# Anybody Know Where I Can Buy a Used Zil? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 11, 2002, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-where-i-can-buy-a-used-zil/142113 "2002-12-11T22:19:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-where-i-can-buy-a-used-zil/142113/1 "2002-12-11T22:19:25Z")
Since the fall of the USSR, I’ve been wondering about the Zil car company. I had heard something about them being bought by Fiat (I think) and that the company was having problems. Are they still building cars? Is anybody importing them to the US? (I’d kind of like to have one. Yes, I know that I’d basically have to gut the thing and replace the mechanicals and electrical components, but what the hell? You’ve gotta have something to do between now and the grave! :D) Anybody know where I can find pics of them on the web? (I’ve looked, but haven’t been able to find any.) ---
**Author:** ![chukhung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@chukhung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chukhung)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-where-i-can-buy-a-used-zil/142113/2 "2002-12-11T22:31:13Z")
I’ve found some more information about ZILs (and pictures) at this sitehttp://digilander.libero.it/cuoccimix/ENGLISH-automotorusse9-G(Zil).htm. Unfortunately, it seems to have very little information about what’s currently going on with the company. There are some links at the bottom that you might try, though. ---
**Author:** ![FriendBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b5ac83/32.png) [@FriendBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriendBill)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-where-i-can-buy-a-used-zil/142113/3 "2002-12-11T23:03:17Z")
Do you mean a brand new ZIL, or an older one? If you want a brand new one, it probably isn’t worth it…not only would you have to post all sorts of very expensive bonds, but convert the car to comply with all US regulations on everything from airbags to emissions to lighting and glass standards. If you want an older one (pre-1968, I think it has to be), then classic car magazines based in Europe are probably your best bet, unless you can find a website called “Eastern Bloc Wheels For Sale” or something like that! FWIW, the US magazine Popular Classics has done several features on Eastern Bloc cars, and one of their writers has a thing for Tatras, so writing to them may be a good start. Bill ---
**Author:** ![FriendBill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b5ac83/32.png) [@FriendBill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriendBill)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-where-i-can-buy-a-used-zil/142113/4 "2002-12-11T23:05:02Z")
brain not connected to fingers… Popular Classics is a UK magazine, not a US one! Available in Borders, Barnes & Noble, etc. Bill ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-where-i-can-buy-a-used-zil/142113/5 "2002-12-12T19:01:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FriendBill \* > \*\*Do you mean a brand new ZIL, or an older one? > > If you want a brand new one, it probably isn’t worth it…not only would you have to post all sorts of very expensive bonds, but convert the car to comply with all US regulations on everything from airbags to emissions to lighting and glass standards. > > If you want an older one (pre-1968, I think it has to be), then classic car magazines based in Europe are probably your best bet, unless you can find a website called “Eastern Bloc Wheels For Sale” or something like that! > > FWIW, the US magazine Popular Classics has done several features on Eastern Bloc cars, and one of their writers has a thing for Tatras, so writing to them may be a good start. > > Bill \*\* An older one, since they were so godawful ugly. I think one can get around the 1968 clause, by yanking the engine (which I’d have to do anyway since Soviet made stuff isn’t exactly known for quality, though it would be fun to see the look on the geek’s face at Autozone when I asked for a water pump for a 19\_\_ Godless Communist model Zil. I would like to know what happened to the company. As I said, I think Fiat bought 'em and realized that they’d made a horrible mistake (much as GM’s now doing with it’s stake in Fiat), but I don’t know for certain. ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2002, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anybody-know-where-i-can-buy-a-used-zil/142113/6 "2002-12-12T23:35:39Z")
Tuck, I am right down the road (huntsville alabama) and I saw a magazine somewhere in the past few months that had auto listing and they had a few listed. I shall go forth and see if I can find where it was I saw such a thing and get back with you.