The latest and most famous design of a sports car created in the laboratory of high-speed ZIL cars. The car was originally developed taking into account the specifics of its use in ring races. The design prototype, obviously, is Ferrari 250TR 1958. (AC Cobra came to the world later) Lead designer – V. Rodionov.
“C” – is not english “c” but russian letter “s” for Sport.
The design as much as possible used components of the serial model ZIL-111, some units were taken from the GAZ-21 and ZIS-110. The basis of the chassis was a spatial frame of thin-walled steel pipes that have undergone heat treatment. Body panels were made of plastic and connected to each other by means of gluing.
What is inside of ZIL 112C?
Front suspension was from serial GAZ-21. The rear axle was a bearing beam of the “De Dion” type, the gearbox was made separately from which and mounted on the frame; the wheels were driven by semi-axles with two cardan hinges each. The beam was connected to the frame by four pushing rods and two triangular levers; springs served as elastic elements. The attachment of the wheels were governed by the “Whitworth” central nuts of the type , which ensured the possibility of their quick tune for each race race.
Brakes of all wheels-drum with hydraulic drive, separate for the front and rear wheels; drums were brought to the main gear. Steering – from GAZ-21 with some changes. ZIL-111 engine, forced by increasing the compression ratio, changing the mechanism of gas distribution and installation of two four-chamber carburetors. The gearbox and clutch, as in previous ZIL sports cars, were taken from the ZIS-110. In the main gear was built an additional gearbox with easily replaceable pairs of gears, allowing you to quickly change the gear ratios in the process of adjustment for a specific track.
Racing career of ZIL 112C
Work on the project began in 1957-1958, and the construction of the first car of the ZIL-112C was completed in 1961. in the autumn of the same year, he first took part in the race. it had blue paint with wide white stripe under #46.
In 1963 the second ZIL-112C was built, differing from the first disc brakes on all wheels, roll over bar behind the driver’s seat, mounted on wheels five regular nuts and a box-like shape of the air intake on the hood is semi-circular.
At the same time the safe frame were installed on both cars. In that season, V. Galkin, became the bronze medalist of the USSR championship in the group driving chassis #1.
In 1964, after limiting the engine capacity of sports cars 3000 cm3 ZIL-112S participated in the race in the Soviet Formula 5 with lighter, though less powerful racing cars. For maximum weight reduction from the car was removed the exhaust, spare wheel, part of electrical equipment, etc. The GAZ-13 engine was installed on the chassis number 1 in 1964, boosted to 200 HP; externally it was expressed in the absence of the pipe of the exhaust system at the sides.
In the 1964 season, Zharkov won the bronze medal of the all-Union championship on the chassis #2. The following year, new engine ZIL-114 260-270 HP on the ZIL-112c #2 was installed. G. Zharkov on this car in 1965 he became the USSR champion in Formula 5. According to unverified data, in 1967 both cars received serial engines ZIL-114 with a capacity of 300 HP. In 1967-1970 N. Zhdanov (chassis#2), V. Bogatov (#1) and N. Razinchev (#1) set three all-Union speed records in class 10 at a distance of 500 m with a start from the spot. In addition, in 1969. one ZIL-112c (#1) driven by V. Bogatov was announced for the USSR championship in Formula 1 class (photo below), but he failed to achieve good results.
ZIL 112C After racing life
In early 1977, both ZIL-112S were sold to the Riga club of antique cars (AAC). With forces of the club #2 chassis was restored (added decorative wheel caps, grille, windshield). In addition, the car was painted in bright red instead of the traditional blue and white color of the factory team.
Since 1989, this car is an exhibit of the Riga motor Museum. Later it was repainted in white and in this form is exhibited in the Museum now.
ZIL-112c chassis #1 shortly after buying it by the club was seriously injured in an accident during a trial run in Bikernieki race track. It was not repaired and although it was also transferred to the motor Museum in 1989, it was never exhibited there. In 1993, this car was sold to a private collector and is currently in Sweden or germany, waiting for a full restoration. Who knows?
How was it?
While bilding great limos, rocket shipes, big cars, The Soviet Gran turismo ZIL-112c machine didn’t have good dynamics (no acceleration, neither brake), no good handling, quality and refinement. Car racing was not a priority after the war.It was a business of enthusiasts most of all.
Looking at this car with max speed of ~27 km/h, it’s wanted to take hat off. It’s not even about bad handling and not the most perfect brakes (but the speed of some of the ZIL still good enought event by modern standards). In front of the driver is a low glass and a rigid dashboard with a set of dials, behind a simple arc, around a fiberglass box, with helmet on the head — no safety capsules, even belts. How driver should love cars and sports to drive this “Roadster” worn on the tracks, very far from modern safety standards. Epic times!
Описание ЗИЛа 112 на русском с портала ussr-autosport в PDF
ZIL 112C 1:43 scale model #82
ZIL 112C for Assetto Corsa is available
We are glad to present you the legenrady USSR racing roadster in Assetto Corsa. For this project we already learned a lot, tryed to do best about good looking of the car, and it’s driving reflections. You probably say it’s a trash after one lap of driving. But the real car had a poor dynamic, and it’s already half-century old, and look at the slim retro wheels. But we think this is exactly how this heavy racing car feeled like. After lap or two when wheels and brakes are warmed enough it becomes more responsive. FEEL THE RETRO! With love from USSR ^_^
Two versions of 1961 and “62-63 are different: tube frame, brakes, weight.
♠ Lap on Nordschleife (20.8 km): 9 min 52 sec . Average speed: 131 km/h
Download ZIL 112C (v1.0) for Assetto Corsa
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