Description
This right-hand drive Lada 1201 was on the road for less than three years and has been dry stored ever since. Its last tax disc expired in January 1978. Its sole previous owner was a nuclear submarine engineer from Aberdeenshire who used it to commute to and from Southampton, so it racked up 38, 897 miles in its short service life. I liberated it from his Aberdeenshire garage 15 years ago and recommissioning it has been on my ‘to do’ list ever since…
It’s in remarkably original condition and is one of the earliest – if not the earliest – right-hand drive Lada known to exist.
The brown vinyl interior is immaculate, having barely ever seen UV light. The state of cleanliness in the photographs was the product of a 20-minute session with a packet of Dettol wipes. More intensive cleaning would no doubt make it look ever better.
The body bears a consistent original patina, with surface rust and paint ‘spiders’ in various places. I’d say there’s a strong argument for preserving the original paint rather than respraying it, though.
There’s no rust underneath and there are no past repairs, either.
The engine’s seized. Corrosion is visible inside cylinder number one. This – and a new head gasket in the boot – cause me to wonder if the head gasket failed, and this is why it was taken off the road and squirrelled away in 1977. If this was the case, then remedial work could hopefully be limited to a rebore and a new set of pistons… I know from experience that Lada engines are good for 200, 000+ miles between overhauls, so it seems a shame to fully rebuild it at 40, 000, when it’ll just be entering its prime.
I started to remove the engine shortly after I bought the car, with a view to fitting a 1500 unit. Fortunately, I didn't get very far...
Other mechanical aspects are fine, as far as I can tell. The gear selector is taut and the steering is light and precise.
It’s an amazing survivor and promises to be a real pleasure to recommission or restore.
