The cars of yesterday never cease to fascinate, boasting features that still captivate today’s enthusiasts.
Among them stands the prewar ZIS-16 bus, born from scarce resources yet designed with surprising elegance and accord with the era’s expectations.
An expert from Za Rulem, Russia’s oldest and most widely read automotive publication, shares a closer look at the standout characteristics of the ZIS-16 bus.
1. The ZIS-16 borrowed its engine lineage from the ZIS-5 and ZIS-8, then received a power bump. The compression ratio rose from 4.7 to 5.7, a detail that sounds quaint by today’s standards. As a result, the 5.6 liter inline-six, originally rated at 73 horsepower, pushed out about 85 horsepower in the bus variation.
2. Fuel economy is a talking point that stirs disbelief today: roughly 37 liters per 100 kilometers in the city and about 30 liters on the highway. The bus did not excel in rapid acceleration; its top speed hovered around 60 km/h, making 100 km/h a distant dream for most routes.
3. The transmission accompanying the ZIS-16 consisted of four gears, unchanged from the ZIS-8 and ZIS-5 lineage, with the fourth gear configured at a 1:1 ratio. This setup reflected the pragmatic approach of the era, prioritizing reliability over sportiness in a vehicle designed to move people and goods efficiently.
4. The ZIS-16 body shared its design language with contemporary buses from other manufacturers: a wooden frame clad in steel plates. It wasn’t until after World War II that all-metal bodies became more common, signaling a shift in bus construction methods and manufacturing capabilities.
For readers curious about additional decisions and the broader history of the ZIS-16, the March issue of the magazine Behind the Wheel offers a deeper dive. This issue is currently on sale and ready for eager collectors and curious readers alike.
The latest magazines are available across marketplaces, with new content always on the horizon.
- New government employee Hyundai — early photos reveal a bold styling synthesis that blends Sonata and Elantra cues with compact dimensions.
- Behind the Wheel is now accessible via Telegram for readers who prefer mobile updates and quick reads.
The discussion above reflects insights drawn from archival automotive history and expert analysis. The material synthesizes observed features of the ZIS-16 with historical context to offer a fuller picture of how prewar buses were conceived and built. [Source: Za Rulem, Route Sixteen, summarized for context]