Comments by "Sar Jim" (@sarjim4381) on "The Difference Between The Soviet and American Car Cultures #ussr #sovietcars" video.

  1. We can't forget about the Zil/ZiS line of classic Soviet limousines. The first models were directly reversed engineered from the 1940 Packard line because Stalin though that Packard's (he had three of them) were the best engineered cars in the world. He wanted the first truer Soviet limo to show the world they could build a Packard, and build they did. Even thoough the line stopped taking design and engineering features from the Packard bu 1960, they continued to lean on American car designs like the 60's Cadillac Fleetwoods and Mercuries. By 1980, big American cars were passe, so ZiL started to copy the look and engineering of the Mercedes. Due to the low production numbers and revocation of state subsidies in 1990, the ZiL started to cost more than a "real" Mercedes. It was the beginning of the end for ZiL. Just like Packard, they have now gone out of business, and the great era of Soviet built limos is gone forever.
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