im with you Ash on the colour combo and the 1/4 windows.
 
I have only event seen the standard buttton and twist style locks.
 
That looks like a lock from a panel van back side window

Strange thing Lada like Datsun b bodies got some inspiration in the engine department
from other brands like Austin for Dattos and Fiat for Ladas.
 
The Fiat engines are incredible with an FJ20DE like version available 30 years earlier
then used for everything but unlike the FJ it was super compact also able of 1000hp
and very retro design that has been swapped even into honda s800 convertibles.
 

 
Like the 1000 wishbone suspension but 1200 engine sizes and up like a 510 and bluebird
so one model covered many choices in beef. The front nose makes me wonder who got there
first Fiat or Datsun? Lada was just a rebadge really.
 
 
It was the first engine I considered for my 1000 and should have finished it instead
I fitted a 13b that I couldnt engineer due to changes in the laws but drove it got caught
twice by the Freemasons lower ranks and calle dit a day.
 
Russian Lada guys use the later Fiat heads and upgrade to the larger twin cam blocks
or swap stroker cranks with ease for a power up. Fiat twin cams see 10k rpm and sound
amazing with many world rallye wins and european circuit success.
 
Glad you guys spotted the quarter window security design that reflect Russian needs.
Japanese dont steal things from each other so there was no need for that design 
 
The guard mirror close to the quarter window is sweet as well.

They sure are tiny things the Fiat TC engines compared to the Alfa beauties.
The Alfa is as heavy as an A15, a very light alloy donk with 2.3 Litre possible
and the later twin spark units are lighter again thanks to narrow head design.
 
I prefer the Alfa engine though as its about 5 inches shorter overall.
 
The Ladai really is a 1000, 1200 and 1600 hybrid almost has bits from all
to cover all its market needs. Personally 1k 2 doors all the way but the finish
on the lada is much better overall which is surprising for its eastern EU market