ZIS 110 Standard

ZIS 110 Standard

The ZIS-110, produced by the Zavod Imeni Stalina (Factory Named After Stalin) in Moscow, was the most prestigious automobile in the Soviet Union during the late Stalin and early Khrushchev eras. Modeled closely on the 1942 Packard Super Eight — which Stalin reportedly admired deeply — the ZIS-110 was nevertheless a distinctly Soviet creation, heavier, more imposing, and built to withstand Moscow's brutal winters and potholed roads.

Joseph Stalin himself used the ZIS-110 as his primary state vehicle, though his personal cars were fitted with additional armor plating that increased the weight to over 4 tons. The standard version, at 2,575 kg, was already among the heaviest production cars of its era. At precisely 6 meters long with a 3,760 mm wheelbase, the ZIS-110 was designed to project power and permanence.

The engine was a 6.0-liter inline-8 with side-valve (flathead) configuration, producing 140 horsepower. While technologically behind American engines of the same period, the design was chosen for its proven reliability and low-rev torque delivery — essential for the slow, ceremonial driving duties the car primarily performed. The 3-speed manual transmission with overdrive was simple and robust.

The interior of the ZIS-110 was lavishly trimmed by Soviet standards, with genuine leather upholstery, wool broadcloth headliner, and wood veneer trim. The rear compartment featured jump seats, a glass partition with electric blind, and an intercom system between the VIP compartment and driver. Heaters and a radio were standard equipment.

Several specialized variants were produced. The ZIS-110B was an open-top phaeton used for military parades in Red Square. The ZIS-110Sh was an armored version for senior Politburo members, with steel plate and bulletproof glass adding approximately 1,500 kg to the curb weight. A few ambulance conversions were also produced.

After Stalin's death in 1953 and the subsequent de-Stalinization campaign, the factory was renamed ZIL (Zavod Imeni Likhachyova), and the car was briefly designated ZIL-110 before production ended in 1958. The ZIS-110 was succeeded by the more modern ZIL-111, but the older car's association with the Stalin era gives it an unmistakable historical gravity.