ZIS-101

The ZIS-101 was a limousine produced by the Soviet car manufacturer Zavod Imeni Stalina from 1936 to 1941. Its chassis was reverse-engineered from a Buick 33-90, except for the front suspension, engine, exhaust and battery carried over from 1933 experimental limousine L-1, itself an unlicensed Buick 32-90 copy,[1] but the body was designed by Budd Company for $1,500,000 while the stamps were made by Hamilton Foundry & Machine Company for another $500,000.[2] It was equipped with an 5.76 L straight-eight OHV engine (a metric copy of Buick 345) producing up to 110 PS[3] and giving a top speed of 115 km/h.[4] The car was fitted with a 3-speed manual gearbox.[4]

It was followed by the ZIS-101A that had improved the engine giving 116 PS[5] and a new top speed of approximately 130 km/h. Production ended in 1941 with over 8,000 cars built. In 1939, a two-seat sport version designed by Valentin Nikolaevich Rostkov called 101-Sport was built.[4] The engine was the same as in the 101-A, but boosted to 141 PS and a top speed of 162 km/h (although a Pravda article claimed 170–180 km/h). It was, however, not made in more than one or two copies.

Variants

• ZIS-101: Initial production version. Produced 1936–1939.
• ZIS-101A: ZIS-101 with improved engine. Produced 1939–1941.
• ZIS-101B: Improved ZIS-101, prototype.
• ZIS-101E and ZIS-101S: Prototype armored versions.
• ZIS-101L: Prototype version with an intercom for communication between the passengers and driver.
• ZIS-101 Sanitary: Ambulance version.
• ZIS-101 Sport: Two-seat version. Produced in 1939.
• ZIS-102: Convertible version. Produced 1938–1940.
• ZIS-103: Prototype improved version of the ZIS-101.