Recently, we speculated on a possible successor to the Russian ZIL. Meanwhile, the occasional ZIL is still being assembled, in the same laborious way they always have been. English Russia has a new piece up that shows the workers and process in making the $250+k limos, which are ending up mainly in the hands of rich Russian collectors wanting a piece of Soviet-era machinery in their collection. We all want to collect the cars we first rode in, right?
via zlomnik
Small brakes for such a large and probably heavy car.
Imposing, but not very attractive. I know the car is a throwback, but the interior is an appalling mishmash – crappy looking velour in the back, vinyl looking La-Z-Boys in the front and a dash that would be shameful in a 1970s economy car. If that wood is real, they sure made it look like stick-on plastic appliqués. No wonder the higher-ups switched to Mercedes.
Interesting to see the factory, though. Thanks for posting this.
Kinda’ reminds me of the Avanti II; how it was made, and how obsolete many of its controls, etc. were. It’s a tough row to hoe.
“We all want to collect the cars we first rode in, right?”
The ’49 Chevy sedan? It’s back seat smelled of a bowl of spaghetti sauce that my mother had spilled in there. The thought of it still makes me nauseous.
OTOH, its successor the ’55 Bel Air Convertible with a 265 small bock and a red and white two tone paint job, still makes me smile.
I am russian. This plant is one of the most great company of russia. Unfortunately, the corrupt government is doing its dirty work. Auction for buying Mercedes invalidated even the company itself, but unfortunately, still a bribe bought cars from other brands. ZIL was one of the best cars, but still inferior in many respects to other foreign brands and required upgrading. ZIL was one of the best cars, but still inferior in many respects to other foreign brands and required upgrading. In Russia, there were many other interesting cars, but mostly they were for military purposes ( I am sorry for the English. Translated by an interpreter
Like any good worker in wood, you can never have enough clamps!
Impossing and I love it. Would like it with darkly tinted windows.
Neat! I didn’t realize they had resumed production, albeit on a limited basis. They are a throwback for sure, but I like them.
Cool old school Limos made the old school way maybe they should upgrade the powertrain 40l/100kms is pretty savage unless you have your own oil well.
Never mind the limos. I want to know about the bus thing in the background of this pic:
@Steve65 – I believe that’s a Zil 118 Yunost – http://www.oldrussiancars.com/archives/zil-118
The early version almost looks like a giant Corvair van…