The Lada Samara Cabriolet was not built on the AvtoVAZ production line in Russia: it was an officially supported conversion created in Belgium by EBS. Known as the Natacha or Natasha in some markets, this four-seat soft-top is one of the rarest and most unexpected European cars of the 1990s.
This guide covers the Samara’s transformation from three-door hatchback to cabriolet, its Belgian history, different names and engines, production estimates, identification and the structural and mechanical checks that matter before buying one.
Lada Samara Cabriolet at a glance
| Base vehicle | Lada Samara / VAZ-2108 three-door hatchback |
|---|---|
| Conversion | EBS, Belgium |
| Introduced | Early 1990s |
| Names | Samara Cabrio, Natacha or Natasha, depending on market |
| Layout | Four-seat, front-wheel-drive convertible |
| Engines | 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5-litre petrol versions were offered in different markets |
| Estimated production | Approximately 450; published totals vary |
| Typical UK example | Left-hand drive European import |
| Main buying concerns | Structural corrosion, conversion-specific parts and deteriorated hood mechanism or fabric |
What is a Lada Samara Cabriolet?
The ordinary Samara was AvtoVAZ’s major move away from its traditional rear-wheel-drive saloons. Launched in the Soviet Union during the 1980s as the VAZ-2108 or Sputnik, it used front-wheel drive, a transverse engine and crisp hatchback styling. Export markets knew it as the Lada Samara.
The convertible began with the three-door Samara shell, but removing a fixed roof from a unitary-bodied hatchback requires significant reinforcement and new body engineering. The result retained four seats, used a manually operated fabric hood and added market-specific styling and trim.
The Belgian EBS connection
Belgian Lada importer Scaldia-Volga wanted a more glamorous derivative to strengthen the Samara range. An early proposal led to involvement from EBS, a Belgian coachbuilder already experienced in turning the Renault 5 into a cabriolet.
EBS developed the production conversion and sales began in the early 1990s. Cars were offered in Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany, with names and specifications changing by country. France used the name Natacha; Natasha is another widely used spelling, while other markets simply called it the Samara Cabrio or Cabriolet.
Not a home-made special: the EBS cabriolet was a commercial conversion sold with importer support. However, individual cars still need identity and provenance checks because badges, bodykits and soft-top conversions can be copied or altered.
How many Lada Natachas were built?
Published totals are not entirely consistent. Belgian reports commonly state 446 cars, while other specialist histories quote 456. It is therefore safest to describe total production as approximately 450 rather than claim a single exact figure without factory records.
Only a portion reached each national market. French registration figures are frequently quoted at 164, mostly with the 1.5-litre engine. Very few were sold in Britain, so UK cars are normally left-hand-drive imports with European paperwork in their history.
Lada Samara Cabriolet engines
EBS conversions were offered with familiar Samara petrol engines rather than a unique high-performance powertrain. Market literature records 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5-litre versions, with the 1.5 becoming the most common choice in several countries. The 1992 car originally featured on this page was advertised as a 1500.
Performance is modest, but the light controls and simple front-wheel-drive mechanical layout suit relaxed summer use. Condition, correct cooling and carburettor or fuel-system setup matter more than headline speed.
How to identify an EBS Samara Cabriolet
- Check for EBS or importer plates, labels and conversion numbers.
- Confirm the original Lada VIN and registration identity match a three-door Samara of the correct year and engine.
- Look for period European registration documents, invoices, handbook supplements and early photographs.
- Compare the hood frame, rear body treatment, side skirts, bumpers and interior reinforcement with documented cars.
- Establish which national-market name the car originally carried; Natacha, Natasha and Cabrio badges can all be plausible.
- For a UK import, check NOVA, registration history and the consistency of chassis and foreign documents.
Lada Samara Cabriolet buying checklist
Structure and corrosion
- Inspect the reinforced sills from above and below, including jacking points and welded seams.
- Check floors, front chassis legs, suspension mounts, rear arches and the structure behind the rear seats.
- Look for cracking, distortion or previous repairs where the roof was removed and the body strengthened.
- Check doors open and close consistently with the car on level ground; changing gaps can reveal shell movement.
- Inspect beneath side skirts and bodykit pieces rather than judging the car from visible paint alone.
- Pay close attention to drain paths and trapped water around hood stowage and rear-quarter panels.
Hood, glass and conversion parts
- Raise and lower the roof fully, checking frame alignment, catches and tension.
- Inspect fabric, seams, rear window and seals for shrinkage, splits and leakage.
- Check side glass meets the hood seals and windows operate smoothly.
- Assume EBS-specific trim, seals and mechanisms will be harder to replace than normal Samara service parts.
- Ask whether a replacement roof was made to the original pattern and retain its invoice.
Engine and cooling system
- Start from cold and check smoke, rattles, oil leaks and unstable running.
- Inspect radiator, fan operation, hoses, coolant and signs of overheating.
- Check carburettor or injection equipment matches the engine and has not been poorly modified.
- Inspect fuel lines, ignition components, engine mounts and exhaust condition.
- Ask for evidence of routine servicing, timing-belt replacement where applicable and recent recommissioning.
Transmission, steering and brakes
- Test every gear, clutch take-up and driveshafts for noise or vibration.
- Check steering play, wheel bearings, dampers, bushes and CV joints.
- Inspect brake pipes, hoses, calipers and rear drums after long storage.
- Confirm wheels and tyres clear the conversion bodywork throughout steering and suspension travel.
Documents and UK use
- Match the VIN to foreign and UK documents and check import taxes were handled correctly.
- Confirm the UK body type and engine capacity are recorded accurately.
- Check headlamps, rear fog lamp and speedometer arrangements suit UK road use.
- Remember that left-hand drive affects visibility and overtaking on British roads.
The 1992 Samara pictured here
The car in these photographs appeared in a 2023 advertisement as a 1992 left-hand-drive 1500 Cabriolet built in Belgium. Its seller said it had been imported to Britain with NOVA completed and still had its Belgian registration document. The description mentioned corrosion beneath the sills and a roof requiring replacement.
Those details are useful as the history of this particular example, but the expired sales link is no longer the focus. Any surviving car should be assessed on its present structure, documentation and conversion completeness.
Frequently asked questions
Was the Lada Natacha built in Russia?
The base Samara was built by AvtoVAZ, but the cabriolet conversion was carried out by EBS in Belgium.
How many were made?
Approximately 450. Published sources commonly give totals between 446 and 456.
What is the biggest buying risk?
Corrosion or poor repairs in the reinforced shell, followed by missing EBS-specific hood and trim components.
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