ZIL-118

DimensionsWheelbase3,760 mm (148.0 in)Length6,840 mm (269.3 in)Width2,110 mm (83.1 in)Height2,067 mm (81.4 in)Curb weight3,320 kg (7,319 lb)ChronologySuccessorZIL-3250

The ZIL-118 Yunost ("Youth") is a microbus built by Zavod imeni Likhachova (Russian: Завод имени Лихачёва, Factory named for Likhacov), or ZIL.

Based on the ZIL-111 limousine, the ZIL-118 Yunost was developed in 1961,^[1] on the factory's own initiative.^[2] It was available in two versions, the microbus 118 and the ambulance 118A. Only 20 were initially built because of a lack of interest of government.^[3][4] The few built were solely to special order, with a number as high-capacity ambulances.^[5] An updated version appeared in 1970 in several versions: the ZIL-118K coach ZIL-118KS ambulance, both using the ZIL-508.10 V8 from ZIL trucks.^[5] This modernized version was also sometimes named the ZIL-119. It received some modernizations in the body, such as the lighting equipment from VAZ-2105.^[6]

This variant proved a little more popular than the ZIL-118, being in used in bigger numbers in government agencies. Such vehicles were purchased for a special purpose garage, the Ministry of Defense, the KGB, for the transportation of residents of the Intourist hotel and some others. An ambulance model was also built.^[7]

The microbus was further facelifted in the 1980s, becoming the ZIL-3207. Production ended in 1994, with total number built, of the ZIL-118K/KS and ZIL-3207, reaching only 86.

During the 1990s, ZIL found itself in a difficult position in the market, as demand for 6-ton trucks such as the ZIL-130 started decreasing. As such, it was understood that a new light truck model was needed on the market. There were three competitive design teams assigned to develop such a vehicle. The possible options were the ZIL-4305 pick-up truck with a payload of 1.5 tons, the ZIL-3302, a pick-up truck version of the ZIL-3207 with a Perkins 3351 4-cylinder engine, with a payload of around 2 tons, and a cab-over truck built with Saviem parts, but had a new cab. Eventually, the ZIL-5301 "Bull" was developed, which replaced all these vehicles, including both the ZIL-3207 and 3302, as it was available as both a flatbed truck and bus.^[8]

During the 2010s, sales in ZIL were gradually decreasing and the company was in an unsure fate for the future. In order to expanse their lineup and create a more effective competitor for the GAZelle, as the ZIL-5301 was slightly larger and heavier and competed with the similarly-sized GAZ Valdai, it was decided to take the cab and engine of the ZIL-3302 and install it on a modified ZIL-5301 chassis. After some prototypes were built, the project was not further developed.^[9]

• ZIL-118A: Ambulance version of ZIL-118.
• ZIL-119 (ZIL-118K): Modernized ZIL-118.
• ZIL-119A (ZIL-118KA): Ambulance version of ZIL-119.
• ZIL-3302: Prototype truck based on ZIL-119.

• Thompson, Andy. Cars of the Soviet Union. Somerset, UK: Haynes Publishing, 2008.