AutoPuzzles - The Internet's Museum of Rare Cars!
AutoPuzzles Today => Features, Stories and Photos => Topic started by: faksta on December 15, 2008, 12:12:57 PM
-
This is the idea that's in my mind for a rather long time. We all know many racing and sports cars from 'major automotive countries', while tons of machines from, say, Asia or Eastern Europe remain unknown. What if we could exchange some information in this section? I know, some people here would consider this thread a waste of future material for puzzles, but some other members would consider it interesting, wouldn't they? ;)
To start with and to give you a direction, here is my first contribution.
One of the most successful Soviet racing cars, ZIL 112 S, appeared in 1962. As most of Soviet sports cars, 112 S used parts from production Soviet cars, for example front suspension was taken from GAZ 21 Volga, though the rear suspension was fully original. However, as well as disk brakes on all wheels (rear brakes were settled down to a main gear). Of two cars built, one had the V8 6-liter engine providing 230hp, and another - 6,95-liter V8 capable of 270hp, both developed from ZIS 110 unit. Depending on the engine, the 112 S could run 260-270km/h. Just as the enignes, transmissions were taken from ZIS 110, too, but redesigned slightly to apply lightened aluminium carter. Compared to earlier 112 modifications, 112 S had shorter wheelbase (2190mm) and less weight (1300kg).
Driving the 230hp car, Viktor Galkin came 3rd in 1963 Soviet championship, and in 1965 the 270hp 112 S won the championship with Gennadi Zharkov at the wheel.
In 1962 one of the cars received a brand-new more closed body and a pallet, covering all the technical elements from below for breaking a Soviet landspeed record. The 112 RG, as it was named, was taken to Astrakhan' region to race on Baskunchak salt lake. But that year Baskunchak was washed by the rain (which, in fact, was almost never seen there), and the 112 RG reached 200-230km/h only - tyres couldn't run faster on such surface.
The second attempt was taken at just built 14-kilometer Dmitrovski autorange. That time ZIL guys planned to beat a record of average speed during the 24h race (don't know whether the car should've been 112 S or 112 RG, in fact later rebuilt back into 112 S), but as the car and the track were prepared, the winter began, and no record attempt could be taken. Next year ZIL direction considered building racing cars an unnecessary capital waste, and switched to another spheres.
Long time both 112 S cars were standing somewhere at the factory and later found their places in Riga automuseum both painted in wrong colors - red and cream-white, though an original ZIL livery was white and blue for both of the cars. Nowadays one of them is still in Riga, while another found its way abroad - into the hands of some car collector in Sweden.
The first two pictures show a standard ZIL 112 S, while the third one features a record-prepared 112 RG.
Pictures were taken from the article in Autopilot magazine.
-
With a little fleshing out of some details you practically have yourself a Feature Article here.
-
I just hope it won't be the only story in this thread :)
-
Second story. First of 112 family.
ZIS 112/1, or simply ZIS 112, was developed to compete with GAZ SG-1 (Pobeda Sport). As usual for ZIS (later ZIL), the 112 was designed using traits of American cars, in this case - Buick LeSabre concept. And it was performed by Valentin Rostkov, who had already worked on ZIS 101 A Sport.
Built on production chassis taken from ZIS 110, almost 6 meters long, with a round grilles and a single headlight in the middle of it, the 112/1 was called 'Cyclopus' or 'Single-eyed' by the workers. By the way, the 112 became the first car to carry ZIL's white-and-blue livery.
At the beginning, the car had 140hp from production limousine ZIS 110, but for the 2450kg car it was 'a bit' weak, so the same 1951 year a new experimental engine was applied to a car. Developed by Vasili Rodionov, that inline-eight engine had 6005cc and provided 182hp at 3500rpm. The new unit let the car reach 204km/h. But alongside with more power, the new engine added much more weight to a front axle, so the 112/1 was very hard to handle. I can say nothing about curvy tracks, as that time races were held at straights, but the 112/1 was not friend with its brakes, so the car was very unstable. ZIS 112 tried its best at line races at Minskoe highway, but soon it became clear that it's not adapted even for such competitions.
