Car ZIL-112S: description, specifications and reviews

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42

Strange as it may seem, racing cars were designed and competitions were held in the former USSR. The leading place among sports cars was occupied by the ZIL-112S. The machine was developed at the Likhachev plant in the period from 1957 to 1965. The basis for the creation of the vehicle was the legendary car ZIS-110. Model testing was carried out under the guidance of Sergey Glazunov and Vasily Rodionov, who specialized in creating cars for circuit races.

ZIL-112 S: characteristics

The car in question was equipped with a front suspension with independent springs. The serial version had a power unit with a capacity of 270/300 horsepower. The motor is equipped with an eight-cylinder V-shaped design. Working volume - 6 liters. The box is taken from the ZIS-110, equipped with a lightweight aluminum crankcase.

ZIL-112С: characteristics of a sports car

Brake system	Disk assembly, with the location of the block near the main gear in order to reduce unsprung masses
Max speed	Up to 275 km/h
Fullweight	1, 33 t
Acceleration from 0 to 100 km	5 seconds
Body style	Two-door parentage
Wheel formula	42
Design	Mid-engined front-wheel drive and rear-drive models
Engine type	Four-barrel carburetor

Car Features

ZIL-112S is notable for the fact that at the time of its production, the use of a differential with a self-locking function and a fiberglass body was found. In addition, the car was equipped with a removable steering wheel and rear suspension, the analogue of which is the popular De Dion system.

It is worth noting that the later variations of the vehicle in question had wing-type wheel mounts from several bolts. Before that, there were modifications that were equipped with one central mounting sleeve. This made it possible to speed up the process of disassembling the wheel.

In its original form ZIL-112S ("Cobra" in Russian) is currently quite problematic to find. You can admire the car in the Riga specialized museum. It is worth noting that the famous racer of those years Gennady Zharov won the USSR championship in 1964 on the machine in question.

Exterior

The appearance of the legend 1962 ZIL-112S is comparable to the Americanracing Cobra. Taking into account the body length of 4.2 meters, the wheelbase is 0.26 m. Despite the fact that the main body part is made of fiberglass, the weight of the car remained considerable. This is due to the fact that the machine is equipped with large power units and tubular-type frames.

The exterior of the car in question is very interesting. Despite the fact that many did not know about its release, it does not become less unique for this. The outer structural part of the ZIL-112S was drawn by Valentin Rostkov, who is also involved in the creation of the ZIS-112 racing car. It is worth focusing on the wheels, the design of which makes their dismantling an order of magnitude faster than in standard models.

Dashboard

When landing in a Soviet racing car, its pilot saw in front of him a low glass and a hard dashboard. It had dials. These include an indicator of the level of water, oil, pressure gauge, ammeter and gasoline level controller. In addition, there was a speedometer, the speed margin at which was 320 km / h. The real run of the car to the maximum is 260 kilometers.

In the "tourist version" a glove box was provided inside the cabin. In addition, in the cabin behind the rider there was a simple arc. The salon itself can be safely called a fiberglass box. From safety measures, the pilot had a simple helmet and that's it. One can only bow one's head to the athletes who loved cars and speed so much that they ignored such serious things.

Internalequipment

As you can see in the photo below, the doors of the ZIL-112S car perform a purely formal function. Comfort for entering or exiting the car is provided by a removable steering column.

Regarding the luggage compartment, it can be noted that it is available. However, given the racing focus of the car, all of its space is reserved primarily for the spare tire and mounting tools.

Technical indicators

In the first versions, the Soviet sports car ZIL-112S was equipped with a six-liter V-shaped "eight" power unit. The engine had aluminum heads and a cast iron block. Two four-barrel carburetors produced 240 horsepower at 4,000 rpm. The following engine modifications have become even more powerful. A seven-liter version was used for 270 and 300 horses.

The torque of the racing engine was 560 Nm, and the maximum speed of the car reached 280 km. A variation of the engine with a volume of 7.7 liters to 9 liters was planned. But its use was not implemented on the car in question. The rear brake discs are located closer to the gearbox, which has reduced unsprung masses. Clutch and gearbox taken from ZIS-110.

