ZIL-111
Motor vehicle
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The ZIL-111 was a limousine produced by the Soviet car manufacturer ZiL from 1958 to 1967. It was the first post-war limousine designed in the Soviet Union. After tests with the shortlived prototype ZIL-Moscow in 1956,[3] which gained a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest passenger car in the world,[4]: 33 the ZIL-111 was introduced from ZIL in 1958. The body style was in the American tradition of the time and resembled the mid-1950s cars built by Packard, although, apart from being in tune with current trends, it was an original design and had nothing in common with them, except in general layout.[5][4]: 33 The interiors were trimmed with top quality leather and broadcloth and decorated with thick pile carpet and polished wooden fittings.[4]: 35 It featured a comprehensive ventilation and heating system and a 5-band radio, all of which could be controlled from the rear,[4]: 37 electric windows, vacuum-operated screen wash, windshield and front door window defrosting.[4]: 36 It was powered by a 6.0 L V8 engine producing 200 hp (150 kW) connected to an automatic transmission (similar to that of Chrysler's PowerFlite and influenced by it, but different in design[1][6]) giving a top speed of 170 km/h (106 mph), hydraulic drum brakes with a vacuum servo booster,[4]: 36 coil and wishbone IFS.[4]: 33 The car won a top prize at the Brussels Expo World Fair in 1958.[7]
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| ZIL-111 | |
|---|---|
_-_31.jpg) ZIL-111V | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | ZIL |
| Production | |
| Assembly | Soviet Union: Moscow (Likhachov Plant) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 6.0 L ZIL-111 V8 |
| Transmission | 2-speed automatic with a torque converter |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 3,760 mm (148.0 in) |
| Length |
|
| Width |
|
| Height | 1,637 mm (64.4 in) |
| Curb weight | 2,610–2,815 kg (5,754–6,206 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | ZIS-110 |
| Successor | ZIL-114 |
Apart from a basic version ZIL-111, the manufacturer produced ZIL-111A with air conditioning, which had a smaller and flatter rear window due to air tubes, and the convertible ZIL-111V (ЗИЛ-111В in Russian), of which only 12 were built.[1][8]
In December 1962 the car was completely restyled, now being in tune with the latest trends and having a wide chrome grille with quad headlamps similar to the one used on the 1961 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five,[9] and was available both as sedan ZIL-111G and convertible ZIL-111D.[2] It was fitted with a 200 hp 5,980 cc (365 cu in) V8.[10] For U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower's visit, Yevgeny Molchanov designed a special version of this car. Air conditioning was standard.[10] The ZIL-111G went out of production in 1966.[10] The first ZIL-111D was built in 1963, six months after the new ZIL-111 appeared; only about eight were built, half with grey exteriors, and all were fitted with microphones.[11] Fidel Castro received a ZIL-111D as a gift.[11]
As a rule, the ZIL-111 was available only as state-owned transport for members of the Politburo.[12] About 112 units of all models were made from 1958 to 1967, which 26 of them were ZIL-111Gs.[2]
A minibus based on the ZIL-111, the ZIL-118 Yunost (Youth), was also developed and produced in small numbers.[13][14]
Variants
- ZIL-111: Original production version.
- ZIL-111A: ZIL-111 with air conditioning.
- ZIL-111V: Convertible version.
- ZIL-111G: Modernized ZIL-111.
- ZIL-111D: Convertible version.