The ZIL-117 was a luxury sedan built by ZiL from 1971 on the chassis of the ZIL-114 limousine. Shorter, lighter and slightly faster than the limousine, it was meant for Politburo candidates and for escorting state motorcades.
ZIL-117 at a glance
| Maker | ZiL, Moscow |
|---|---|
| Production | 1971–1978 |
| Class | luxury sedan for state use |
| Engine | 6,959 cc V8, 300 hp |
| Transmission | two- or three-speed automatic |
| Length | 5,725 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,310 mm |
| Seats | five |
| Top speed | 190–201 km/h |
| Built | about 50 |
| Open version | ZIL-117V, 11 built |
| Replaced by | ZIL-41041 in 1986 |
History of the ZIL-117
A car between two ranks
Design work on the ZIL-117 began in 1968 and the first prototype ran in 1969; the car was shown in 1971 and appeared at the Autoprom show in 1977. It was created because the state needed a car between the ZIL-114, reserved for the highest authorities, and the GAZ-13 Chaika, suitable for candidates to the Politburo and as a support vehicle in the convoys of top officials. Officially it was a faster and more manoeuvrable escort car than the limousine. There was also an unofficial story that it was the ‘driver’s version’, built after Leonid Brezhnev, who liked to drive himself, asked for it.
Mechanics
The ZIL-117 used the same 6,959 cc V8 as the ZIL-114, rated at 300 hp at 4,400 rpm with a compression ratio of 9.0:1 and a single four-choke carburettor. The gearbox was a two- or three-speed automatic with a column selector, and power steering was standard. At 5,725 mm the car was 575 mm shorter than the limousine, on a 3,310 mm wheelbase instead of 3,760 mm, and it seated five rather than seven. The factory claimed a top speed of between 190 and 201 km/h. The chassis followed the 114: a stiff frame, torsion-bar front suspension with an anti-dive system, and disc brakes.
Equipment and versions
The interior matched the limousine, with power windows, central locking, air conditioning, heat-absorbing glass and a steering wheel that tilted for easier entry. Cars were painted black, dark blue or dark cherry. The ZIL-117V open version had a two-door phaeton body with a fabric top that folded in 10–15 seconds by electric motor; 11 were built and used in the Red Square parades from 1972 to 1980, then in Leningrad and St Petersburg from 1981 to 2008 and again in 2015–2018. The ZIL-117VE was the same car with shielded electrics, and single examples of the ZIL-117M and ZIL-117P were also built.
The end
Production of the ZIL-117 was stopped in 1978, when only about 50 had been made. It was effectively replaced in 1986 by the mechanically similar ZIL-41041.
Design and features
- Short chassis: 5,725 mm long on a 3,310 mm wheelbase, 575 mm shorter than the ZIL-114.
- Same V8 as the limousine: 6,959 cc and 300 hp, with a claimed top speed of up to 201 km/h.
- State escort role: intended for Politburo candidates and as a support car in official convoys.
- Parade phaeton: the ZIL-117V with an electrically folded top served Red Square parades for years.
ZIL-117 versions
- ZIL-117 (1971–1978): the standard five-seat sedan.
- ZIL-117V (1973–1979): two-door open parade car, 11 built.
- ZIL-117VE: phaeton with shielded electrical equipment.
- ZIL-117E: sedan with shielded electrics.
- ZIL-117M and ZIL-117P: single experimental cars, the M with 4104-style bodywork.
The ZIL-117 was derived from the ZIL-114 limousine, and its place in the range was later taken by the ZIL-4104 family. More cars are in the ZiL collection.
Sources
- ZIL-117, English Wikipedia: design history, engine, dimensions, production
- ЗИЛ-117, Russian Wikipedia: role, equipment, ZIL-117V parades
.jpg){kind=link}