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OREANDA-NEWS. On Sunday, on April 19th, AvtoVAZ will celebrate the Day of the first car. Legendary "penny" - VAZ 2101 – is 45 years old. Model was produced only 14 years, but during that time it managed to catch the fancy of the Russians, so that in 2000 by the polls of the magazine "Za Rulem" it was awarded the title of "Best Russian Car of the XX century”.

It is interesting that even today, after so many years after the end of production of "2101", despite the recycling program, VAZ 2101 still hold a share in the Russian parc. According to the analytical agency "AUTOSTAT", there were 962,886 cars VAZ-2101 as of 1.01. 2015.

April 19, 1970 - this is the official date of birth of the car. But in the stories of veterans of plant there another version: "Many of the stages of preparation of vehicle assembly have been completed ahead: even before January 19, it was tested the stamping and welding of the first roofs, on February 9th it was held welding of sidewalls of black body, after 5 days it was began comprehensive testing in chambers of body painting, on March 1 and 2 there were welded first 10 black bodies, on April 11-13 the first 3 of the body were painted in white, cherry and blue (the colors of the Russian flag). At the same time, on April 13 it was held a trial, without the reveal for the Italian chef installers, training assembly of the first car. At nights of April 18th and 19th it was launched and completed the assembly of the first six "pilot" cars... Firstborns were assembled mainly from Italian parts and assemblies ... ".

On April 18th, within the celebration of the 45th anniversary of the official production of the first car, it will be the Open Day at the car plant. Plant workers and city residents will be able to bring to the company their children and loved ones, to acquaint them with the productions of AvtoVAZ.

It will be organized bus tours: to the assembly line of "Kalina", in the production of welding B0, a sightseeing tour around the plant, a walking tour of the main conveyor from 1 to 6 inserts.

Guests under the age after 14 years will also be able to take part in the test drive of cars LADA.

The culmination of the festival will be a rally of "Classic" models, which starts at 12 am from the building of the plant. Decorated with the flags and symbols related to the anniversary, retro cars went through the streets of Avtozavodsky district in Togliatti.