Lada Sputnik Revolution 1.3 - introduction & history
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Okay, so here's the thing... In year 2001, to be quite exact - october 14th 2001, I gathered enough money to buy me a used car. Sure, I hadn't much choices, as used cars were quite expensive then (they're much more expebnsive now), but yet I dreamed about Peugeot 405, perhaps VW Golf 2 or Opel Kadett. My best friend persuaded me to buy Lada Samara. As he cleverly stated - a russian Mercedes :)
I somehow agreed, especially when our mutual friend drove me in his own Samara. Finally, on D day I went to used car market and the first car I saw was the one I own now :) Me and the owner agreed on the price and I drove myself with this cutie home...
Unfortunatelty, I haven't got the pic of it when I bought it, but believe me - it wasn't in the best shape. I had all the bad luck with Samara for a whole year. Two months I bought it I had to redo all the engine. I changed valves, shaft, all the pumps, etc... Bad luck followed me throughout whole 2002, when I had loads of trouble with electrics, car's body, etc. It tend to broke every month once at least. Fortunately, I found a great mechanic, great electric and fantastic car parts support in local shops. Everything I need, I could get in a matter of minutes :)
In these two years, I invested loads of money, perhaps 2.5 times the price I payed for the car itself! :) It was all spent on engine repairs (main and few small ones, from time to time), electrics repairs (mainboard computer broke on fall 2002, and main fuse box was changed on december 2001, yet whole electric ignition system is restored) and of course, all the make up I could get my hands on. The pictures are not the freshest, I can take a few or so every month, but I don't take any on winter (actully I did take some on winter 2003...), so expect the freshest photos anytime I can get a camera in my hands.
I sure don't know why I fell in love with this car, but I'm sure I can spend my whole day working on it.
Well, why the name Sputnik Revolution 1.3, what's the catch? :) Sputnik is to be exact Samara's name in the Russia and Revolution is there, just to show how this car can be revolutionised from it's original look, and 1.3... Just the engine volume (1300ccm)... :)
Since the day I've bought this car, it gave me loads of troubles but in the last two, two-and-a-half years, it gave me nothing but sheer pleasure. Surely, it breaks from time to time (and it costs merely - nothing to fix it), but the joy of having my own car and taking care of it just makes me smile each and every day I sit behind it's steering wheel.
Just last and this year, it drove me and my girfriend on a 1000km trip to Zlatibor (a mountain in Serbia), without any problems. Now, after all invested money, time and enthusiasm - it serves me well and reliable. It's a car that I'll never sell, and will always have in my (future) garage for my own pleasure.
Okay, so you've read the story, check out the photos... :)
Sputnik with two friends
Content - by pages
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1. News & announcements
2. Introduction & history - You are here
3. Exterior photo album
4. Interior and details photo album
5. LPG Installation
6. Sound and thermal isolation
7. Fog lights installation
8. Dashboard replacement and installation
9. Repairs, fixes and upgrades
10. Technical data
11. My favourite Ladas
12. About the driver
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