ZIL-111 - the charm of the Kremlin's "dandy"
In the 1950s, a newcar for government garages - model ZIL-111. The first outline design of the machine designers were developed in 1955, and its test sample with the name "Moscow" was presented already in 1956 at the All-Union Agricultural Exhibition. What a deafening effect this car produced! Absolutely new body that has something in common with the American Packard Patrician (the lot of these cars was specially purchased by the Soviet side), was created on the chassis of the 110th model.
Relying on the design and overall concept of Americanauto, talented ZIL designers under the leadership of AN Ostrovtsov, who was the chief designer of ZIS-110, built a luxury car ZIL-111. A specialist in engineering (dealing with the history of Packard) Robert Turnquist in his own book under the heading "Packard's History" insisted that the Russians created an exact copy of Packard Caribbien, embodying it in the government ZIL. However, it is not. Initially, before the start of the car design work, a long search for non-standard solutions for the original design of the exterior appearance of the car was conducted. And they were found. But the designers did not implement them in the final sample. Pressure from above forced the creators of the car to begin copying the outdated design of American analogues. Yes, of course, ZIL-111, like the Seagull, has an external resemblance to the Packard Patrician produced in 1956. The body features are similar to the Chrysler Imperial Crown. And the mechanical basis and interior were created on the basis of the model Cadillac Fleetwood-75. From the Western analogues ZIL-111 was distinguished by a higher altitude, which made it more massive and heavy. That, by the way, can not be said about Cadillac, Chrysler or Packard.
Absolutely luxury car
ZIL-111 possessed all the usual attributesluxury American cars of the middle of the last century, namely: a frame chassis with independent suspension, V-shaped engine, automatic transmission, power steering, automatic windows, antenna, soft top and the presence of air conditioning. Even more chic to the car gave the leather upholstery of the cabin and an abundance of lighting equipment. Outwardly, he was pleased with the variety of chromium and the presence of small, but original decorative details.
The first modernized ZIL-111 was released in 1961year. The car had a completely new design of the radiator, bumpers, dual headlights, otherwise it was the same model. The machine went into production in a limited series, and therefore received the ZIL-111G index. It was issued 4 years. The car had round lights from the rear, a slightly modified shape of the windshield, an updated frame and a more powerful power unit. On the basis of ZIL-111G, designers made several copies of open phaetons for parades. If the sample with an open body on the basis of ZIL-111 had a ZIL-111B index, then the newly-made phaeton was called ZIL-111D.
A generous gift to the high guest
The first ZIL of this type was assembled in 1963 -6 months after the restyling of the main limousine. In the same year, Fidel Castro visited the car factory. He was given an open car from the Soviet Union. The Liberty Island leader flew home on the plane. And the machine was delivered by the Soviet authorities to Havana by steamer. After a while, the designers assembled several more ZIL-111D models - for solemn parades and especially significant public holidays. For the first time, cars were seen on the Red Square during the parade in 1967.
During the entire production period, 112 cars were built. Today, only single copies of this unique machine remained on the move. ZIL-111 can only be bought from collectors.