In 1954 the wheelbase was decreased by 600mm alongside with the body length, so the weight felt by almost 500kg. The engine was modified, too - power grew up to 192hp at 3800rpm, and the 112/1 could now reach 210km/h - it was the fastest Soviet car ever before. Finally, the same 1954 year saw 112/1 without its roof.
In 1955 112/1 participated in Soviet championship again, now held at new circuit in Minsk - two highways were connected by smaller roads, so the lap distance equalled 42 kilometers. But, just as all the previous seasons, 112/1 was uncompetitive, and finally found its way to factory's boondocks.
Pictures show 1951 and 1954 versions accordingly. Second picture is from Autopilot magazine.
-
This one has already been used as a puzzle, and I think more than once. For us westerners, soviet cars have an odd appearance that has made them first choice material...
http://www.autopuzzles.com/forum/index.php?topic=3322.0
-
Yes, both of the above cars have been already guessed. I'm still thinking whether I should write about yet unguessed cars or would it be better to save them for a number of hard puzzles ;)
-
Gentlemen (and ladies?), since this thread seemingly has no interest for you, I'd like to place some kind of request - if anyone has any interesting information about classic racing specials, small series racing and sports cars, modified sportscars or just any other rare racing and sportscars built with an intension to take a part in racing events and would like to share that information or sources, I'd be very thankful if you made it. I understand this site was made for puzzling, so maybe we could use a PM service or e-mail to keep them in secret.
The reason is following. I'm trying to make some sort of database on them with (possibly - I don't want to make any hasty predictions ;) ) further development of a website. All of the contributors will be credited on a website (in case my plans will come true). Also I won't take part in guessing the particular cars in case they will be published by the same person who provided the information.
Many thanks,
Alexander.
-
This thread has been very interesting for me. You can talk about any car you want here. Just try not to reveal links to sites that might contain puzzles others would use. You are building the makings of a dynamite Feature Article and it would be a shame if you stopped. Thanks for your contributions, Alexander. Don't read too much in the number of replys. People read things and often never reply. Please, keep 'em coming. Make this thread the beginning of your database. Nothing would please me more.
P.S. You can make your database here and we will publish it for you in the manner of a Feature Article. In doing so you will have created your website database, both within and outside the forum and enriched the overall content of this site.
-
Thanks, Ultra :) Don't know if that [projected] database would be worth a separate article though :P
I'll try to make this thread bigger then...
-
Thanks, Ultra :) Don't know if that [projected] database would be worth a separate article though :P
It would. You are already developing this to the point of Feature Article Status. Having new additions made to Feature Articles is a great method of adding content. You do another car or two and Otto and I will develop a Feature Article out of it and give you Feature Writer status. Then you can continue to add to it as time allows.
:thumbsup: :drink:
-
OK, will try ;)
-
OK, will try ;)
And I for one will enjoy your efforts.
-
OK, will try ;)
This is an announcement to the membership as a whole.
This is exactly the type of contribution we want at this site. We want you guys to show off your knowledge of rare autos in ways besides puzzles. It is our goal to create a website that is virtually irresistible to an automotive enthusiast. Contributions like these are essential to help foster that environment.
:tasty:
Otto, after Alex puts up another rare race car lets turn this into a Feature and move the thread to that section and make Faksta our next Feature Writer. :grad:
:nod:
-
The next story. Hope you'll enjoy.
GAZ SG-1 has made its racing debut in 1950, when two cars have been entered to race in first USSR Championship near Moscow. Both cars ran in Pobeda class and were modified GAZ 20 Pobeda's - the bodies have been remastered from 4-door saloons to 2-door fastbacks, while one of the cars has also had front and rear aerodynamic elements made of duraluminium. Both cars had modified production engines - being of a same displacement (2111cc), they've had increased compression rate and two carburettors instead of one. That lead to more power - 78hp at 4000rpm instead of standard 50hp at 3600rpm. The aerodynamic bodied car, driven by Mihail Metelev, came first thus making Metelev first Soviet champion. Another car, driven by K.Nikishin, finished third, behind the winner and the runner-up N.Sorokin on a standard bodied Pobeda with a modified 78hp engine.
