The other side of the curtain: A look back at Lada, Volga and more

While Americans in the 1960s and '70s were enjoying the heyday of muscle-car madness, our friends over in the Soviet Union were treated to an entirely different kind of automobile.

Fiat-based Ladas and Russian-born Volgas were the cars of the day, and our friends at Retronaut have gathered some press materials and advertisements for the compact sedans.

Lada was named after a famous Czech manufacturer of sewing machines in the 1960s. The company made economy cars that became extremely popular in Russia and Eastern Europe, where they were seen as status symbols of city life. In 2008, Renault purchased 25 percent of the company.

The Volga company originated in the Soviet Union in 1956 and like Lada, it became a status symbol. The cars were used as taxi cabs and police cars, while station-wagon versions were used as ambulances. Four generations have been produced, with the latest being the Volga Siber, based on the second-generation (2001-2006) Chrysler Sebring.

Check out the gallery and visit Retronaut to see more.

By Jake Lingeman