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, 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. It was equipped with an straight-eight OHV engine producing up to and giving a top speed of. The car was fitted with a 3-speed manual gearbox.
It was followed by the ZIS-101A that had improved the engine giving and a new top speed of approximately. 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. The engine was the same as in the 101-A, but boosted to and a top speed of . 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.