But millionaires don’t know!

Forbes placed ZIL on the list of authorities

Forbes magazine, which specializes in compiling ratings and lists of the very best for the richest, presented an unusual selection of luxury, even for itself, that is available not just to the wealthy, but also to very erudite people. The magazine's website included a list of "unknown" car brands - cars whose brands are unfamiliar to most of the world's inhabitants. Oddly enough, this list also includes the Russian ZIL, whose trademark is recognized, apparently, by any resident of the sixth part of the land that was once owned by the Soviet Union.

However, the position of the compilers of the top ten unknown brands is clear: first of all, Forbes chose powerful, comfortable, luxurious cars, intended, apparently, for collectors of luxury cars who are tired of the hyped Ferrari and Maibach. Such, for example, as the high-speed CCR produced by the Swedish company Koenigsegg, the “Chinese Rolls-Royce” HQD, assembled by engineers of the First Auto Works, or the 500-horsepower B12 model from the Dutch manufacturer Spyker. ZIL fits perfectly into this logic: it was this plant that for many years produced exclusive armored limousines on special order for the highest party and government officials of the USSR. In terms of the level of luxury, these “member carriers” were perhaps not inferior to their foreign competitors, and in terms of the degree of inaccessibility for ordinary people, they were clearly superior to them. And the fact that ZIL trucks could be seen on every corner in any city in the Land of the Soviets and the states of the socialist camp did not interest Forbes employees.

In addition to cars for very wealthy lovers of technical rarities, the magazine also included in the list several “endemic cars” - models produced in third world countries for the needs of the local market. For example, Forbes mentions an Israeli SUV with a very militarized appearance, produced by Automotive Industries. Apparently, it rarely reaches American or European highways, but it seems that where IDF soldiers set foot, they have become accustomed to the sight of this car: more than 80 thousand of these “Jewish UAZs” have already been produced. The unknown models also include a small electric car - the NXG prototype, made by REVA from Bangalore, India. And one of the most interesting examples of this “auto-kunstkamera” is a single-seater model of the Spanish company Tramontana, reminiscent of formula cars - 720 hp, 12 cylinders, speed over 300 km/h. Only 12 of these toys for adults are produced per year.

Vladimir DZAGUTO