VAZ-2105 Zhiguli Auto Legends of the USSR

The VAZ-2105 was produced for thirty years, from January 1980 to December 2010. Around two million saloons were assembled in total. The project was initiated by Georgy Mirzoyev, who became VAZ’s chief designer in 1976. The successor to the ‘Kopeyka’ was initially intended to launch a new family comprising a standard saloon, a luxury saloon and an estate. The first five prototypes were assembled as early as 1977.

A complete redesign of the Kopeyka’s styling and platform was not possible, so costs were kept as low as possible. The radiator grille, combined headlamp units and rear lights received minor revisions. The interior was completely renewed, and ventilation and heating systems were developed. The front lights deserve special mention: for the first time in the USSR, all front lighting functions were integrated into a single unit within a common housing.