Help. Can you identify this car?

[BVB]

My Uncle took this photo in Moscow in the 90's. I am stumped by the car. Is it American? English?

Edited by BVB on Thursday 23 December 15:30

[R Mutt]

Great photo!

[BVB]

R Mutt said:

Great photo!

Thanks, I'll pass on the message. He was a photographer by trade, almost 100% monochrome.

[LarJammer]

It might be a Zis saloon, produced in Moscow. Stands for zavod imieni stalina.

[BVB]

LarJammer said:

It might be a Zis saloon, produced in Moscow. Stands for zavod imieni stalina.

Cheers. Had a search and no Zis like this

It looks quite Triumph, Jowett. But American too with the big chrome bumpers. Could be Russian, or an Eastern Bloc. I've searched the obvious ones like DKW, Auto Union.

[biggbn]

Initially thought some kind of Kaiser or Packard from the 40s but no, it's niggling, I'm sure I've seen a car like this before...

[nicanary]

Looks like a bit of Russian customisation to me. Possibly a pre-war or early post-war car with additions - note the rectangular indicators.

[Roy C]

It kind of has the look of a late 1930s Cadillac Series 60 Opera Coupé, but with a re-worked front grille.

[Scrump]

I know it isn’t one of these but it reminds me of a 1939 Buick coupe

[djc206]

Almost looks like a 40’s Cadillac sedan but not quite

[nicanary]

I think it's too small to be American - that's a child standing next to it. For some reason I keep thinking an attempt to modernise a BMW 327 or similar.There would have been some left over after the Germans scarpered after Barbarossa.

[Cliftonite]

Some thoughts from my pal Malcolm:

Possibly GAZ 12m a lot of similarities square sidelights, heavy chip cutter grille like an Oxford MO etc but cant find a pic of one with similar headlights or only 2 doors. The design was a straight copy of a Buick of the time and some design festures appeared on British cars then too, Standard Vanguard, Jowett Javelin, etc.

https://emea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?u...

[Bodo]

1939 Nash Ambassador Six Coupe

1938s had headlights narrower and higher up, 1940s had a wider grille at the bottom

[friederich]

I think Scrump and Cliftonite's mate Malcolm have it...

Looks like a 39 Buick coupe - exactly the same as Scrump's photo with the exception of the front end mods. The distinctive curved bonnet shut lines on the top surface are all there, as are headlights, window surround detail etc.

The front end mods look like a mishmash of GAZ 12 ZIM (Grille and square sidelights), and ZIS110 (bumper and distinctive over riders).

Thanks to OP for the fantastic photo - prompted me to dig around the fascinating history of USSR vehicles.
ZIS/ZIL were Buick based designs in the 30's, Packard post war. It would be easy to think it could be some kind of Russian prototype, but the front end parts are from 50's cars of a newer era and look to be from 2 different manufacturers.
I think we are looking at an enterprising update of an American Buick. Interesting to speculate where it could have come from....

[DaveGoddard]

Scrump said:

I know it isn’t one of these but it reminds me of a 1939 Buick coupe

Asked on another forum, and someone there says it's one of those with a grille off one of these:

[Bodo]

DaveGoddard said:

Scrump said:

I know it isn’t one of these but it reminds me of a 1939 Buick coupe

Asked on another forum, and someone there says it's one of those with a grille off one of these:

Looks like a match!

[ClaphamGT3]

Friend in Moscow says it's a Zis 110

[trickywoo]

ClaphamGT3 said:

Friend in Moscow says it's a Zis 110

Too much vodka?

[hot metal]

Was thinking 39 Buick Special, but grille is not the same.

[Fastdruid]

Found this interesting, could well be a Buick. https://www.prewarbuick.com/features/buicks_in_mos...