Close-up of the ZIS-115 armored car transporting President Ho Chi Minh

In 1954, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union presented President Ho Chi Minh with a ZIS-115 car, a specialized bulletproof car that was produced in very limited quantities in the Soviet Union.

Among the cars serving Uncle Ho, the ZIS-115 with license plate HN-707 was given by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union to the Central Committee of the Vietnam Workers' Party in 1954. The bulletproof ZIS-115 was used by Uncle Ho and his comrades in the Politburo and the Central Committee of the Party on business trips from 1954 to 1969.

The legendary bulletproof imousine ZIS-115 was produced by the Stalin Automobile Plant No. 2 (ZIS) from 1935, following the request of Soviet leader Stalin for a bulletproof vehicle.

President Ho Chi Minh 's ZIS-115 was produced from 1946-1947 and only 32 left the production line. The original ZIS-115 was the ZIS-110, the only difference being that the ZIS-115 was armored, otherwise there was basically no difference from the original.

The biggest change was that President Ho Chi Minh's ZIS-115 was equipped with fog lights, large tires, two modern alarm lights, and specially designed windows so that outsiders could not see inside.

Unlike today's cars, the ZIS-115's seats were not separated by a gear lever. The body was 8mm thick, so the door system, door latches, and windows were very massive. To raise the windows, you had to use a lever to raise and lower them. The small front shutters were also mechanically rotated for adjustment.

The interior of the ZIS-115 cockpit that served Uncle Ho was also very specially designed. A leather-wrapped steering wheel with a large radius and small concentric steel rings, typical of the steering wheels on Soviet cars of that period.

The dashboard is very different from today when using a horizontal speedometer, with even km indicators. The car's control buttons are mechanical circular and the knob is very easy to use.

The ZIS-115 chassis was reinforced with a thick layer of bulletproof steel to protect against underground mines. The vehicle weighed 4280 kg. The vehicle was equipped with an 8-cylinder engine with a capacity of 140 horsepower.

The car's top speed was 120km/h and its fuel consumption was 27.5 liters/100km. Designed as a state and official transport vehicle, the ZIS-115 had a spacious rear compartment and was equipped with leather seats.

Rear passengers have enough space to stretch their legs comfortably. In particular, when private conversations are needed, rear passengers can roll up the glass, creating a separation between the driver's compartment and the passenger compartment, ensuring privacy and security in the car.

The parade to celebrate the 30th anniversary of National Day in 1975 was the first time the whole country celebrated independence in peace , four months after the end of the resistance war against the US. Another ZIS-110B convertible also took part in carrying generals past the stage, in the photo is General Vo Nguyen Giap (Photo: VNA).

Two ZIS-110 Limousines appeared in the parade at Ba Dinh Square on September 2, 1975, marking a great milestone in the nation's history. General Vo Nguyen Giap in one of the two ZIS-110B models at the National Day parade. Photo: VNA

The ZIS-115 with license plate HN-707 is currently kept at the National History Museum (No. 1 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi). The ZIS-110 is currently considered one of the iconic limousines of the Soviet Union, and is a valuable collectible for today's vintage car enthusiasts.

Video: Cars transporting President Ho Chi Minh.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/can-canh-oto-boc-thep-zis-115-chuyen-cho-chu-cich-ho-chi-minh-post2149050012.html