The front semi-independent suspension of the legendary car was borrowed from the GAZ-21. It has been adjusted specifically for this vehicle. It is noteworthy that it was possible to replace gears in the rear axle gearbox, thereby changing the gear ratio before a specific race.

Modifications

The car in question was produced in two main variations. The first model appeared in 1961. Outwardly, it resembled the 250th Ferrari. The creators modernized the interior decoration as best they could. Fiberglass panels and a six-liter power unit appeared. The clutch and gearbox with three steps were inherited from the ZiS-110, since there were no more suitable units in the country at that time.

On the ZIL-112S in 1962, the brake unit was transformed. In theory, the Soviet car could accelerate to 260 km / h. They even tried to set a number of speed records on it. Compared to Western counterparts, the car in question looked more like a touring variant adapted to racing. However, in reality, the car participated in domestic circuit races and showed good results.

Historical facts

Studying old photos, it was unusual to see the 112th ZIL in the same row with single formulas on open wheels. The competitions where the car in question participated until 1963 belonged to the subcategory "Group B", and from 1965 - "Formula 5".

The starting season in 1962 for ZIL can hardly be called successful. At the National Championship held in Estonia, the racer V. Galkin took only the ninth position. But the very next year he became third in the race on the Minsk Ring.

In the 64th year, the vehicle was equipped with an engine from the "Seagull" (200 horses). On it, the famous Soviet racer G. Zharkov won bronze and gold in 1965 on the Neman Ring. Average check-in speedwas 127 km/h.

It is worth noting that the athletes of that time drove cars that had terrible, by today's standards, handling. And in terms of safety, the cars left much to be desired. ZIL-112S had not the most ideal brakes, there was no protective capsule and belts.

Auto Legends of the USSR: 112С

The racing car in question was produced in batches from small series. Upgraded samples were even taken abroad to participate in long races. However, they could not make a worthy competition. The 112th sports ZIL was predetermined to retire. Despite the creation of a whole laboratory for the design of this car, it could not be brought to an optimal state.

Soon the sports laboratory was closed due to inexpediency. Now in reality, the ZIL-112S can be seen in the Riga Museum. The car is carefully stored and sometimes goes to races, which is quite surprising. It is worth noting that from 1963 to 1965. five all-union records were set on this machine.

Reviews

Given the specifics of the vehicle and the limited production run, reviews from real owners are almost impossible to find. However, given the opinions of experts and professional reviews, the following advantages of the car can be noted:

• Fitting a sports car with disc brakes.
• Upgraded spring suspension.
• Using a self-locking differential.
• Center nuts on wing wheel.
• Foot type parking brake.

Despite all the innovative inclusions, the car had a number of drawbacks (compared to foreign counterparts):

• Weak roadster dynamics.
• Imperfect and slow braking system.
• Bad handling.
• Undeveloped safety machine.

If we compare the above facts, it can be noted that for those times the technical characteristics of the ZIL-112S is an achievement of the Soviet automobile industry in the racing field, though at the level of domestic competitions.

Conclusion

As a result of the review of the Soviet racing car, it should be emphasized that in the mid-60s, the developers managed to squeeze the maximum out of the available resources. The first domestic disc brakes were introduced. The speed indicator was also at a decent level (260 km/h).

To set records, the car was equipped with a special streamlined body. It was more convenient to board the wheel on the second modification of the vehicle in question. Several nuts were replaced with one central wing type. Thanks to caring connoisseurs of retro cars, it was possible to save the current ZIL-112C model, which is located in the Riga Automobile Museum. The second copy, according to rumors, after the restoration came to Europe to a private owner.

For a number of reasons, the production of the Soviet sports car was soon curtailed in order to direct reserves to the development of government cars. During the production, the "Roadster" managed to "try on" power units on240, 270, 300 horsepower, given the engine from the legendary "Seagull". Several elements went to the car from Volga and ZIS-110.