2105. Lada 2105 – with the carb. engine VAZ-2105 (1.29-litre (79 cu in), 47 kW (64 PS), 92 N⋅m (68 lb⋅ft)) and 4-speed. CAT; Lada 2105 b – the engine VAZ-2103 (distributed injection, 1.6-litre (98 cu in), 54 kW (73 PS), 110 N⋅m (81 lb⋅ft), Euro-2 emissions) and 5-speed. CAT; Lada 21050 –

Other variants

Model variants included the Riva Signet, Riva 1200, Riva 1300, Riva 1500, and Riva 1600, with trim levels "E" and "L". A Turbo charged model Lada 2107 Turbo was sold in Finland, made by the Finnish Lada importer. Small numbers of Lada rally cars were built with 150 PS (110 kW) Wankel engines, fitted with a pair of Weber DCOE twin-choke carburettors. Production at Suzuki Egypt. In Egypt, the Amal Foreign Trade Company and Lada's parent company AvtoVAZ signed a joint venture agreement to assemble Ladas for the North African market in 2000. However, as they did not have their own factory, space was found at a local Suzuki plant in Cairo to assemble the 2107 version of the Riva. As of 2006, production continued at Suzuki until 2015 with an additional model, the 2110, being produced.

Safety

In the early 1980s, when it was put into production, the car complied with UNECE car safety standards and GOST technical standards. In 2001, the 2107 version of the Riva scored 0 points out of 16 in a frontal crash test conducted by the modern Russian ARCAP safety assessment program, and was awarded zero stars out of four. The reviewers noted that the result of the test was easily predictable and couldn't be positive, as they were dealing with an old car having an outdated construction of the body and designed at a time when safety tests were different from those of 2001. In 2002 Za Rulyom magazine performed crash tests on two Lada 21053 models, a new car from 2002 and a used one from 1994. The magazine's experts noted that the newer model complied with UNECE car safety standards 12-03 and 33, but the older and used one failed the latter standard. The story also expressed doubt that the 2002 model could meet the stricter safety requirements that would be imposed in October of the same year.

End of production

In the 2010s, the sales of the Lada Classics remained strong in the car's native Russia and some of the former Eastern Bloc nations. However, production of the 2105 ceased at AvtoVAZ's Togliatti plant at the end of 2010 after a 30-year production run and nearly 3,000,000 units, with production of the other variants being fully moved to the IzhAvto plant near Izhevsk. The 2107 made the transition to the IzhAvto plant in August 2011, thus marking the end of production of the original Fiat 124 derived models at Togliatti after a 41-year production run and over 14 million units. In September 2012, the history of the saloon model in Russia was over, when the last 2104 came off the IzhAvto assembly lines. The last unit of the Lada Classic series, a 2104 model, was produced by IzhAvto on 17 September 2012. Starting from the same month, production at the Izhevsk factory was replaced with the Lada Granta. However, as of 2014, the 2107 model was still in production in Egypt.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Lada Riva
Manufacturer: AvtoVAZ
aka: Dennis / Lada Signet (Canada), Lada 1500 (Colombia, Canada), Lada 2104 / VAZ 2104, Lada 2105 / VAZ 2105, Lada 2107 / VAZ 2107, Lada Classic, Lada Clásico (Ecuador), Lada Nova (Denmark & West Germany), Lada Kalinka (France, East Germany, Portugal, Spain), Lada Laika (Argentina & Brazil), Lada Riva (Yugoslavia & United Kingdom), Lada Fenix (Jamaica), Lada Sputnik (Cuba)
Production: 2105: 1980–December 2010, 2107: 1982–September 2012 (until 2015 in Egypt), 2104: 1984–September 2012
Assembly: Russia: Tolyatti (AvtoVAZ), Russia: Izhevsk (IzhAvto), Russia: Argun (Chechen Avto), Egypt: 6th of October City, Egypt: Cairo (Alamal Group: 2002–2015), Kazakhstan: Ust-Kamenogorsk (Azia Avto), Ukraine: Cherkasy, Ukraine (Bogdan), Ukraine: Kherson (Anto-Rus), Ukraine: Kremenchuk (KrASZ), Ukraine: Lutsk (LuAZ), Ukraine: Zaporizhia (ZAZ)
Class: Compact car
Body style: 2-door pickup, 4-door saloon, 5-door estate
Layout: Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive
Engine: petrol:, 1.2 L VAZ-2101 I4, 1.3 L VAZ-2105VAZ-2101 I4, 1.5 L VAZ-2103/2104 I4, 1.6 L VAZ-2106 I4, 1.7 L VAZ-2107 I4, diesel:, 1.5 L VAZ-341 I4
Transmission: 4/5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic
Wheelbase: 2424 mm
Length: 4145 mm
Width: 1620 mm
Height: 1435 mm
Predecessor: VAZ-2101, VAZ-2102, VAZ-2106
Successor: VAZ-2109, VAZ-2110, VAZ-2111
Related: Bohse Eurostar, Fiat 124, Izh 27175, SEAT 124, VIS-234500

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1425160CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lada_RivaCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1374598037 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lada_(7906720346).jpgCC BY 2.0 · Photo: Torsten Maue · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.