SPOT.
Photo of a Lada 2106

Lada 2106

Born atop the Zhiguli range. Nearly 4.4 million built over 30 years.12

Researched October 25, 2026 from 24 sources

Also called

  • ShestyorkaRussian for 'the sixth one,' the domestic-market nickname.3
  • ShokhaA popular nickname for the LADA 2106.4
  • KanadkaName used for Canadian-market versions.5

At a glance

0100200
64–80 hpPower
01020
16 s0–100 km/h
0100200
150–154 km/hTop speed
07501,500
1,030–1,060 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.13811

Layout
Front engine, rear-wheel drive; live rear axle310
Gearbox
4- or 5-speed manual; Belgian conversions used a 3-speed GM automatic379
Built at
AvtoVAZ, IzhAvto, RosLada (Russia); Anto-Rus (Ukraine)3
Units built
Nearly 4.4 million across all assembly sites2

The story

Created as an alternative to the costly-to-build VAZ-2103, the 2106 launched atop the Zhiguli range. Velour seats and front headrests gave early cars their taste of Soviet luxury.136

1974: VAZ-21031 prototypes take shape19741976: Series assembly starts on February 2119761982: New GOST engine rating19821985: Five speeds reach export cars19851990: 21065 adds a five-speed luxury trim19901998: RosLada starts building in Syzran19982001: Kherson joins; AvtoVAZ signs off20012002: ARCAP: 2 points out of 1620022005: Final 2106 leaves Izhevsk2005 Fiat 124 (124): 1966–1974124VAZ-2101 (2101): 1970–19882101VAZ-2103 (2103): 1972–19842103Lada 2106 (2106): 1976–20062106VAZ-2107 (2107): 1982–2107 197019801990200020102020
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones359171819
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
1966–1974Fiat 124 (124)
1970–1988VAZ-2101 (2101)
1972–1984VAZ-2103 (2103)
1976–2006Lada 2106 (2106)
1982–VAZ-2107 (2107)
1974VAZ-21031 prototypes take shape
1976Series assembly starts on February 21
1982New GOST engine rating
1985Five speeds reach export cars
199021065 adds a five-speed luxury trim
1998RosLada starts building in Syzran
2001Kherson joins; AvtoVAZ signs off
2002ARCAP: 2 points out of 16
2005Final 2106 leaves Izhevsk
  1. 1974

    VAZ-21031 prototypes take shape

    Work began in January on a VAZ-2103 update; the first two VAZ-21031 prototypes followed in the year's final quarter.2

  2. 1976

    Series assembly starts on February 21

    The 1.6 L 2106 gained taller gearbox and final-drive ratios, plus VAZ's first height-adjustable front headrests.123

  3. 1982

    New GOST engine rating

    The 2106 engine received small revisions and a new GOST power rating, changing how its output was quoted.7

  4. 1985

    Five speeds reach export cars

    Five-speed manuals arrived first on exports and later on some domestic cars, reducing highway fuel use and engine noise.7

  5. 1990

    21065 adds a five-speed luxury trim

    The 21065 combined a five-speed manual with Solex carburetion, contactless ignition, halogen lights and a heated rear window.7

  6. 1998

    RosLada starts building in Syzran

    On July 31, RosLada assembled its first 2106 in Syzran using VAZ-supplied kits.2

  7. 2001

    Kherson joins; AvtoVAZ signs off

    Anto-Rus began building in Kherson. On December 28, AvtoVAZ completed its last 2106 and transferred production to IzhMash-Avto.123

  8. 2002

    ARCAP: 2 points out of 16

    The Izhevsk-built 2106 lost structural integrity in its crash test and scored only 2 of 16 points.38

  9. 2005

    Final 2106 leaves Izhevsk

    On December 28, IzhAvto completed the last 2106, closing a 30-year run of nearly 4.4 million across all assembly sites.29

Every generation

  • Fiat 124
    1241966–1974
  • VAZ-2101
    21011970–1988
  • VAZ-2103
    21031972–1984
  • Lada 2106
    21061976–2006
  • VAZ-2107
    2107

Power over the years

From 80 hp to 80 hp in 0 years.

020406080 197619781980 hp 1976 · 80 hp · 2106 1.6 L1977 · 75 hp · 21061 1.5 L export1979 · 64 hp · 21063 1.3 L 80 hp 2106 1.6 L
3
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
1976802106 1.6 L
19777521061 1.5 L export
19796421063 1.3 L

Versions

12 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Standard

    2106 / Lada 1600

    1976–2006

    80 hp

  • Standard

    21061 / Lada 1500S

    1977–2001

    75 hp
  • 21063 / Lada 1300SL

    Standard

    21063 / Lada 1300SL

    1977–1994

    69 hp

  • Standard

    21065 / 21065-01

    1990–2001

  • 21062 / Lada 1600 (UK)

    Standard

    21062 / Lada 1600 (UK)

