"Big" doesn't tell the whole story. "Humongous" is more like it. Everything about this 1985 ZiL 41045 limousine is gargantuan. Its proportions, engine, and story, too. The car was part of the fleet of former President of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Gorbachev.
It wasn't all Lada, Kamaz trucks, and GAZ in Russian automotive history. Just think of the Aurus Senat, which is Vladimir Putin's presidential state car. All through these years, there have been carmakers that built luxury cars for the state elite. And the 1985 ZiL 41045 is one of those limousines specifically designed to be safe, potent, and intimidating.
It may not make sense, but the ZiL 41045 was a facelift of the ZiL 4104, which was initially called ZiL 115. And to make it even more confusing, the manufacturer had named the previous generation versions with no sense whatsoever. The long version was the 114, while the short one was the 117.
ZiL then switched to a four-digit designation for the limo during the production of the 4104. The next generation was the 41047 in the long variant, with 41041 referring to the short one.
Long story short, initially a ZiL 115, the car became a 4104 and a 4105 after facelift, ditching the short version. It's alright, you don't have to remember all the details.
The ZiS, the ZiL, and the cult of personality
But what does ZiL stand for? It's "Zavod Imeni Likhachyova," which is Russian for "Named after Likhachov." Ivan Likhachov was appointed head of the former Moscow Automotive Society (AMO) in 1927. The company was previously known as ZiS, where the S stood for Stalin. Cult of personality much? Nothing out of the ordinary in the communist countries.
But the last ZiL saw the light of day in 2012, and the former car plant was converted into a new urban district. That is so 2020s, isn't it?
The facelifted ZiL 41045 was in production between 1983 and 1985. The one we have right here is a 1985 model that was part of the presidential fleet of Mikhail Gorbachev. And surprisingly, it remained in the automotive department of the Russian Federation until 2001. That means that it stayed in the fleet during Boris Yeltsin's presidency (July 10, 1991 - December 31, 1999) and one year after Vladimir Putin became president of the Russian Federation in May 2000.
There was also a parade version of the model, and that was called 41046. It featured a roof hatch, so that the president could wave to the crowd gathered to get a glimpse of him out in the street whenever the surroundings seemed safe.
And everything about this limousine is simply… presidential. It is 6,339 mm (249.6 in) long, 2,086 mm (82.1 in) wide, and 1,500 mm (59.1 in) tall, with a wheelbase stretching for 3,300 mm (129.9 in). Just to get an idea of how long this thing is, think of the Rolls-Royce Phantom. That would only be 5,770 mm (227 in).
The ZiL 41045 is as heavy as lead
When loaded, the ZiL 41045 weighs 7,846 lbs (3,550 kg). That would be around 2,204 pounds (1,000 kg) more than the Phantom. Top speed with two people on board was "not less than 190 kph" (118 mph). What pulls this behemoth is a 7.7-liter (469 cubic inch) carbureted V8 that develops 315 PS (311 horsepower) and is mated to a three-speed automatic.
As you would expect from a car that was part of the fleet of the Russian Federation president, the equipment matches the status. The limousine features tinted triple-laminated windows. It runs on 16-inch wheels with 245/70 Michelin 4x4 Synchrony tires. Each wheel sports a disc brake with two calipers per disc. There is chrome just about everywhere, contrasting with the angular body in black.
There is, of course, air conditioning on board. The front bucket seats are wrapped in leather, and there is so much wood in there that you could grow a whole forest. The odometer shows 53,000 kilometers (33,000 miles). 500 of them have been added by the current owner in the past nine years.
A power-adjustable partition wall located right behind the front seats splits the driver's compartment from that of the president or whoever used to sit back there, in the adjustable rear seats covered in mohair cloth. There is also an emergency switch that activates a siren and flashing of headlights and taillights.
A loudspeaker, another siren, front and rear telephones would set it apart from your usual limousine, while window curtains secured all the necessary privacy.
The current owner bought it in 2014 and carried out a major overhaul on the braking system last year. The car is now listed on Bring a Trailer by a dealer consignment at no reserve. The seller is getting rid of this financial hole fugly Chinese-Wall-long limousine together with an owner's manual, Concours awards, several spare parts, Russian license plates, and a clean New Jersey title. With two days to the end, the current bid sits at $55,000.
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