Stalin's personal armored vehicle: life after death

• Personal armored car Stalin afterlife

He was feared, respected and always made way for him. It's not about the Comrade Stalin, and his car ZIS-115. First armored sedan, released in the USSR. His fate is as interesting as the unit of the machine.

By coincidence, after the death of the leader of the peoples of this unique car was in the backyard of the University named after Bauman, and then completely disappeared from radar. Not yet emerged on a dacha outside Moscow in 2002.

Stalin's personal armored vehicle: life after death

It was like this. By Vadim collector Zadorozhny asked Professor Bauman with a request to see an interesting exhibit. According to him, at his country house to keep the car, which is museum quality. When the fan avtostariny arrived on the scene, a black sedan appeared before him, buried in the ground and half rotten. Zadorozhnyj took a break, but digging in the archives of the Likhachev plant, immediately agreed to acquire a rarity.

The car, which looked outwardly a hair's breadth as a normal ZIS-110 (civilian cars, which began to develop during the Great Patriotic War), in fact, turned out to be a wolf in sheep's clothing. ZIS-115, created in 1949 for the party elite, with characteristics different from the ZIS-110, as the tank of the motorcycle.

Stalin's personal armored vehicle: life after death

The body was not made up of separate armored panels, like the European and American counterparts, and was a rivet-welded construction. That is, in fact, this machine - bronekapsuly. And on each welded part was the serial number and the manufacturer's name. That is to say, happen that the whole weight of responsibility fell on the individual. Moreover, the housing could be considered the marks of bullets, that one or the other section was tested for durability.

Stalin's personal armored vehicle: life after death

Windows - a complex engineering structure, made up of 35-millimeter glass, air layer, viscous Plexiglas (designed if necessary to repay the kinetic energy of the fragments of the shattered outer layer), and another layer of special tempered glass, known as Stalin. To windows are not misting, Soviet engineers have built into them the tube with a special powder, absorbs moisture. hydraulic jacks play the role of windows.

Stalin's personal armored vehicle: life after death

It is known that in everyday life, Stalin was an ascetic. But looking at the interior finish of the ZIS-115, so you will not tell. Spacious interior, designed for 6-7 persons, decorated with natural leather, suede and natural wool. Inserts on front panel - made of Karelian birch. Dashboard illumination color varies depending on the speed. Up to 40 km / h burned green panel, at a rate of 40 to 80 km / h - orange, and over 80 - red. Car recall, was compiled in 1949.

Stalin's personal armored vehicle: life after death Stalin's personal armored vehicle: life after death

In a word, the creators did their best. Luckily for them. After delivery procedure "object" was held as follows: enkavedeshniki planted chief engineer and leading designers inside, close windows and doors and fired several cars gunfire. No one was hurt, and noted that the lavish banquet.

Stalin's personal armored vehicle: life after death

So how does this miracle of technology has appeared in the country Professor Bauman? It turns out that after Stalin's death (namely, his personal car bought Zadorozhnyj collector that proves stamped chassis number - 18) of its ZIS-115 was sent to the Likhachev automobile plant for recycling .... However, for unknown reasons, "armored car" was referred to Bauman for various tests. Due to the fact that the machine has passed classified as "secret", it drew up the chassis with spare parts kit. With the ZIS-115 over time it began to be used as a collector car, which transported the University cashier. But then abandon this practice - the car of the leader simply sent to the back yard, where it stood for many years, until one of the teachers have not bought it.

Stalin's personal armored vehicle: life after death

Zadorozhnyj paid for Stalin's car and gave a tidy sum for restoration. The work was done more than a year. Wizard to create a unique model of life long gone, but rescued archival documentation. Work considerably complicated by the fact that the experts were unable to completely disassemble the car, as usually happens in such cases. Remember, we said that the machine, in fact, was a bronekapsuly in the "wrap" of the ZIS-110? That's what caused the different approach - if the car was pulled up cog, collect it back it would have been impossible.

According to old documents restorers step by step managed to recreate the exterior of the ZIS-115. Also back is almost original appearance cabin. Floor carpet, for example, ordered in Germany. And the upholstery process performed master, worked all his life on the ZIL and knew the local technology.

Stalin's personal armored vehicle: life after death

On the restoration took five years and about 200 thousand dollars. After this "armored car" even drove 300 km. Such a run-in is subjected to all automobiles restored. According to the man who ran the ZIS-115 and overclock it to 100 km / h, the car retained the excellent handling and relatively good brakes. During the test one tire burst, but a serious accident was avoided.

Now a unique car on display at the Museum of Technology Vadim Zadorozhnogo in the village of Arkhangelsk, Moscow region. He estimated at least 3-4 million dollars, but not for sale. The owner says he does not agree for any money.

Stalin's personal armored vehicle: life after death