The Jiangbei JJ720 and the Qinchuan SX720.

By scrolling the internet I always hope to show you more about the past of the Chinese auto industry. Now and then with success. In April this year I found some photos for sale on the always interesting website Kongfz, where you sell your second hand books and photos. These photos show an auto show in Beijing in 1988.

I ordered the photos. To be careful, so that they don’t get lost in the post, they were sent to my dear friend Marieke in Beijing, who transported them personally to the Netherlands. She send them by DHL to France. And they never arrived…. DHL lost them. They pay a compensation of the enormous sum of 23,25 euro…

What you recognize at the photo is two contemporary standard SUVs and four minicars, two Jiangbei JJ720 and two Qinchuan SX720. The photo is taken at the Beijing Agricultural Exhibition Hall and the year is clearly marked: 1988.

Let’s talk about the cars.
The Jiangbei JJ720 was made by the State Operated Jiangbei Machinery Works in Jilin City, Jilin Province. This factory was part of the China Beifang Industrial Group (China North Industries), a huge military complex.
In 1986 the factory worked simultaneously on two projects: a  copy of the Polski-Fiat 126P, named Jiangbei JJ710; and the JJ720 we describe here, which was a copy of the Subaru Rex/Jumbo. After the initial prototype of the JJ710, the choice was for the JJ720.

The JJ720 was designed in early 1986 and introduced at a Civilian Weapon Industry Technology Fair in July of that year.

Fifty til hundred-fifty cars were made each year. Exact figures exist of 1988: 30 cars, and 1991: 128 cars.

The car was sold under several names: Jiangbei (north of the river), Shenjian (magical arrow) and Meilu (beautiful dew).

The JJ720 was later named JJ7060. The car had a plastic body. Initial selling price was 25.000 yuan, later 40.000.
In 1992 the factory started mass production of the JJ7080, a license produced Suzuki Alto. In 2003 the factory continued as Tongtian.

Sizes: wheelbase 2295mm, LxWxH 3195x 1395x 1420mm, engine: choice between two engines: the LZ276QA from Liuzhou (JJ7060),  644cc (21 kW, 95 km/h) and the ED10 from Daihatsu (JJ7090), 846cc (30 kW, 125 km/h).

The other car is the Qinchuan SX720. Made by the State-Operated Qinchuan Machinery Works Automobile Sub-Factory in Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province. A factory also belonging to the Beifang (North China) Group.

The first were made in 1987 and had square headlights. Later made cars had round headlights.

The SX720, later named QCJ7050, was sold as Qinchuan, but also as Beifang. Production started in October 1988. About 500 were made, I have only figures of 1987: 9; and 1988: 50.

In the early 1990s there were a lot in use as taxis in Xi’an. I went to the Qinchuan factory in 1992, asked to see the production site, but no. Well, they introduced me to the SX720.

Sales price was 25.000 yuan. LxWxH 3200x 1400x 1450 mm, wheelbase 2300mm.

The SX720 also had a choice between two engines; a 272Q (two-cylinder) 570cc (18kW) engine and a Daihatsu AB200 547cc (21 kW) engine.
The plastic bodywork was made by the Henan Qinyang District Glass Fibre Reinforced Plastics Works.

Qinchuan too started Suzuki Alto production in 1992.
BYD bought the factory in 2003.

Tycho wrote about the Qinchuan Flyer, a later project of Qinchuan.
Tycho wrote earlier (9 years ago) about the Qinchuan SX720.
On Weibo you can find some illegally copied pages of my Lost Car book: here are the Qinchuan pages.