We were stupefied by the latest thing to emerge from the murky depths of the USSR: a boldy styled, six-metrelong coupé from Moscow’s Zavod Imeni Stalina (ZIS, or Factory Made for Stalin). It was seemingly inspired by recent American concepts, most strongly General Motors’ LeSabre of 1951. Named the 112, it featured the 140bhp 6.0-litre straight eight from the 110 limo – itself a copy of US firm Packard’s Super Eight. An updated 112 emerged in 1955 and ranked third in a Soviet race series. ZIS – later named ZIL – made cars until 2012.