ZiL limousines were the official state cars of the Soviet Union, so only a few people could afford to ride in them. This one may have been part of Mikhail Gorbachev’s fleet and worked for the Russian Federation until 2001. The Bring a Trailer online sale will end on July 25 for $50,000. Even though the Lada Niva and the GAZ Volga are good cars, some Russian vehicles are better than others. The ZiL 41045, a Cold War-era limousine the size of a warship that is said to have driven none other than Mikhail Gorbachev, is the car of choice right now. It’s up for bid on Bring a Trailer, a Hearst Autos site like Car and Driver. Just look at how big this beast is—styled like a Soviet block, with sharp sides and a lot of mass. Imagine it calmly waiting at the curb in front of some brutalist concrete building to take its passengers to a high-level meeting about nuclear proliferation, vassal countries, or the strategic national vodka reserve. Zavod Imeni Likhachyova, or ZiL, is the name of the factory where these cars were made. Before, the company was called ZIS, where the S stood for Stalin. This car is as Russian as borscht or falling out of a window by accident after criticising the present government in public. In 1985, when this version was made, ZiL made a few minor changes to the outside of its long-running limos. The 4104’s mechanical specs, like its 300-hp 7.7-liter V-8, three-speed automatic gearbox, and nearly 7,000-pound curb weight, didn’t change. The V-8 can handle an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and has two sets of starting and fueling systems. With birchwood veneers and mohair seats in the back, the inside of this ZiL is as luxurious as the holiday home of a Soviet leader. You will also get a Radiotehnika radio and a Vilma tape player, which are great for playing Boney M’s Rasputin. You would have to get yourself one of those fur hats. A ZiL limousine is a unique collector car made in tiny numbers and runs best on 95-octane fuel. You don’t have to agree with the political ideas that went into making this car to understand and value its historical importance. With five days left, the best offer is for $50,000. Friends, take advantage of the chance to bid on this one-of-a-kind collection.
