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The Lada came out of a deal the Russians struck with Fiat in the mid-'60s: in return for Fiat's help with building a factory, the Russians would supply the Italians with steel. Launched in 1969 as the evocatively-named VAZ 2101 (it was badged Lada only in export markets) the first Lada was based on Fiat's excellent 124 saloon, although the sweet OHV Italian power unit was replaced by a raucous overhead-cam engine of Russian design. Like the Moskvich, Ladas boasted a remarkably comprehensive toolkit that allowed owners to carry out most operations short of childbirth and heart surgery at the roadside, if needed. British exports began in 1974 - carefully timed to coincide with the demise of the Fiat 124 - and the car continued into the '90s until it could no longer comply with EU emissions legislation.
Engines of 1200 cc, 1300 cc, 1500 cc and 1600 cc were offered - the latter giving a top speed of almost 100 mph - but Ladas were always grim things to drive, with none of the spirit or agility of the 124 that spawned them. The 1600 was the police car of choice in Russia, and to keep up with drug barons in their Mercedes and BMWs, Moscow police fitted their Ladas with Wankel rotary engines (as used in the NSU Ro80 and Mazda's RX models).
The Riva, with its square headlamps and five-speed gearbox, was Lada's UK-market swansong. Ironically, many UK Ladas have ended up being re-exported to Russia as a source of spare parts. VAZ still builds a variety of front-wheel-drive saloons, and the classic rear-wheel-drive Lada is still in production, now badged Zighuli.
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