After tests with the shortlived prototype ZIL-Moscow in 1956,[3] which gained a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest passenger car in the world,[4]: 33  the ZIL-111 was introduced from ZIL in 1958.

The body style was in the American tradition of the time and resembled the mid-1950s cars built by Packard, although, apart from being in tune with current trends, it was an original design and had nothing in common with them, except in general layout.

[5][4]: 33  The interiors were trimmed with top quality leather and broadcloth and decorated with thick pile carpet and polished wooden fittings.

[4]: 36  It was powered by a 6.0 L V8 engine producing 200 hp (150 kW) connected to an automatic transmission (similar to that of Chrysler's PowerFlite and influenced by it, but different in design[1][6]) giving a top speed of 170 km/h (106 mph), hydraulic drum brakes with a vacuum servo booster,[4]: 36  coil and wishbone IFS.

[1][8] In December 1962 the car was completely restyled, now being in tune with the latest trends and having a wide chrome grille with quad headlamps similar to the one used on the 1961 Cadillac Fleetwood Seventy-Five,[9] and was available both as sedan ZIL-111G and convertible ZIL-111D.