SORRY NOW SOLD – SIMILAR WANTED

An incredible Lada Samara 1.3S with a miniscule 366 miles from new!

EQUIPMENT
Reinforced chassis, body and suspension, impact resistant bumpers, halogen headlamps, high-intensity rear fog lamps, laminated windscreen, tow hooks front and rear, heated rear window, internally adjustable door mirrors, sound deadening, reclining front seats, front and rear seat belts, courtesy lights interior and under bonnet, safety reflectors in front door edges, cigar lighter, lower fascia shelf, rear folding and removable parcel shelf, fully folding rear seats, radio console.

EXTERIOR
Finding any Lada Samara is a difficult task, although to find one with an astonishing and genuine 366 miles from new, this example is most likely to be the lowest mileage Lada Samara in existence! In factory original Champagne, the paintwork to all factory panels is quite incredible and boasts a uniform finish. The famously crude craftsmanship and somewhat questionable paint finish in some areas is quite amusing and exactly as is left the factory! Some very small touched in chips and marks accrued while in long term storage are visible upon close inspection. Supplying Lada Main Dealer number plates, rear screen sticker and tax disc holder remain fitted. This example is simply as it left the Lada/Proton showroom in 1996, with absolutely nothing replaced or altered. Truly a one-off museum piece and a Festival of the Unexceptional championship contender!

INTERIOR
An interior entirely commensurate with a near delivery mileage car! Functional yet quite comically unrefined, this interior is plastic fantastic! The durable grey cloth/velour upholstery is perfect with no wear or markings whatsoever. The somewhat rudimentary fit and finish embodies the reputation Lada was famous for, yet this example is perfect in every respect with nothing out of place. All functions and controls operate perfectly and the common touch points such as the steering wheel and curiously unergonomic gear knob retain prominent factory veins. The luggage area boasts the flimsiest of parcel shelves, albeit in perfect condition, as well as the load space carpet, unused spare, tool bag and even factory build label still intact. Wonderfully preserved.

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
The 1288cc four-cylinder engine featuring twin choke carburettor and automatic choke set up allows for a top speed of 92mph and 0-60mph in 15.4 seconds. The untouched engine bay has original plates, fragile paper stickers and factory chassis stamp to the strut top clearly visible. The blue HT Leads remain fitted, and all fluids are clean and clear. Even the under-bonnet lamp with fragile cowl is fully intact and operational! Recently serviced to include a cambelt change, the engine is quiet and the 5-speed manual gearbox change feels brand new!

WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES
The standard steel wheels wear the original paint with only light markings. The factory fitted Rosava 165/70 R13 tyres with no wear of cracks further uphold the miraculous low mileage originality but renewal is advised should the intention be to use the car. The servo-assisted diagonally split brakes with discs up front have been overhauled and pull the car up quickly and safely.

HISTORY FILE
Registered new on the 28th March 1996 by Lada and Proton Main Dealer, Autobahn of Gravesend, this unrepeatable example has covered a genuine 366 miles from new! The car was initially registered to Motor Vehicle Imports Ltd, the official Lada importer. Subsequently, a vehicle order form and sales invoice are made out to first owner Mr Cairnes who paid £6,395 for the car less part exchange allowance of £1,500 for his 1985 Lada Riva! Mr Cairnes was the devoted custodian of the car until 2014 when he eventually ceased driving. Records in the history file and testimony from the previous owners show that his Polish next-door neighbour then jumped at the chance to purchase the car knowing just how low the mileage was and how well it had been cared for.

The burgundy Lada Samara document wallet houses the full book pack including service book, dealer point of sale literature and two sets of keys. Some previous tax discs and unused Green Flag stickers are also present. The car is fully serviced and ready use should the next owner wish including renewal of the cambelt in June 2023. There is even a Lada Samara range brochure in the history file!

An almost inconceivable survivor, guaranteed to steal the show at any classic car event.

HPI Clear.

SORRY NOW SOLD – SIMILAR WANTED

An exquisite and rare surviving Lada 1200L Riva with only 11,442 miles.

EQUIPMENT
Reinforced body, underchassis, transmission and suspension. Profile aluminium bumpers with rubber insert, mudflaps, laminated windscreen, heated rear screen, automatic reversing lights, high intensity rear fog light, halogen headlamps, exterior coachline, wing repeater indicators, reclining front seats with adjustable head restraints, courtesy lights in boot and under-bonnet, interior adjustable door mirror, radio console, passenger parcel shelf, door storage pockets, 20-piece toolkit. Factory options; Nearside door mirror. Dealer accessories; Beaded seat covers.