    1978–1984

  • 21061-037 Canadian export

    Special

    21061-037 Canadian export

    1978–1984

  • Special

    21061-041 European export

  • Special

    Lada 1600 LS (Deutsche Lada)

  • Special

    Scaldia-Volga automatic

  • Special

    21067 injection prototype

  • Special

    2106 Tourist prototype

    1 built

  • Special

    Polsedmogo

    1979

    1 built

How to spot one

Look for

  • Four round headlights framed by plastic 'goggles'.1
  • Wide rear light clusters include reversing lights.3
  • Chrome bumpers have plastic corners and compact overriders.35
  • A long roof and nearly upright glass give the sedan its boxy Zhiguli silhouette.5

Year by year

  1. 1976 / early production

    Early cars have chrome arch and rocker trim, metallic lamp surrounds and ruby-red badge backgrounds; surrounds and backgrounds later turn black.6

  2. Early 1980s

    Chrome mirror housings turned black, and the flat chrome exhaust tip disappeared.36

  3. By 1987

    The red rear-fender reflectors seen on early cars had disappeared.16

  4. Early 1990s

    Some cars lost their chrome body moldings entirely; the trim returned a couple of years later.1

  5. Late 1990s

    Late cars have a black grille and dashboard; early cabins offered beige, brown, gray or red velour and wood-effect trim.36

Don’t confuse it with

  • VAZ-2103

    Check the 2106's plastic lamp surrounds and smaller grille; its rear clusters include reversing lights, unlike the 2103's separate lamp.316

  • VAZ-2107

    The 2107 has rectangular headlight units and a large chrome grille; the 2106 keeps four round headlights.19

Against its rivals

  • 2106 vs VAZ-2103

    1978 purchase price lower is better

    21068,140 rubles
    VAZ-21037,700 rubles
    9
  • VAZ-21053

    2106 vs VAZ-21053

    Forward gears

    21064 gears
    VAZ-210535 gears
    20

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 12 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 12 stories from its legend
    • “Carburetors and 14-inch wheels on the circuit”
    • “Why VFTS body kits needed heat and rivets”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 5 generations

  • Market

    • 6 things to check before buying one
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 24 sources
  1. Великолепная шестёрка: почему ВАЗ-2106 был лучшей моделью Жигулей kolesa.ru
  2. ВАЗ-2106. Хронология vazbook.libavtograd.ru
  3. VAZ-2106 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  4. «Шестерка» - трижды неприхотливый автомобиль :: Autonews autonews.ru
  5. Сравниваем ВАЗ-2106 и BMW 3 series E21 kolesa.ru
  6. Редкий ВАЗ-2106: совсем не похож на Жигули со вторички zr.ru
  7. Техническая информация ВАЗ 2103 | Издательство Монолит monolith-publisher.com
  8. Лада ВАЗ-2106 (Ижмаш) — Авторевю autoreview.ru
  9. «Жигулям-шестёрке», шохе или ВАЗ-2106 – полвека — Kolesa.kz || Почитать kolesa.kz
  10. ВАЗ-2106 «Жигули» — Kolesa.kz || Почитать m.kolesa.kz
  11. История Ижавто. ВАЗ-2106 :: Официальный сайт ООО «ОАГ» izh-auto.ru
  12. 50 лет легендарной «шестерке»: рассказываем о малоизвестных фактах ее истории zr.ru
  13. Жигули, которых не должно было быть: 7 удивительных фактов о ВАЗ-2106 zr.ru
  14. Евро-шесть zr.ru
  15. ВАЗ-2106 (шестёрка) - ВАЗ retromuzey48.ru
  16. Łada 2101/2102/2103/2106 – radziecki Fiat 124 z plusem - Magazyn auto magazynauto.pl
  17. Fiat 124 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  18. VAZ-2101 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  19. VAZ-2103 - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  20. Тест ваз-21053, ваз-2106. пара «жигулевского». зр 05/2005 zr.ru
  21. Интервью: Владислав Пашко, дизайнер «восьмерки» (АРХИВ, 2013 год) – Автопоток autopotok.io
  22. Как мы строили гоночный «болид» за 100 тысяч рублей kolesa.ru
  23. В Союзе таких не было: тюнинг раллийной ВАЗ-2106 в стиле ВФТС kolesa.ru
  24. No Reserve: 1983 Lada 2106 for sale on BaT Auctions - sold for $7,500 on December 20, 2025 (Lot #224,273) | Bring a Trailer bringatrailer.com
  • kolesa.ru
  • vazbook.libavtograd.ru
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • autonews.ru
  • zr.ru
  • monolith-publisher.com
  • autoreview.ru
  • kolesa.kz
  • m.kolesa.kz
  • izh-auto.ru
  • retromuzey48.ru
  • magazynauto.pl
  • autopotok.io
  • bringatrailer.com

Photo credits

Other car files