VAZ-2108

ВАЗ-2108 «Спутник» («восьмёрка»)

VAZ-2108 “Sputnik” (“eight” or “chisel”) is a Soviet and Russian front-wheel drive small car with a three-door hatchback body. It was developed and mass-produced at the Volga Automobile Plant (VAZ) from 1984 to 2003.

The VAZ-2108 became the base model in the Sputnik family (with 2109) of cars and was a compact and practical solution for everyday trips. However, since 2004, its place on the conveyor was taken by the restyled VAZ-2113 model, which became the next step in the development of the family.

History

In 1971, the Volga Automobile Plant began developing a project to create a compact car with front-wheel drive. Between 1971 and 1977, the enterprise created several prototypes of cars with front-wheel drive.

In May 1977, the design of the VAZ-2108 began. On February 17, 1978, the USSR Ministry of Automobile Industry approved the technical specifications for the creation of a family of front-wheel drive cars. By this time, the plant had already worked out the concept of the future car. The first prototype of the VAZ-2108 was ready at the end of 1978, and in February 1979, its testing began.

On December 22, 1984, the first serial VAZ-2108 rolled off the assembly line. In the first half of 1985, the cars began to arrive in stores at a price of 8,345 rubles.

For production, VAZ purchased about several licenses for production. In particular, from Lucas (front disc brakes), from Zahnradfabrik (rack and pinion steering mechanism and gearbox synchronizers), from Automotiv Prodax (clutch), from Way-Assauto (front suspension struts) and from Solex (carburetor). Fiat’s technology partner, UTS, assisted VAZ in organizing new production and setting up equipment.

Description

Body

The VAZ-2108 body is a three-door all-metal welded load-bearing body. The car can be either a passenger or a cargo-passenger body.

The main body elements are made by stamping from low-carbon sheet steel. The thickness of the main parts is 0.8 mm, the outer door panels and front wings are 0.7 mm, and the amplifiers are 1-1.2 mm. Smaller parts are made of steel with a thickness of 0.8 to 2.5 mm.

Powerplant

This car has a four-cylinder, four-stroke engine, which can be carburetor or injection, with a cylinder capacity of 1100 cm³, 1300 cm³ or 1500 cm³ depending on the modification. The cylinders are arranged in a row, and the camshaft is located in the cylinder head, its drive is carried out via a toothed belt.

This engine was developed specifically for transverse placement in a front-wheel drive car. It is combined with the gearbox and clutch into a single power unit, which is installed in the engine compartment on three elastic supports.

Depending on the vehicle configuration, either a four-speed or five-speed gearbox is installed. The rack-and-pinion steering mechanism ensures ease of control.

The front brake mechanism is an open disc. The rear is a drum, with automatic adjustment of the gap between the pads and the drum. The VAZ-2108 uses a single-wire connection diagram (minus on ground). The VAZ-21083 modification is equipped with a microprocessor engine control system.

Suspension

This car uses a torsion-link rear wheel suspension. The shock absorbers of the rear suspension are double-acting hydraulic telescopic devices.

The elastic elements of the suspension are represented by a spring and a compression buffer. The spring, made of round spring steel, is installed on the shock absorber.

Modifications

Serial

VAZ-2108: basic model with a 1.3-liter carburetor engine.
VAZ-2108-01: similar model to the 2108, produced in the first years of production. It has imported components.
VAZ-21081: model with a 1.1-liter engine and a 4-speed gearbox.
VAZ-21083: model with a 1.5-liter engine and a 5-speed gearbox.
VAZ-21083-20: model with a 1.5-liter injection engine and a 5-speed gearbox.
VAZ-21083-37: model with a 1.5-liter injection engine and a 5-speed gearbox for participation in the NGS “Lada Cup”.
VAZ-21086: export model with right-hand drive.
VAZ-21087: export model similar to the VAZ-21081 with right-hand drive.
VAZ-21088: export model similar to the VAZ-21083 with right-hand drive.
VAZ-2108-91: a model with a two-section rotary engine VAZ-415 with a capacity of 140 HP

Experimental and small-scale production

VAZ-210834: prototype of the Lada Tarzan.
VAZ-21084: identical to the VAZ-2108 but with a 1600 cm³ engine.
VAZ-21085: model with an injection 16-valve VAZ-2112 engine with a volume of 1.5 liters and a 5-speed gearbox.
VAZ-2108 IKS: car measuring the coefficient of friction of the runway. Ten cars were produced by order of Aeroflot.
VAZ-2108 “Natasha”: convertible based on the 2108. Made by European dealers selling VAZ.
VAZ 21081 “Cabriolet”: convertible based on the 2108.
Lada-EVA: sports car built by the Experimental Vilnius Automobile Plant.
Lada-2908 LSGA: mid-engine sports car built by LSGA.
Lada-29081: mid-engine sports car rear-wheel drive built by AvtoVAZ.
Lada-29084: mid-engine sports all-wheel drive car built by AvtoVAZ.
Lada-2108 COUPE: targa body built in two copies.
VAZ-17060 (VAZ-2108F “Shuttle”): Russian front-wheel drive cargo van