:: [  cca 1950 ZIS 110 Saloon  -  Spotted in Xinjiang, China  -   2003   ] ::

The following photos were received from Barry Ngai, from Beijing, China requesting identification as to the manufacturer, model, and year of manufacture of the car. The car is now in Xinjiang, China and he was told it vas a vintage car made in 1910. Well, from immediate observation the car is not 'vintage',  nor made in 1910,  but a 'classic' made very much later either in USA or in Russia !



Closer identification of the photos confirmed that the car was of Russian origin. It was in fact a car made by "ZIS" (Zavod Imieni Stalina) in Moscow and it was a Model " 110 ". It was not possible to give the exact year of manufacture but from the photos would suggest it was approximately 1950. The model came into production in 1945 and was manufactured in very much the same form until 1958. About 2083 vehicles were built which included 7-seater 4-door limousines, 5-door ambulances, 4-door phaetons, 7-seater 4-door taxis, 7-seater 4-door armored limousines and one hearse. The Cars were made to order only and were not for sale to the general public. They were used only by government officials or professionals in high positions within the Soviet Union.



ZIS  company was originally called 'AMO Works' manufacturing mainly trucks. The manufacture of trucks still continues. The works were renovated and renamed Zavod Imieni Stalina in 1928 during the first Five Year Plan. In 1956 the works were again renamed as Zavod Imieni Likhacveva after a former director of the plant and a pioneer in Russian car development. The origins of the model 110 were during the ZIS period when earlier cars had engines believed inspired by the Buick straight eight. The Model 110 came about as a result of a present given to Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili 'Stalin' by Franklin Delano Roosewelt of USA of a Packard Super Eight. This resulted in machines and dies being supplied to ZIS for production of an adaptation of the Packard Series 180.



The ZIS 110 had an eight cylinder sidevalve engine of 6005cc developing 137bhp at 3,600 rpm, all going through a three speed synchromech gearbox. Maximum speed was about 90 mph, indicated at 140kph. Fuel consumption about 10 miles per gallon or indicated 23 L/100km. The weight was 2575 kg with length: 6000mm, width: 1960mm, height: 1730mm. Standard equipment included on some models power windows, electric roof, folding occasional seats.



In view of the rarity of these cars, obtaining spares will be difficult. At the time of the investigation it had not been possible to trace any sources but would suggest that engineers in China should be able to fabricate replacements far cheaper than obtaining them from Europe. By 'restoration standards' in the UK, the car in the pictures appears to in an 'excellent' condition. It does not seem visually to require very much serious work to get it to a reasonable condition. As to its value on the open market, big Russian cars requiring renovation are not very valuable at all in UK. Recent ZIM limousine came to a auction and sold for only UK£ 400. Presumably difficulty in getting spares keeps the price very low. Market conditions in China are probably different. The car in the photo may be worth more if it could be possible  provide some provenance for it (ie was it used or owned by famous people) as this can increase the value of a specific car. 

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