ZIL-117 Auto Legends of the USSR

The first prototype of the ZIL-117 saloon appeared in 1969. By 1971, the first production example had joined the Special Purpose Garage, known as GON. The car was commissioned from ZIL’s designers by the KGB’s Ninth Directorate, which was responsible for protecting the state’s senior leaders. Chief project designer Vasily Fyodorovich Rodionov personally supervised development of the 114/117 limousine platform.

Notable technical features of the ZIL-117 included power steering with an angular-oscillation damper, allowing the steering wheel to be turned with one finger. As on the base model, the steering column could swing out of the way and also had height adjustment. Compared with the 114, the wheelbase was shortened by 480 mm and weight reduced by 205 kg. As a result, the 117’s top speed rose by 10 km/h and its 0–100 km/h time fell by half a second. Around 80 of these luxury saloons were built, with the last leaving the line in 1984.