View source for ZIL-111

{{Infobox automobile
| image = Museum of automotive technology UMMC (16.03.2023) - 31.jpg
| name = ZIL-111
| manufacturer = [[ZiL|ZIL]]
| assembly = Likhachov Plant, [[Moscow]], [[USSR]]
| production = {{unbulleted list|1958–1962 (ZIL-111)<ref name=avto111/>|1962–1967 (ZIL-111G)<ref name=avto111g/>}}
| predecessor = [[ZIS-110]]
| successor = [[ZIL-114]]
| class = [[Full-size]]
| layout = [[FR layout]]
| engine = 6.0 L ''ZIL-111'' V8
| transmission = 2-speed automatic with a [[torque converter]]
| wheelbase = {{convert|3760|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| length = {{unbulleted list|{{convert|6137|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} (ZIL-111)|{{convert|6190|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} (ZIL-111G)}}
| width = {{unbulleted list|{{convert|2033|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} (ZIL-111)|{{convert|2045|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} (ZIL-111G)}}
| height = {{convert|1637|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|2610|-|2815|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}
| caption = ZIL-111V
}}

The '''ZIL-111''' was a [[limousine]] produced by the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] car manufacturer [[ZiL|ZIL]] from 1958 to 1967. It was the first post-war limousine designed in the Soviet Union. After tests with the shortlived prototype ZIL-Moscow in 1956,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.Bert-Hein.de |title=Registry of cars of the period of cold war |publisher=www.Bert-Hein.de |access-date=2012-06-08}}</ref> which gained a place in the [[Guinness Book of Records]] as the largest passenger car in the world,<ref name = Kelly>Kelly M. A. Russian Motor Vehicles: Soviet Limousines 1930-2003. Veloce Publishing Ltd, 2011</ref>{{rp|33}} the ZIL-111 was introduced from ''[[Zavod Imeni Likhacheva|ZIL]]'' in 1958. The body style was in the American tradition of the time and resembled the mid-1950s cars built by [[Packard Patrician#1955–1956|Packard]], although, apart from being in tune with current trends, it was an original design and had nothing in common with them, except in general layout.<ref>ZiL-111 // Thompson, A. Cars of the Soviet Union: The Definite History, 2008: "''The new car, by now called the ZlL 111, was shown to representatives from Minavtoprom in 1957, alongside the 1956 Cadillac Fleetwood 75, Chrysler lmperial Crown, two Packard Executive Patricians and a Packard Caribbean with an open body. lt was clearly an original design but undoubtedly in tune with current trends''".</ref><ref name = Kelly/>{{rp|33}} The interiors were trimmed with top quality leather and broadcloth and decorated with thick pile carpet and polished wooden fittings.<ref name = Kelly/>{{rp|35}} It featured a comprehensive ventilation and heating system and a 5-band radio, all of which could be controlled from the rear,<ref name = Kelly/>{{rp|37}} electric windows, vacuum-operated screen wash, windshield and front door window defrosting.<ref name = Kelly/>{{rp|36}} It was powered by a 6.0&nbsp;L [[V8 engine|V8]] engine producing {{cvt|200|hp}} connected to an [[automatic transmission]] (similar to that of Chrysler's [[Chrysler PowerFlite transmission|PowerFlite]] and influenced by it, but different in design<ref name=avto111>''ZIL-111'', Avtolegendy SSSR, nr. 49, DeAgostini, 2010, {{ISSN|2071-095X}} {{in lang|ru}}</ref><ref>Доктор технических наук Чередниченко Ю. И. [http://www.at-g.ru/history/165.html ИСТОРИЯ АВТОМАТИЧЕСКИХ КОРОБОК ПЕРЕДАЧ — Часть2. В СССР, РФ и странах СНГ.] {{in lang|ru}}</ref>) giving a top speed of {{convert|170|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}, hydraulic drum brakes with a vacuum servo booster,<ref name = Kelly/>{{rp|36}} coil and wishbone IFS.<ref name = Kelly/>{{rp|33}} The car won a top prize at the Brussels Expo World Fair in 1958.<ref>ZiL-111 // Thompson, A. Cars of the Soviet Union: The Definite History, 2008: "''... its modern, good looks earned it a top prize at the Brussels Expo World Fair in 1958''".</ref>

[[File:Museum of automotive technology UMMC (16.03.2023) - 34.jpg|left|thumb|ZIL-111V rear ]]

Apart from a basic version ZIL-111, the manufacturer produced ZIL-111A with air conditioning, which had a smaller and flatter rear window due to air tubes, and the [[convertible]] ZIL-111V (ЗИЛ-111В in Russian), of which only 12 were built.<ref name=avto111/><ref>Thompson, Andy. ''Cars of the Soviet Union'' (Haynes Publishing, Somerset, UK, 2008), p.214.</ref>

In December 1962 the car was completely restyled, now being in tune with the latest trends and having a wide chrome grille with quad headlamps similar to the one used on the [[Cadillac Series 70#1961–1965|1961 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five]],<ref>Thompson, p.241.</ref> and was available both as [[Sedan (car)|sedan]] ZIL-111G and convertible ZIL-111D.<ref name=avto111g>''ZIL-111G/111D'', Avtolegendy SSSR, nr. 29, DeAgostini, 2010, {{ISSN|2071-095X}} {{in lang|ru}}</ref> It was fitted with a 200&nbsp;hp {{convert|5980|cc|cid|abbr=on}} V8.<ref name="Thompson, p.214">Thompson, p.214.</ref> For U.S. President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]]'s visit, Yevgeny Molchanov designed a special version of this car. [[Air conditioning]] was standard.<ref name="Thompson, p.214"/> The ZIL-111G went out of production in 1966.<ref name="Thompson, p.214"/> 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.<ref name="Thompson, p.215">Thompson, p.215.</ref> [[Fidel Castro]] received a ZIL-111D as a gift.<ref name="Thompson, p.215"/>

As a rule, the ZIL-111 was available only as state-owned transport for members of the [[Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union|Politburo]].<ref name=zil118>{{in lang|ru}} ''ZIL-118 Yunost'', DeAgostini ''Avtolegendy SSSR'' series Nr.28</ref> About 112 units of all models were made from 1958 to 1967, which 26 of them were ZIL-111Gs.<ref name=avto111g/>

A [[minibus]] based on the ZIL-111, the [[ZIL-118|ZIL-118 ''Yunost'']] (Youth), was also developed and produced in small numbers.<ref>Thompson, p.213.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.denisovets.ru/zil/zilpages/zil118.html |script-title=ru:ЗАВОД им.И.А.ЛИХАЧЕВА /ОАО "ЗИЛ"/ : ЗИЛ-118 Юность" |publisher=Denisovets.ru |access-date=2012-06-08|language=ru}}</ref> 

The ZIL-111 would be replaced in 1967 by the [[ZIL-114]].<ref name="Thompson, p.215"/>

==Variants==
[[File:ZIL-111-front.jpg|thumb|ZIL-111G, front]]
[[File:ZIL-111-rear.jpg|thumb|ZIL-111G, rear]]
{{commons category|ZIL-111}}
*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==
{{Reflist}}

{{ZIS/ZIL timeline 1930-1960}}
{{ZIL timeline, 1960-present}}

[[Category:Cars of Russia]]
[[Category:Luxury vehicles]]
[[Category:ZiL vehicles|111]]
[[Category:Soviet automobiles]]
[[Category:Cars introduced in 1958]]
[[Category:1960s cars]]
[[Category:Cars discontinued in 1967]]