Zil 117
Year of Manufacture: 1978
Power: 300 horsepower
Displacement:6,959 cm3
Number of Cylinders/Valves: 8/2
Weight: 2,880 kg
Condition: Operational
Catalogue Number: 248
First, it transported communist party elites — later, it chauffeured a British secret agent on the silver screen.
The size of the car is not the main issue — it’s the handling that requires attention. The brakes must be approached with respect. The early ZIL 114 models were equipped with drum brakes, later replaced by disc brakes. The car can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 13 seconds. Average fuel consumption hovers around 30 liters per 100 km — sometimes even up to 40 liters.
The representative ZIL 117 was manufactured between 1971 and 1983. It was a shortened version of the ZIL 114 limousine. This four-door, four- to five-seater sedan had a front-mounted engine and rear-wheel drive. It delivered 300 horsepower at 4,400 rpm. It came with a two-speed automatic transmission and reached a top speed of 200 km/h.
Upon sitting inside, one is surprised by the deeply cushioned seats. At first glance, the seats may appear uncomfortable — but quite the opposite is true. The driving comfort is exceptional. The performance of the three-speed transmission is impressive. Modern systems would envy its smoothness — it keeps the engine at low revs without over-revving during gear changes.
The Samohýl family collection includes 17 ZIL and Chaika state limousines — cars that were never meant to be preserved. After being decommissioned from the Ministry of the Interior in the 1980s, they were supposed to be scrapped for security reasons. However, the Samohýl family guaranteed the vehicles would be used solely for exhibition purposes. After the Velvet Revolution, they were able to acquire a stockpile of spare parts in Kralupy at a favorable price.
It’s worth noting that this particular ZIL also appeared in the James Bond film *Casino Royale*, where its trunk was used to hide two corpses.
