BusTalk

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2007 4:56 pm Post subject: 'From Russia with Love!'

Pictured below is a 'Russian made' old look! (that's right, I said Russian!).

This is a 'ZIS-154 manufactured between 1947 and 1950 in a factory named ZIS for comrade Stalin!

1164 34 seaters were built and equipped with 4 cylinder Diesel Electric power plants equivalent to a DD 4-71.

I don't know why they went to all this trouble when all they had to do was order them from GM!

Mr. Linsky
"The Green Hornet"
Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica and Arverne, New York

Cyberider · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 501 Location: Tempe, AZ

They picked a good bus to copy though I bet theirs weren't as good as ours!

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:32 pm Post subject: 'More love from Russia!

Cyberider · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 501 Location: Tempe, AZ

Mr. Linsky,

That is a strange looking one. Was the door arrangement set up for two-man operation? Maybe it has a front engine, too! Russian vehicles from that era weren't known for their quality. Thanks for sharing the photos of these ugly duckling Russian copies!

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 1:48 am Post subject:

I resurrected this thread because I've come across some very in interesting information albeit ever so slightly off topic;

As you can surmise from the above posts, the Soviet Union quite successfully copied the GM 'Old Look' design making over 1100 of them in the late forties.

The Russians had a habit of aping American automotive technology with perhaps the most well known example being a pre-war high end Packard automobile (images attached).

While they actually did copy a 1961 Cadillac, the Packard was no facsimile!

In his book, 'The Cadillac Story - The Post War Years', Tom Bonsall explains in some detail how the Soviets came upon the Packard design;

It was very simple - by the beginning of World War II, Packard came to the realization that they could no longer compete with the high end Cadillac line which came off the 1941 run with record sales.

In deciding to concentrate more on their moderate priced Clippers, Packard actually sold their 'senior' body dies to the Soviet Government with the result being Packard's emergence as socialist executive transportation half way around the world!

So the Packards that we thought weren't Packards really were!

Who would have guessed?

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, NY

frankie · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 4:12 pm Post subject:

Here's some more photos of the same bus.

Take a good look of the interior shot and tell me if this is Russia or some small urban town in America! The Russians know a good bus when they see it.

Enjoy....

Frankie

frankie · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 4:21 pm Post subject: Re: 'More love from Russia!

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 12:23 am Post subject:

Since I originally did the story on Russia's 'Old Looks' I have learned that they did not steal the design but paid GM for a set of dies (or GM traded them for a couple of car loads of 'Stoli").

As far as power goes, I understand that they had pretty good Diesel Electric plants.

P.S.; I've always said that the driver's compartment on a bus should be totally separated from the passengers so, in that sense, the Russian's had a good idea.

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Fri Mar 18, 2011 4:14 pm Post subject:

Here's a little 'Izogiz' bus seen on It. Drylevsky in Kirov, Russia circa 1963.

This model obviously came without optional ThermoMatic heating and ventilation!

Looks to me like any town U.S.A. 1900!

Photo borrowed for educational purposes only.

Enjoy,

Mr. 'L'