ZIL-111

ZiL-111
Overview
Manufacturer	ZIL
Production	1958-1962 (ZiL-111)[1] 1962-1967 (ZiL-111G)[2]
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	6,137 mm (241.6 in) (ZIL-111) 6,190 mm (243.7 in) (ZIL-111G)
Width	2,033 mm (80.0 in) (ZIL-111) 2,045 mm (80.5 in) (ZIL-111G)
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

ZIL-111G, front.

ZIL-111G, rear.

The Zil-111 was a limousine produced by the Soviet car manufacturer ZiL in 1958–1967. 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 styling was in the American tradition of the time^[4]:33 and inspired by the mid-1950s cars built by Packard, an American luxury automobile manufacturer, although, apart from the body style, the car had nothing in common with them, except in general layout.^[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 (SAE Gross) connected to an automatic transmission (similar to that of Chrysler's PowerFlite and influenced by it, but different in design^[1][5]) 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

Apart from a basic version ZiL-111, there was produced ZiL-111A with air conditioning (it had a smaller and flatter rear window due to air tubes) and convertible ZiL-111V (ЗиЛ-111В in Russian, only 12 made).^[1] The convertible based on the ZiL-111 was dubbed ZiL-111V.^[6]

In December 1962 the car was restyled and it was available both as sedan ZiL-111G and convertible ZiL-111D.^[2] Fitted with a 200 hp (SAE Gross) 5,980 cc (365 cu in) V8,^[7] The new styling also followed the American fashion of its time: the front styling very closely resembled the 1961-62 Cadillac Fleetwood 75,^[8] while the dual-unit taillights were similar to those of an early-Sixties Mercury. For U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower's visit, E. Molchanov designed a special version. Air conditioning was standard.^[7] The ZiL-111G went out of production in 1966.^[7] 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.^[9] Castro was given a ZiL-111D.^[9]

As a rule, the ZiL-111 was available only for members of the Politburo.^[10][11] In 1958-1967 only 112 of all models were made, in this only 26 ZiL-111G.^[2]

A minibus based on the ZIL-111, the ZIL-118 Yunost (Youth), was also developed, but built only in small numbers.^[12]

The ZiL-111 would be replaced in 1967 by the ZIL-114.^[9]

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.

References

1. ZiL-111, Avtolegendy SSSR, nr. 49, DeAgostini, 2010, ISSN 2071-095X (Russian)
2. ZiL-111G/111D, Avtolegendy SSSR, nr. 29, DeAgostini, 2010, ISSN 2071-095X (Russian)
3. "Registry of cars of the period of cold war". www.Bert-Hein.de. Retrieved 2012-06-08.
4. Kelly M. A. Russian Motor Vehicles: Soviet Limousines 1930-2003. Veloce Publishing Ltd, 2011
5. Доктор технических наук Чередниченко Ю. И. ИСТОРИЯ АВТОМАТИЧЕСКИХ КОРОБОК ПЕРЕДАЧ — Часть2. В СССР, РФ и странах СНГ. (Russian)
6. Thompson, Andy. Cars of the Soviet Union (Haynes Publishing, Somerset, UK, 2008), p.214.
7. Thompson, p.214.
8. Thompson, p.241.
9. Thompson, p.215.
10. (Russian) ZiL-118 Yunost, DeAgostini Avtolegendy SSSR series Nr.28
11. "юБРНЛНДЕКЭМНЕ АЧПН: гхк-118 "чМНЯРЭ"". Denisovets.ru. Retrieved 2012-06-08.
12. Thompson, p.213.