This is my 44 year old Lada 2101 - Nikita The Lada

In the UK we never really "got" the Lada. It was constantly the but of christmas cracker jokes. It was seen as cheap motoring, and really, it was cheap. So cheap in fact that it made the top 10 best selling cars in the UK in the late 1980's.

My Lada 2101, or Lada 1200, or Lada Zhiguli, isn't a left hand drive UK Lada. It isn't one of the lucky few to have survived being bought by Russian sailors in the mid to late 90's that made their way back to Russia - or to the bottom of the sea. No, this is a 1976 Lithuanian import. It's Left Hand Drive, meaning it'll do wonders for my waist line as it will stop me from frequenting the McDonald's DriveThru.

I paid £700 for this car. Effectively a non-runner. The engine is supposed to be able to start, although I've never tried it. But the brakes don't work and the clutch has gone. So even if I managed to start it and engage first gear, I don't fancy relying on a hedge or a tree to slow me down. But that's not the point. The point of this car, to me, is of the potential it has.

I want a Rover K-Series powered Lada. Yes, I am quite mad. No, I haven't seen a doctor. And yes the wife is still with me.

In this video, it's all about getting to know what I've bought. It was bought sight unseen from a chap on Facebook in 2019. It spent about 14 months on my driveway under tarpaulin, waiting for me to have the time and space to work on it. I got that time and space in March 2020, a week before lockdown began. So sit back, relax, and I hope you enjoy the first video of the Nikita the Lada series!

You may find this video useful if you happen to own:
- Lada 2101
- Lada 1200
- Lada 1300
- Lada 2103
- Lada 2104
- Lada 2106
- Lada 2107
- Lada Riva
- Lada Niva
- Fiat 124
- Fiat 125p
- FSO 1300
- FSO 1500
- FSO 125p

Nikita The Lada 2101 is part of the My Wife Hates This Car fleet, and is a long term restomod/restoration project. If you've found this video entertaining, slightly helpful, or a good way to pass the time, please consider subscribing to the channel. If you don't want to do that, a helpful thumbs up would be a great show of support for me!

I can also be found on the following platforms:
Website: https://www.mywifehatesthiscar.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mywifehatesthiscar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mywifehatesthiscar

All music in the episode was written, recorded and produced by me.

© 2020 My Wife Hates This Car