A Russian Coach in England
Page 48
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THE only Russian vehicle operating. in Britain at the present time is a ZIS coach, a picture of which was published in The Commercial Motor
on April 8. It is used by the Soviet Embassy in London for the transport of the staff and their families.
In 1948. the Stalin factory—Zavod Imeni Stalina—near Moscow, began the production of the ZIS 150 generalpurpose lorry, and from this the ZIS 154 coach was developed.
This vehicle was of the oil-engineelectric type, having a rear-mounted YAZ 204 four-cylindered oil engine which developed 103 b.h.p. at 2,000 r.p.m. The vehicle was a 34-seater, but as it did not come up to expectations it was replaced in 1951 by the ZIS 155, also based on the ZIS 150.
The ZIS 155 is powered by a ZIS 124 six-cylindered 5.55-litre petrol engine, developing 95 b.h.p. at 2,800 r.p.m. This unit is mounted on the right-hand
side of the chassis over the front axle. In' connection with its lubrication system there is an oil cooler, fitted below the water regulator, which is regulated to cut-in at 50° F. Mixture is supplied by a downdraught carburetter having a variable choke tube.
The drive from the engine is taken through a two-plate dry clutch to a five-speed overdrive gearbox having ratios of 6.24, 3.32, 1.90, 1.00 and 0.81 to 1, with a 6.70 reverse. From the gearbox the drive is taken by a twopiece propeller shaft to a bevel-driven rear axle, having a ratio of 7.63 to I.
Suspension at the front and rear is by conventional semi-elliptic springs controlled by h ydranlic shock absorbers. The wheels are fitted with 10.00-20 tyres. Compressed air is used for brake operation, the hand brake taking effect on the transmission. The doors and windscreen 'wiper are also operated by air pressure, the source of supply being from an engine-driven two-cylindered compressor.
The light-alloy body of the standard vehicle used in Russia provides accommodation for 28 seated and 22 standing passengers. Interior heating is by three thermostatically controlled radiators, which ire linked up with the engine radiator. Heat distribution is by electric fans, there being one to each radiator. Heating would appear to have been given great attention.
In view of the heavy demand for current, a generator of 1-kW. capacity is used, and supplies four 6v. 70-amp.hr. batteries, connected in seriesparallel.
Leading dimensions of the standard ZIS coach are: Wheelbase, 13 ft. 6 in.; overall length, 27 ft.; overall width, 8 ft. 2 in., and overall height, 9 ft. 7 in. It has an unladen weight of 6 tons 31 cwt., the -gross,laclen weight being 9 tons 151 cwt.