Re: ZIS 110

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2008/8/12 9:29:35

Glad you guys enjoyed the photos, I certainly enjoyed seeing and photographing the car. Your comments bring a few others to mind. (1) Though Stalin loved the 41/42 Packard design, he wasn't the first Russian ruler to have a love affair with Packard, there is an occasionally seen photo of Czar Nicholas II in his Twin Six with skis mounted on the front wheels out flailing thru the snow and as I remember reading he had several Packards. Given the interval between the dates of the Twin Six introduction and his abdication, he didn't have all that long to enjoy them. (2) Responding to PackardTwelve's comments about the folly of producing the ZIS 110 during the war, the ZIS 110 was a post-war car, though design work may have occurred during the later parts of the conflict. Guscha will correct me if needed but I believe the car was introduced about 1947 and produced thru 1952 or thereabouts.

Another European leader who had a liking for the 1941/42 Packards was the King of Norway who I believe at one time had at least a half-dozen; some were used by the occupying Nazis during the war and atleast one survived the war to see Royal service again postwar and I've heard (not confirmed) is still in the Royal stable. PAC had a short story on this back some many years ago.

The last Packard I know of that was bought for offical European government use was a 1956 Patrician bought by the government of Iceland; local PAC correspondent in Iceland Siguborn Helgason related to me that it proved very troublesome and was either returned or sold off shortly thereafter.

I'm really glad I started this thread, it surely has gotten a lot of interest.