The Shanghai Station Wagons

Station wagons and China have a funny relationship. The old adage of Chinese people preferring cars to have a proper boot could not be more correct, but tastes are changing. Nowadays station wagons are slowly becoming more and more popular and Chinese manufacturers are starting to cash in, though they won’t fully commit and most of the time will sell a lifted version and call it a “Cross” or something like that (looking at you Skoda). But back in the day there were numerous station wagons on sale in China, not counting those weird SUV station wagon hybrids of the 1980’s. Cars like the Buick Sail and Fiat Palio wagon sold reasonably well in China, and let’s not forget the likes of the Haima and Yunbao wagons. Sadly these larger wagons never did as well as their smaller brethren and indeed the same must be said about the Shanghai wagons, which did even worse. So join me as we learn about the Shanghai wagons and the many companies that made them.

Though they were made by many companies and across several models, production figures were very, VERY low. Pictures of these cars are almost even rarer.

Shanghai Shenlian Special Purpose Vehicle Co. Ltd.

Shenlian Special Purpose Vehicle Co. Ltd was founded on August 8, 1988. It was renamed Shanghai Shenlian Special Purpose Vehicle Industrial Co. Ltd in 1991. In 1994 the company ceased to exist. Over the years Shenlian absorbed many other companies including Huguang Bus Works（沪光客车厂）in 1988 and Shanghai Vehicle Engine Works （上海汽车发动机厂）in 1992.

The Shenlian wagons were based on the SH760B prior to 1989 and then on the SH7231. Naming conventions changed from 3-digit to 4-digit in 1989. Models produced by Shenlian:

SH760B based: SLZQ420
SH7231 based: SQL5020, SQL5021 … SQL5027

All Shenlian models came equipped with the 2.3-liter straight-six 682Q engine of the SH760B and SH7231. Taillights were borrowed from the Guangzhou-Peugeot SW8. Peugeot taillights were seen on almost all Shanghai wagons.

Whilst I was visiting the Taishan Classic Car Museum I took this photo of the data plate of the Shanghai wagon on display and discovered it was a Shenlian SQL5020 produced in May, 1991. It appears to be car number 148.

Before being made by Shenlian, the SQL5020 and SQL5022 were actually produced by another company called Dayuan Auto Refit Works which eventually became a part of Shenlian. Dayuan’s cars were also sold under the Jinfeng (金凤 – Golden Phoenix) brand. The name of the engines that powered Shanghai cars was called also Jinfeng.

Anting Bus Works

Anting Bus Works was founded in 1972 and initially focused on converting vans under their Jinlü (金鹿牌 Golden Deer) brand. Later on they focused less on making complete vehicles and more on making interior and electrical components for cars. After some name changes they came to be known as Shanghai Anfeng Auto Parts Factory (上海安丰汽车配件厂) which they are still known as today.

Anting Bus Works produced two versions of Shanghai wagons, both based on the SH7231. The first was a 5-seater called the SA5020XJC (shown above) and the second was a unique 7-seater called the SA5020XGA. Both versions were also sold under the Jinlü brand.

Production numbers were very low with only 100 being planned for 1991.

Kunshan Xindong Auto Refit Works

Kunshan Xindong Auto Refit Works was a unit of Shenlian. They produced special versions of the Shanghai wagons for police and cargo hauling purposes. Some of their other products including cash transport trucks and postal vehicles. Xindong was also responsible for the prototype Santana MPV.

As with the Shenlian cars, Xindong’s were all based on the SH7232. Production numbers were extremely limited with just 13 units being produced in 1991.

Xindong’s cars appear to have gotten a unique front end with the raised “eyebrows” around the headlights missing. I can’t really put into words but compare a photo of a Xindong car to any other Shanghai wagon and you’ll see the difference.

Kunshan Xindong also produced this cargo version of the SQL5027. I suspect it may have been for transporting cash given it has what seems to be a lockable door for the large container in the rear cargo area. Taillights are also unlike any other Shanghai wagon.

In the Shanghai Film Park there is a Shanghai wagon in the movie car collection.

It appears to be a Xindong car given the fact that it has the unique Xindong taillights.

I went with our good friend Navigator84 and whilst we were not able to photograph the data plate, Navigator84 did manage to snap a few photos of the badges on the rear of the car (much to the disgust of the security guard!). This wagon had no Xindong badging but did have this Shanghai badge. The text in the red circle appears to be “三ZQ三”.

However, the strangest part is the model badge. It does not match any models we have a record of and all other Shanghai wagon models have a designation starting with 5 (after the letters). This wagon was SQL1027X-XD (we presume XD for Xindong). Model designations starting with 1 are for trucks and ones starting with 5 are for special vehicles.

Shanghai No. 3 Auto Chassis Works

Shanghai No. 3 Auto Chassis Works was founded in 1977 as a result of a merger between several other chassis producers in an attempt to streamline China’s automobile industry. They also produced some Shanghai wagons sold as SQL5024X and SQL5029X.

Ambulances

Shanghai Auto Works commissioned Locomotors to design a canopy for the SH760C/SQ110 single cab pickup to turn it into an ambulance.

In 1989 Shenlian produced an ambulance called the SQL5020XJH. It had a much higher roof than other Shanghai wagons and unique rear doors and glass.

Shenlian again made an ambulance in 1991 called the SQL5020XJH. It was a high roof version of the Shanghai wagons but retained the standard cars’ doors and windows. It was based on the SH7221 (SH760A).

Many thanks to Erik and his wonderful book about the Shanghai brand which can be found here and contains even more photos, information and specifications of these vehicles.