4×4S.ORGTHE REGISTRY LADA · MARQUES · NIVA 2121 AND 2131

Marque · Niva 2121 and 2131 · in production 1977–present

Lada Niva

The first mass-produced unibody off-roader: the VAZ-2121 of 1977 with permanent four-wheel drive, a lockable centre differential and a low range — about 650,000 sold worldwide by 2020, still built at Tolyatti as the Niva Legend — with the 1.7-litre 21213 and 21214, the long 2131 five-door and 2329 pick-up of 1995, the Bronto marsh conversions, the British Cossack and the Peugeot-diesel export cars.

#F0F0EC#4A6B46Paint codes2 factory colours → Chassis numbers2 numbering schemes, 0 sequences → Difflocked · free browser gamePlay & customise vintage 4×4s →Race classic 4×4s, build your own and keep it in your garage. Free, in the browser.
8VEHICLESAbout 650,000 worldwide by 2020BUILT1977–presentIN PRODUCTION3CHAPTERS

AvtoVAZ built the Niva for Soviet collective farms, vets, foresters and rural doctors and produced something the rest of the industry took years to copy: a unitary body, independent front suspension, permanent four-wheel drive with a centre-differential lock and a two-speed transfer case, in a car the size of a supermini. It was exported to western Europe, Canada and Japan in the 1980s — the only Soviet car regularly sold in Japan.

The 21213 of 1993 brought the 1.7 engine and a five-speed gearbox, the 2131 of 1995 a five-door body and the 2329 a pick-up; PSA Bronto has built swamp and tundra versions since 1997. After the Defender ended in 2016 the Niva became the longest-running off-road vehicle still made in its original form, renamed Niva Legend in January 2021.

3 chapters, 1948 → today

1VAZ-2121 (1977–1993)1977 – 1993221213 and 21214 (1993–)1993 – present3Long wheelbase (1995–)1995 – present
194819601975199020052025
11977 – 1993

VAZ-2121 (1977–1993)

3 VEHICLES IN THIS CHAPTER

The original 1.6, Soviet rural service, the export years, the Dakar Nivas.

Registry records · chapter 1

Niva VAZ-2121 and 21213 (1977–)1977Niva in the Paris–Dakar (1980s)1981–90VAZ-2122 Reka amphibious prototype (1976–85)1976–85
21993 – present

21213 and 21214 (1993–)

5 VEHICLES IN THIS CHAPTER

The 1.7 engines, the British Cossack and Hussar, the Peugeot diesel, Bronto.

Registry records · chapter 2

Niva VAZ-2121 and 21213 (1977–)1977Niva Cossack and Hussar (United Kingdom, 1995–97)1995–97Niva 1.9 diesel (1999–2007)1999–2007Bronto Niva conversions (1997–)1997Niva in Antarctica and at altitude1990
31995 – present

Long wheelbase (1995–)

1 VEHICLE IN THIS CHAPTER

The 2131 five-door and the 2329 pick-up.

Registry records · chapter 3

Niva VAZ-2131 five-door and 2329 pick-up (1995–)1995

Base models

The structural configurations the registry and the Creator build from; each page carries the researched specification.
Niva VAZ-2121 and 21213 (1977–)1977Niva VAZ-2131 five-door and 2329 pick-up (1995–)1995

In service

Where the registry's Niva 2121 and 2131 records worked; each opens the themed history.
Military1 record in this marqueExpedition1 record in this marque

Sources

  1. Lada Niva — Wikipedia
  2. VAZ-2121 — Wikipedia

Niva 2121 and 2131 records in the registry

8 records, oldest first.
VAZ-2122 Reka amphibious prototype (1976–85)1976–85 · RussiaNiva VAZ-2121 and 21213 (1977–)1977 · RussiaNiva in the Paris–Dakar (1980s)1981–90 · RussiaNiva in Antarctica and at altitude1990 · RussiaNiva Cossack and Hussar (United Kingdom, 1995–97)1995–97 · RussiaNiva VAZ-2131 five-door and 2329 pick-up (1995–)1995 · RussiaBronto Niva conversions (1997–)1997 · RussiaNiva 1.9 diesel (1999–2007)1999–2007 · Russia