ZIS 101 A Sport (1939)

[faksta]

Characteristics:

Body:
2-door, 2-seat roadster body designed by Valentin Rostkov.
Engine:
6,06-liter, R8, petroleum with 2 carburettors, 141hp at 3300rpm.
Transmission:
3-step, manual.
Dimensions:
Wheelbase - 3750mm,
Length - 5750mm,
Weight - 2000kg.
Max.speed:
162 km/h

Developed by three young engineers from ZIS development department - Vladimir Kremenetski, Nikolai Pulmanov and Anatoli Puhalin. Using heavily modified engine from ZIS 101.
Maximum speed reached by the car was 168 km/h, but was not registered, as it was done unofficially. Stated above 162 km/h (162,4 km/h) speed was reached in 1940. Actually, engineers were trying to reach 180 km/h, but the development stopped, as in 1940 the director of ZIS factory has changed, and the new one didn't need the 101 A Sport.
The car was a one-off, and no one knows its exact history. It could become crap somewhere at the factory, but some say that the green roadster was seen somewhere in 1960's.

[faksta]

This is one of V.Rostkov's sketches and the article which were featured in Soviet newspaper (Komsomolskaya pravda) dated October 17, 1938.

[Sauc3]

Is this actually a mid-engined car? The engine looks to be seated behind the front wheels.

A very handsome car, would love to see it surface again.

[faksta]

The engine is in front of cockpit - that's why it's so far behind. And I think it takes all the place from the very front to a cockpit, cause inline 8-cylinder engine is a big thing

[Sauc3]

Originally Posted by faksta

The engine is in front of cockpit - that's why it's so far behind. And I think it takes all the place from the very front to a cockpit, cause inline 8-cylinder engine is a big thing

Mid-engined means between the axles, so it's possible to get a mid-engined car with the engine in front of the cockpit. This is what I meant with the above post, the engine looks to be located between the cockpit and the front axle.

[faksta]

Originally Posted by Sauc3

Mid-engined means between the axles, so it's possible to get a mid-engined car with the engine in front of the cockpit. This is what I meant with the above post, the engine looks to be located between the cockpit and the front axle.

Yes, I understood you, I just said that in my opinion (cause I don't know for sure ) the engine is mostly behind the front axle, but not at all.

[Ferrer]

That's a very a large car...

And quite beautiful.

[NSXType-R]

Originally Posted by Sauc3

Is this actually a mid-engined car? The engine looks to be seated behind the front wheels.

A very handsome car, would love to see it surface again.

I guess this would be the "front midship" that Nissan's been making lately, with the G35 and etc.

[faksta]

One more photo.

[faksta]

Sauc3, you were right! It's actually a mid-engined car Watch the pic.
Chassis pic added.

[go.pawel]

A few more pics of the rolling chassis

[leedee5@hotmail]

nice car unique

[Timothy (in VA)]

That's a very cool car. I certainly hope it wasn't scrapped, because that would be a terrible loss. Hopefully it's hiding somewhere, waiting to be found and restored.

[faksta]

Originally Posted by Timothy (in VA)

That's a very cool car. I certainly hope it wasn't scrapped, because that would be a terrible loss. Hopefully it's hiding somewhere, waiting to be found and restored.

Hopefully, but hardly. In that times hiding a car could entail poor enthusiast's death - I don't think anyone wanted to take such a risk. Much more possible is to see a copy someday.