The Ultimate Communist Automaker Is Dead

Why does that matter? Because who'll make Putin a new American-style copycat limo now that ZiL is dead? Can he trust the Chinese?


What the hell is ZiL to begin with? Well, it's the acronym of 'Zavod imeni Likhachova', or 'Plant named for Likhachov', an automobile, truck, military vehicle and heavy equipment manufacturer based in Moscow, Russia. Its trucks, you've seen plenty of in cold war movies and in developing countries around the world. Its cars, not so much. That's because they were never meant to be driven by the common people.

Wiki Common

The factory started out as AMO in 1916, building Fiat trucks under license. After Stalin came to power, it was renamed Zavod Imeni Stalin, or ZiS, only to evolve into ZiL after the Georgian was dead and Nikita Khrushchev wanted to make sure the world forgets him as soon as possible. As far as their trucks go, there have been many, and the ZiL 131 was arguably the best. But if you wanted something luxurious, ZiL's cars were the way to go. Let's have a peek at them!

ZiS-101, 1935:

Inspired by the West, powered by a straight-eight and spawning a coupé as well as a cabriolet and an ambulance, the 101 was Stalin's (official) choice during the war. Seven seats, 90 horsepower, victory!

ZiL-111, 1958:

The fact that it looked like a Packard didn't matter, mainly because the Soviets upgraded it to make you think of Cadillac Fleetwoods instead by 1962. That was the 111G. With a Russian-made 6.0 V8 producing a modest 200 horsepower sent to the rear wheels via a two-speed automatic, it was as smooth as Russian roads would allow. Fidel Castro had the convertible version, because Cuba is sunny.


ZiL-114, 1964:

Once again, the Soviets went for the Guinness World Record of the heaviest and widest production car. The 114 had a seven liter pushrod V8, a three-speed automatic, power steering, power windows and central locking. Plus the looks of a Chrysler Imperial and four-wheel disc brakes for the first time in a Russian car. As usual, state officials could have it as a short-wheelbase sedan (ZiL-117), an ambulance, a four-door convertible and there was even a parade car version with a slightly higher roof, cut open.

The ZIL-115 of 1972 was roughly the same, but with a 7.7 liter V8, because more is more.

Alden JewellFlickr

ZiL-4104, 1978:

7500 lbs. of Soviet dominance. The 4104 had the same 7.7 liter V8 rated at 315 horsepower and 448 lb·ft of torque. Just 106 were built in five years, and with this much steel and wood sacrificed for the greater good, you can bet most of them are still around, somewhere. ZiL built a few station wagons as well to be used as hearses (ZiL-41042), and if the regular car was 7500 lbs., you can imagine what the armored edition did to the scales.

Jürg VollmerFlickr

ZiL-41047, 1985:

What replaced the 4104 received nothing more than a styling upgrade. The 41047 remained in limited production until 2002. The Russian Goverment uses these black machines to this day.

Vitaly V. Kuzmin

After the 2002 model year, ZiL announced that its car division was done, shifting its focus entirely towards its truck operation. Which is over, as of December 21, 2016.

Where does that leave Mr. Putin's next ride?

ZiL says their classic car and presidential limo team will stay intact, working hard on their next masterpiece. The problem is that there is no sign of any progress on that project since the stillborn 4112R that was sold off in 2012. Meanwhile, most of ZiL's industrial estate is rapidly turning into a residential area.


You shall call the last ZiL a 43276. It's a blue truck.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
More From New Cars