The title to our GM Coach PD-4101 CC is “The Most Dominant and Influential Bus Ever”. That didn’t just apply to North America, as this ZIS-127 coach shot and posted by Eric Clem makes quite obvious. Actually, it’s not really a direct crib, like some of the other manufacturers did in the US, but many of the key features, both stylistically and technically, are there.
This was a very significant bus in the USSR, as it was their first modern intercity coach. Bus technology had really lagged there, but with its aluminum chassis, 180 hp two-stroke diesel out back, and the first comfortable upholstered seats ever in a Russian bus, the ZIS-127 was the great leap forward.
From the rear, it actually looks a bit more like an “Old Look” suburban bus. The Type JaAZ-M206D 6 cylinder two-stroke diesel was rated at 180 hp and teamed with a four speed transmission. I could not find an image or any technical details of this engine, but more than likely it was inspired by the Detroit Diesel two-stroke engines as had been used since the late ’30s. Those engines were also used in amphibians and other WW2 equipment, so undoubtedly the Russians had plenty of access to them.
The ZIS-127 had a top speed of 75 mph and a continuous cruising speed of 60 mph, both comparable to the 4101, depending on gearing. The overall length was 10.2 meters, or 33.5 feet, a bit shorter than the 35′ 4101.
Eric shot this detail from its front end. “Mockba” is Moscow, and the “3HC” was used on some other ZIS vehicles, but I’m not sure exactly what it stands for.
The big deal about the ZIS-127 was that it actually had comfortable upholstered reclining seats, a commodity not previously seen in the USSR. I found these interior shot on the web. This is the only ZIS-127 left in the world, restored by a bus enthusiast group in Tallinn, Estonia.
Love the bright red interior color.
The driver had protection form possibly unruly passengers.
Here’s a vintage shot of one, also on the Tallinn – Leningrad route.
The ZIS-127 had a very distinctive exhaust sound (as two stroke diesels invariably have) that earned it the nickname “Jet”. Makes a nice complement to the “Screaming Jimmy” moniker in the US.
Related reading:
GM Coach PD-4101: The Most Dominant and Influential Bus Ever J. Brophy
“3HC” is ZIS in cyrillic.
ЗиС is ZiS – Zavod imeni Stalina
Nice ! .
-Nate
Great essay on a bus of which I had no knowledge. I note that the protection for the driver also must make it difficult to enter the driver’s area. No Ralph Cramden types would be able to do it! Thanks for the information.
Zis is the bus, it seems.
Driver’s cell seems a little class-dividing, surely?
Interesting info, and incredible to think it’s the only one left alive.
I wouldn’t have thought a Russian bus would have an interior like that. The row directly behind the driver didn’t exactly have dancing room!
According to a German Wikipedia page https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZIS-127 the ЗИС means ZIS in the Russian alphabet.
Cool bus, the finish inside is very modern, driver shield protects him/her from flying passengers during an emergency stop
Interesting that the destination city signs on front of both the restored and the original ZIS busses are printed in Roman lettering – not Cyrllic. How did that happen? Did the Russians defer to the Estonians?
In the Warsaw Pact countries, if the service or vehicle were from a non-Russian country, their alphabet and latter set was used. The Warsaw Pact nations had quite a bit more autonomy than was realized when it came to the use of native languages. Sure, the populous were taught Russian as a second language, but it was never the policy to use Russian first or at all in the naming and marketing of products, marketing, and city names.
Those seats must be modern upgrades. Show them to any Greyhound passenger from the 80’s and they would be mighty jealous at how comfortable they appear.
What I thought. They look very much like this century, not the previous one.
https://englishrussia.com/2014/01/16/beautiful-soviet-bus-zis-127/
This is very nicely built vehicle by Soviet standards, but wonder if those seats are from the original design, they are just too modern and advanced by 1950s standards even in the West. However, the design of its bus driver barrier can be a great inspiration for the barrier in New York City Bus.
No lavatory?
What is the function of the high-mount headlamp above the windshields? Whatever it’s for, it’s looks seriously cool. Likewise the clock directly behind it in the interior.
In Soviet Russia, is always Runtime Lighting Day!
Looking at the seats behind the driver’s partition, the legroom doesn’t look much generous…
A number of Lend-Lease Sherman tanks provided to the Russians were powered by twin 6-71’s. Neat bus!
Nice article and very interesting. Knew ZIS made buses but never knew about this one. It definitely looks like a mis-mash of an Old Look and a PD 4103.
So then ;
I know some here made a living driving buses , how many actually rode them ? .
I spent a lot of time in the 1960’s in various buses riding here and there in New England and as an adult I often ride buses or light rail when on vacation just to see how the locals get by .
I still ride the Los Angeles light rail and bus system from time to time, it’s maybe not safe but it’s _always_ interesting .
A famous (? infamous ?) author once said ” to see what a town is really like, go down it’s alleys” ~ wise words, I never live anyplace until I’ve seen what goes on after midnight on that particular street .
Those seats are clearly not the originals .
-Nate