A year after, when the regulations became much more liberal, Alexey Smolin, an engineer responsible for SG-1 project, has upgraded the cars. Of the three SG-1's prepared for 1951season, two cars had further modified Pobeda engines, now 2487cc supercharged units with a standard compression rate and one carburettor giving out 105hp at 4000rpm. The third car has been taken to NAMI, where it has received a naturally aspirated prototype engine with an output of 91hp at 4000rpm. Third of the 105hp engines prepared on GAZ was placed under the bonnet of a new racing car - GAZ SG-2. SG-1 cars didn't succeed in 1951 USSR Championship round - all of the three cars has retired with mechanical problems.
In 1952 the regulations have been strengthened, and superchargers alongside with aerodynamic bodies and bigger displacement engines have been restricted. It made Smolin to return to 1950 engines, but this time with two spark plugs per each cylinder instead of one. That configuration provided only 80-82hp, and the cars didn't succeed again.
But in 1954, when aerodynamic bodies were back in business (they've started with a handicap), SG-1's were modified again. Increased compression rate (power has now equalled 85hp at 4000rpm), less weight and aerodynamic shape let V.Mosolov become USSR champion, while M.Metelev came second. Third car didn't finish, though.
In 1955 GAZ has prepared the new SG-1M cars to replace SG-1's.
The story is based on Lev Shugurov's article.
Now the photographs (from the same article).
1. 1950 - K.Nikishin's SG-1 without duraluminium aerodynamic bodypanels in 1950.
2. Three cars during 1951 USSR Championship.
3. Naturally aspirated GAZ SG-1 in 1955.
-
Nice feature faksta! :)
BTW: do you use to save your pics in numeral order? ;)
-
Thanks ;)
Haha..no, it's because most of Russian and Soviet cars are stored on my PC under the names written with cyrillic letters, and the forum system changes the letters to some figure combinations.
Although, if I did, I guess the number would be close to these ones :D
-
Very interesting...thank you for sharing!
-
Thank you, PJ!
-
Otto, what say we make this a Feature Article.
Faksta, welcome to the Feature Writers club.
-
I will try to update it from time to time :)
-
Otto, what say we make this a Feature Article.
Faksta, welcome to the Feature Writers club.
10-4
-
Here it is! :)
http://www.autopuzzles.com/cfeature31.htm
-
Looks good, thanks :)
-
Thank you - great article! :)
-
Faksta, I know this is an old article, but I sure enjoyed it. There's one thing I don't quite understand. That's ZIL and ZIS. Are they essentially from the same factory or group?
Thanks for a great article and some fascinating photos.
RtR
ps...if anyone else knows the answer to this, please chime in.
-
You're right, ZIS and ZIL is the same factory, which was born as AMO in 1916. ZIS ('Zavod Imeni Stalina' - 'Stalin Plant') was renamed in 1956 in favor of its former director and subsequently Minister of road transport and highways in USSR Ivan Likhachev and became ZIL ('Zavod Imeni Likhacheva' - 'Likhachev Plant'). You may remember when Khruschev came into power Stalin's cult of personality was dispelled.
-
...is it really a feature article? Well, thanks :P
-
You're right, ZIS and ZIL is the same factory, which was born as AMO in 1916. ZIS ('Zavod Imeni Stalina' - 'Stalin Plant') was renamed in 1956 in favor of its former director and subsequently Minister of road transport and highways in USSR Ivan Likhachev and became ZIL ('Zavod Imeni Likhacheva' - 'Likhachev Plant'). You may remember when Khruschev came into power Stalin's cult of personality was dispelled.
Thanks for the clarification. At least something is clear in my mind now. :)
r
-
Pics restored...all but 1.