A brave little toaster has been doing it big in Gdansk, Poland. Spotted on ” target=”_blank”>YouTube, we’re talking about this Lada Riva that has been seen at the local autocross and drift events.

We won’t ever see one of these here, but Iron Curtain family cars are quite abundant in their native area. This particular model, the 2107, was in production from 1982 to 2012. Food for thought; the Lada Riva is actually the third best selling automobile platform, trailing only the Volkswagen Beetle and Ford Model T. The 2107 was AvtoVAZ’s deluxe saloon model, which features a large chrome grille up front. The bolt-on over fenders help to tuck the wider wheelbase and the louvered rear shades on the rear windshield give the car a vintage appeal.

Call it a Frankenstein build of sorts, as the front suspension derives from an E36 3-series as the rear stems from an E39 5-series. Weighing in at around 2,200 pounds, the Lada houses a 3.0-liter M60B30 V8, which was available in the E34 530i, E32 730i, and E38 730i. The engine produces balanced power with 215 horsepower and 214 pound-feet of torque. A set of KW coilovers helps to give the powerful little car precise handling.

Mind you, these Lada 2107’s come stock with 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine, so this build has double the displacement and number of cylinders. That kind of power is plenty for a lightweight car like the Lada. A ZF S5D320Z five-speed manual transmission from an E32 BMW has been mated to the solid V8 engine. The car may not look threatening at all, but it isn’t until you see it go that the truth is revealed.

The M60B30 engine looks like it always belonged in the Lada Riva’s engine bay.

Initially, we didn’t think much of the build. That was until we saw it getting sideways effortlessly and with reckless abandonment. For all it’s worth, this little bugger is quick around the cones as its configuration could relate to a V8 in a Datsun 510. What clearly isn’t a family car anymore, this little compact has been reborn into a freak of nature. Stripped inside and gutted of all its luxury clutter, the car is literally a light frame coupled with a beefy engine.

Call it the best of both worlds – it is a dream for any tuner to build a car that is light and powerful. The two usually don’t mix together as we tend to get one or the other. To see this car effortlessly do donuts around the cameraman is a feat in and of itself as we didn’t think it would have the power to maintain its path. Let the Lada Riva’s legacy live on as a potential host for a bevy of engine swaps.

What do you think about this crazy little drifter? Would you have done it any different? Be sure to share your thoughts below in the comments. Also, don’t forget to check out the latest updates on the Lada 666 V8 on Facebook.

The little beast actually looks like a Volvo from this angle.