1950 ZiS 110B Convertible Phaeton
**Chassis No. 1026 | Body No. 01033 | Engine No. 2847**
The 1950 ZiS 110B Convertible Phaeton represents one of the most fascinating and elusive automobiles of the postwar era. Built at the famed ZiS ("Factory Named After Stalin") complex in Moscow, the 110B was the Soviet Union's answer to the great state cars of the West, serving as transportation for military commanders, government ministers, and Communist Party officials during the height of the Cold War.
Powered by a 6,002cc side-valve inline-eight producing approximately 140 horsepower and paired with a three-speed manual transmission, the ZiS 110B was designed not for speed, but for presence. With its imposing proportions, independent front suspension, and stately open phaeton bodywork, it was the ideal vehicle for military reviews, state ceremonies, and official parades.
Although often described as a Soviet copy of the 1942 Packard, the ZiS is much more than that. While its styling and engineering concepts were heavily influenced by contemporary American luxury automobiles, particularly Packard, Cadillac, and Buick, virtually every component was uniquely Soviet in design and manufacture. No major parts interchange with Packard counterparts despite decades of folklore suggesting otherwise.
Only slightly more than 2,000 ZiS 110s of all body styles were produced between 1946 and the late 1950s, with approximately 100 examples built as open phaetons. Today, surviving ZiS 110B models are among the rarest and most sought-after Soviet automobiles in existence.
This particular ZiS 110B carries exceptional provenance. It was one of three phaetons assigned to Kyiv, Ukraine, in 1955 for ceremonial use by senior military officers and government officials. The car remained in official service until 1980 before being retired and eventually sold in 1986 to Valentin Grigorevich Velichko, chairman of the Kyiv Avtoveteran Club. Following years of negotiations, the car was acquired from his estate in 2021.
Restored in Ukraine during the early 2020s by noted specialist Mikhail Beskrovny, the car is finished in striking Soviet Parade Air Force Blue over matching blue leather upholstery. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the car was successfully removed from the country and preserved. Today, it presents beautifully with excellent paintwork, chrome, bodywork, and convertible top.
Notable features include:
* Rear compartment jump seats
* Rear heater vents integrated into the front seat backs
* Removable chrome handrail behind the front seats
* Woodgrain-painted dashboard and window trim
* Metric instrumentation
* B-pillar mounting posts for the phaeton top
* Wide whitewall tires mounted on steel wheels with factory-style hubcaps
Recently serviced by Parker's Packards/ZIS, the car starts easily, runs well, and is ready for immediate touring, exhibition, or parade use. Whether displayed alongside American classics or featured in a collection of historic state vehicles, the ZiS commands attention wherever it appears.
Rare, imposing, and steeped in Cold War history, this is not merely an automobile—it is a rolling symbol of Soviet power and one of the most unusual and historically significant parade cars available today.
