The ZIL-118 Yunost ("Youth") is a microbus built by Zavod imeni Likhachova (Russian: Завод имени Лихачёва, Factory named for Likhacov), or ZIL.
| ZIL-118 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | ZIL |
| Production | 1962-1994 |
| Assembly | Moscow, Russia |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | Microbus |
| Layout | FR layout |
| Related | ZIL-111 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
|
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 3,760 mm (148.0 in) |
| Length | 6,840 mm (269.3 in) |
| Width | 2,110 mm (83.1 in) |
| Height | 2,067 mm (81.4 in) |
| Curb weight | 3,320 kg (7,319 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | ZIL-3250 |
Based on the ZIL-111 limousine, the ZIL-118 Yunost was developed in 1961,[1] on the factory's own initiative.[2] It was available in two versions, the microbus 118 and the ambulance 118A. Only 20 were initially built because of a lack of interest of government.[3][4] The few built were solely to special order, with a number as high-capacity ambulances.[5] An updated version appeared in 1970 in several versions: the ZIL-118K coach ZIL-118KS ambulance, both using the ZIL-508.10 V8 from ZIL trucks.[5] This modernized version was also sometimes named the ZIL-119. It received some modernizations in the body, such as the lighting equipment from VAZ-2105.[6]
This variant proved a little more popular than the ZIL-118, being in used in bigger numbers in government agencies. Such vehicles were purchased for a special purpose garage, the Ministry of Defense, the KGB, for the transportation of residents of the Intourist hotel and some others. An ambulance model was also built.[7]
The microbus was further facelifted in the 1980s, becoming the ZIL-3207. Production ended in 1994, with total number built, of the ZIL-118K/KS and ZIL-3207, reaching only 86.
During the 1990s, ZIL found itself in a difficult position in the market, as demand for 6-ton trucks such as the ZIL-130 started decreasing. As such, it was understood that a new light truck model was needed on the market. There were three competitive design teams assigned to develop such a vehicle. The possible options were the ZIL-4305 pick-up truck with a payload of 1.5 tons, the ZIL-3302, a pick-up truck version of the ZIL-3207 with a Perkins 3351 4-cylinder engine, with a payload of around 2 tons, and a cab-over truck built with Saviem parts, but had a new cab. Eventually, the ZIL-5301 "Bull" was developed, which replaced all these vehicles, including both the ZIL-3207 and 3302, as it was available as both a flatbed truck and bus.[8]
During the 2010s, sales in ZIL were gradually decreasing and the company was in an unsure fate for the future. In order to expanse their lineup and create a more effective competitor for the GAZelle, as the ZIL-5301 was slightly larger and heavier and competed with the similarly-sized GAZ Valdai, it was decided to take the cab and engine of the ZIL-3302 and install it on a modified ZIL-5301 chassis. After some prototypes were built, the project was not further developed.[9]
Variants
edit- ZIL-118A: Ambulance version of ZIL-118.
- ZIL-119 (ZIL-118K): Modernized ZIL-118.
- ZIL-119A (ZIL-118KA): Ambulance version of ZIL-119.
- ZIL-3302: Prototype truck based on ZIL-119.
Notes
edit- ^ Thompson, Andy. Cars of the Soviet Union (Haynes Publishing, Somerset, UK, 2008), p.213.
- ^ "ЗиЛ 118 Юность". Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ (in Russian) ZIL-118 Yunost, De Agostini Avtolegendy SSSR series Nr.28
- ^ "ЗИЛ-118 "Юность"". Denisovets.ru. Retrieved 2012-06-08.
- ^ a b Thompson, p.213.
- ^ "ZIL-119". Denisovets. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "ЗИЛ-118: два поколения «Юности»". Stone Forest. 29 June 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "История создания ЗИЛ-230100, самого маленького грузовика марки ЗИЛ - «Енот» – младший брат «Бычка» (Часть 1)". Gruzovnik Press. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "История создания ЗИЛ-230100, самого маленького грузовика марки ЗИЛ - «Енот» – младший брат «Бычка» (Часть 2)". Gruzovnik Press. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
Sources
edit- Thompson, Andy. Cars of the Soviet Union. Somerset, UK: Haynes Publishing, 2008.
 | This article about a classic post-war automobile produced between 1945 and 1975 is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |