The ZIL-4104 is a Limousine from ZiL, built from 1978 to 1985, as the oil crises and the first emissions rules rewired the industry. Under the bonnet: 7.7L ZIL-4104 V8.
The background
The ZIL-4104 was a limousine built by ZiL from the late 1970s to the early 1980s, when it served as the transport of the elite of the Soviet Union. It is estimated that no more than fifty cars were produced each year. Originally designated ZIL-115, the ZIL-4104 was an update of the ZIL-114 with which it shared the same chassis and over half its mechanical components. Despite sharing the same chassis, the ZIL-4104 was as much as 314 kg (692 lb) heavier than the 114. Mechanically, the ZIL-4104 also improved on the 114.
The V8 pushrod engine of the 114 had its stroke increased from 95 to 105 mm (3.7 to 4.1 in). With a 108 mm (4.3 in) bore, this meant the capacity increased from 6,959 to 7,695 cc (425 to 470 cu in), which was throughout the model's lifespan one of the world's biggest passenger-car engines (Cadillac produced a 7,730 cc (472 cu in) engine, enlarged to 8,200 cc (500 cu in)). This engine developed 235 kW (315 hp) SAE Gross at 4,400 rpm and a substantial 608 N⋅m (448 lb⋅ft) at 2500 rpm. Among its special features were special laminated windscreen and triple-layered windows, supposedly offering protection from radiation in case of nuclear attack, plus duplicated systems, including dual ignition, two 74-amp batteries in parallel, and two fuel pumps. The console and dash were covered with 10 mm (0.39 in) thick birch grown in Karelia, and the rear seat controlled radio (a Riga receiver), power windows, heater, and air conditioner; in the console in front was a Vilma cassette player. The fuel tank was 120 L (32 US gal; 26 imp gal) and the car used leaded 95 octane petrol
The engineering
Power comes from 7.7L ZIL-4104 V8. It weighs 3400 kg. It shifts through a 2-speed Automatic transmission / automatic (1978–1983) / 3-speed automatic (1984–1985). The layout matters: a front engine drives the rear wheels, the classic proportion — long bonnet, cabin set back — that most people picture when they picture a sports saloon or a grand tourer. These are manufacturer figures carried by Wikipedia and Wikidata, not road-test measurements.
Where it sits
Its family tree is legible: it took over from the ZIL-117 (ZIL-115) / ZIL-114 (ZIL-4104); its successor was the ZIL-41041 (ZIL-115) / ZIL-41047 (ZIL-4104/41045) / ZIL-41052 (ZIL-4105/41051); assembly was at Moscow (Likhachov Plant), Soviet Union. Its contemporaries in the catalogue — the GM (General Motors) Saab 900, the Mazda RX-7, the Toyota Supra — show what else the money bought that year. Its ZiL stablemates include the 9P138 Grad-1 and the AMO-2.
What it costs now
There is no federal ownership record for the ZIL-4104 — it predates the complaint database or was never sold in the United States — so MotorJury publishes no running-cost figure for it. For a car of this age the price is set by the collector market and the condition of the individual example, not by a formula.