EXTERIOR
A fascinating rare survivor, this delightful Lada Riva is finished in Ivory White which remains in superb, largely original condition. The bright uniform paintwork gleams and inspection of the bodywork condition reveals the great preserved shape this car is in. There are some small areas of carefully touched-in paintwork throughout in order to preserve the beautiful appearance. The body panels are factory fitment and the original spot welds clearly visible along the sills are a rare surviving feature. The panel gaps are straight and wide, exactly as per factory standard! The profile aluminium bumpers still have unbroken rubber inserts with some light tarnishing to the surface. Registration etched glass remains fitted all-round as do original supplying dealer number plates and the badges to each rear quarter and boot lid proudly denote this as a higher spec 1200L model! The original Lada Viking longship badge to the grille reminds all of the makers proud motoring heritage. A miraculous example preserved with just 11,422 verified miles.

INTERIOR
This very low mileage Lada Riva interior remains the sturdy utilitarian and purposeful space it was always intended to be. The original black PVC seat coverings underneath the luxury wooden beaded seat covers are in incredible condition with no wear, rips or tears. The seats retain correct shape and the black vinyl door cards are immaculate and complete with fixing screws haphazardly distributed, just as it left the factory! The carpets exude durability over opulence and the hard-wearing pile is free from damage, as is the perfect clean headlining. All gauges and controls operate and have a sturdy if not luxurious feel! The huge boot area houses the original 20-piece toolkit fully complete including inspection lamp and tools stamped ‘made in USSR’! Perfect retro family motoring for those who dare to be different!

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
The four-cylinder 1198cc OHV engine is factory fitment and famed for its toughness and ability to cope with the harshness of its USSR origins. Developing 62bhp at 5600rpm, the sales brochure quotes peak speed at 90mph. The engine compartment is clean and complete with the build plates, VAZ VIN plate and bulkhead chassis stamp. Even the factory fitted under bonnet insulation is intact and fragile airbox sticker. The 4-speed manual gearbox operates perfectly and feels agricultural strong!

WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES
This exceptional example has factory fitted 13” steel wheels in excellent condition with perfect Lada centre caps. Five matching brand 165/80 R13 tyres retain masses of tread and the spare has never been used. The standard braking system incorporating front discs has been overhauled so operates well.

HISTORY FILE
Supplied new by Lada Man Dealer, Cants Lane Garage in Burgess Hill, this example was purchased new by Mrs Grisdale and registered on the 30th November 1984. Almost as remarkable as the condition is the fact that this Lada Riva has remained in the UK when most examples left UK roads either via the scrapyard or having been re-exported to Russia in the 1990’s in order to satisfy a severe shortage of used examples in the homeland. There was also a desire in Russia for a UK specification car which was seen as superior to that of the home market. Mrs Grisdale owned the car until 2000 and despite covering very minimal mileage throughout her ownership, the car was meticulously serviced and maintained every year, as evidenced in the large and comprehensive history file. The same independent garage was used for many years until Mrs Grisdale became dissatisfied with its new owner’s service after car was returned to her with a puncture. Not afraid of speaking her mind, there are letters of complaint in the history file whereby several pages of dissatisfaction were laid out and the garage was given a severe dressing down by the formidable Mrs Grisdale! Notwithstanding any animosity toward the garage, this Lada was very well cared for with many invoices illustrating several visits each and every year for servicing, maintenance and MOT testing as well as the original service book holding stamped entries. Mrs Grisdale also kept detailed notes about the car extending to its luggage carrying capabilities and what monthly, quarterly and annual checks should be carried out! In 2019 and following the passing of the original owner, the family were handling the estate and found keys and an address for a rented lock up garage. Upon attending the garage, and much to their surprise as they were unaware that she owned a car, this Lada was discovered! A subsequent sale to the second owner saw the car taken to a renowned Lada ‘guru’ whereby a thorough process of full recommissioning took place using wherever possible, genuine NOS Lada parts. The recommissioning is documented in great detail and enables the car to be used today as a fully functioning example wanting for nothing and ready to enjoy. After it was put back on the road the car has covered over 4,000 miles of trouble-free motoring and has recently been serviced again in January 2023. Two sets of keys, an original 1984 Lada range brochure and a Lada Riva cushion complete the history file.

The car looks and performs just as it should and never fails to put a smile on your face whenever you drive it, and the attention it attracts is simply wonderful!

HPI Clear.