The secondhand book and photo website Kongfz.com is a wonderful source of old carbooks and photos. Recently a series of 10 photos of Haiyan minicars made in Shanghai appeared and your author took the chance to buy the photos. Here a preview.
This is a closed version of the Haiyan 730 Second model convertible of 1959. Probably there was only one prototype. Note the small track width of the rear wheels.
Besides the Haiyan 730 second model there is a simpler convertible, probably the original prototype.
And I collected the last years some photos of the other Haiyan mini’s:
Here an anusual picture of the serial-produced Haiyan 730 second model, with a soft top.
Over the years ‘new’ photos show up of cars, which we initially knew from one photo only. It is great.
It is interesting, how China has speculated with alternative propellants so early on (LNG here). It is a shame that they were not mass produced. I cant even think of what would be the first mass produced car that wasnt propelled by petrol, or in case of bigger trucks, diesel.
There are cities, like Chengdu, where many cars are driven by natural gas, already for years.
Oh, i didnt know that.
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