What do we know about Greece? You can find there everything. It is warm, sunny country, where olives grow, the Olympic flame lights and, of course, Greece is the cradle of human culture and science, and yet an Unlim 500+ festival was held, where among the exclusive supercars one very unusual car was spotted. It is perhaps the fastest Russian Lada Riva Station Wagon, which was built by our former compatriots, Vyunenko brothers.
I remember my university classmate, who was trying to build a fast station wagon on basis of an old Lada 2102(Fiat 124). Pop-eyed bone-shaker could go 180+ kmh and even traffic police did not bother him: «Hey, student, earn money, get a normal car then I’ll deprive your driving license then.» He was trying and trying different parts to get a result in speed and grip but without any great success.
Vyunenko brothers decided to choose the other way and build a quick RIVA using another car as donor. By the way why did they do it in Greece? Since the mid 90s’ brothers live in this wonderful sunny country and it seems sometimes nostalgia covers them. In youth, Alexander and Sergey were fond of carting, and then, already in Greece they got auto mechanics qualification and after a while came the time to apply these skills and nostalgia.
Nissan Silvia S13 was taken as a donor — its units count is major in this car. In 2008, the brothers discovered a Gladkov service project in the Internet — Riva 2105 with the Skyline engine RB26 and the drivetrain and they decided to rethink this idea and make «hot» station wagon. The work began in 2009, the idea was to pull the body from Riva to the Silvia S13’s base. Riva’s body immediately lost the floor and firewall, the Nissan drivetrain required the new floors, subframes and light safety cage to be developed to avoid heavy detailed spaceframe and to keep the interior for the passengers. For better weight distribution the battery was moved to the trunk and now the distribution of weight is almost perfect 50\50.
Axles were successfully put to their places and a new 9-inch shortened driveshaft was fabricated. Externally, the body is virtually unchanged — the usual RIVA 2104 with a slightly extended arches and large wheels. The only thing that it changed by the brothers — detachable face, for better access to the units and aggregates. Front fenders, headlights and grille became a one item.
The motor definitely was tuned a bit: Garrett GT2871R turbo, Ross Racing pistons, modified rods, Tomei camshafts. It is lightly tuned to save its reliability, but even with this condition the results are impressive — 452 hp and 520Nm torque.
Transmission and suspension are almost stock — Clutch is reinforced, struts are tuned but the basic elements remain from Silvia almost in stock condition.
Now Riva-Silvia is «a comfortable five-seater car with a station wagon body” (this could be written in Soviet ads), capable to reach kmh, pass the quarter in 12.1 seconds, and then boot with all necessary for the countryhouse, go to the road and slowly drive to the Greek villa. But if someone decides to race, then an old Lada will disappoint him...
Specifications:
Body: VAZ 2104 1991 + Nissan Silvia 1993. Glasses — Polycarbonate, simple rollcage, fender extensions.
Engine: SR20DET, 2L, 16 valves, turbo — Garrett GT2871R, Ross Racing pistons, modified rods, Tomei camshafts.
452 hp and 520Nm
Transmission:
Clutch — NISMO COOPERMIX
Gearbox — mechanic 5-speed Nissan Silvia S14
Differential — Nissan Silvia S13
Main shaft — custom made
Suspension:
Front: Nissan Silvia S13. Struts-STILL WAY
Rear: Nissan Silvia S14. Struts — HKS Hipermax
Brakes:
Nissan Silvia S13
Wheels:
Alloy wheels 15 «x7» offset +38 4x114,3
Tires-TOYO R888 195/50/15
Quarter time: 12.1s
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Data and photo:
