Lada has the last laugh The VAZ 2101 made its debut in 1969 but the terms of the Fiat/AvtoVaz agreement prevented it from being sold in territories in which Fiat marketed the 124 and it was not until May 1974 that Satra Motors began to import the newly re-badged "Lada" into the UK. At that time, Satra's existing mainstay, the Moskvich 412, had gained some unwelcome publicity concerning its non-existent levels of passenger safety. The Lada was a definite improvement in this regard and it also boasted a more contemporary appearance. As a cheap five-seater, the Lada had few peers and if driving one on a motorway fast lane was an experience best left to seasoned masochists, much the same could be said of the Morris Marina. A Lada 1200 saloon cost as much as a Mini 1000 but came with a sizeable boot, room for five occupants and a standard equipment list that included a cigar lighter and laminated windscreen. By the end of the Seventies, the Lada became a part of the British automotive landscape, from rural minicabs to being given away to moderately traumatised-looking contestants on the TV show Sale of the Century. Increasingly stringent emissions regulations saw the last official imports to the UK in 1997 but sales to Cuba, the Caribbean and Egypt continued. Production of the "Lada Classic" may cease at the end of this year to make way for the new 2116, but the 124-clone will continue to be a familiar sight across Africa and Asia for many years to come - slow, crude but a genuine "world car" with a sales record that the British motor industry could only dream of. Not bad for a one-time "comic" punch line. Did you hear the one about...? Q: What do you call a convertible Lada? A: A skip Q: What do you call a convertible Lada with twin exhausts? A: A wheelbarrow Q: Why does a Lada have a heated rear windscreen? A: To keep your hands warm while you're pushing it along Q: What do you call a Lada at the top of a hill? A: A miracle Q: What do you call a Lada with brakes? A: Customised A man goes into a car accessory shop and says to the assistant, "Can I have a hub cap for my Lada?" The assistant thinks to himself for a moment and then replies, "OK, it seems like a fair swap."