The Lada 2101 might look familiar to Italian car aficionados. Introduced in 1970, it was essentially a Fiat 124 sedan modified for the Soviet markets and built under license in a factory located deep in the former USSR. The Lada 2101 was produced for the Eastern Bloc masses—and exports to the West were prohibited. Like other vehicles considered to be “the people’s car,” models were commonly destroyed when they reached the end of their lifecycle. As a result of these factors, clean examples are difficult to come by, especially in the United States where the 2101 was never officially sold. This makes the two-owner 1983 model currently listed on eBay Motors a special find.
A rare copy of Cars of the Soviet Union is available on eBay.
The major visual differences between the 2101 and the 124 were largely limited to a specific grille with chromed horizontal slats, redesigned bumpers, and new door handles. A closer look revealed that the 2101 was equipped with a taller suspension, and it was built with thicker steel.
More than 800 changes were made to the Fiat 124 by Russian engineers, explains historian Andy Thompson in his book Cars of the Soviet Union. Early on, power was provided by a 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine that sent 62 horsepower and 64 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transmission. The 1.2-liter was designed with input from Fiat, but it was never offered in the 124.
The 2101 was discontinued in late 1982, eight years after the 124 sedan, and replaced by the 2105, which was an updated model with a more modern design and a revised engine. Lada continued to build 124-based sedans until 2012.
Recently imported from Russia, the example listed on eBay Motors stands out as one of the very last 2101s ever built. The seller states that it’s in stellar condition, and that every single component was either replaced or recommissioned in the last 500 miles. More importantly, it’s said to be absolutely rust-free.
A few improvements were made during the restoration process. The original four-speed manual transmission was replaced by a more highway-friendly five-speed unit, and the 2101 was given a fresh coat of metallic white paint with a pearl-like finish, a hue that was certainly not found on the Lada palette in the early 1980s. Finally, the rear windows were tinted—a feature that would be superfluous in places like Siberia—to protect the cabin from the southern heat.
The Lada 2101 has long been ignored by collectors, except for the few who are into the auto industry’s most obscure and unloved creations. The example for sale on eBay Motors is located in Atlanta, Ga., and currently listed at $7,999. It’s certainly not for everyone, but better-than-new 2101s located and titled in the United States don’t come around very often.
