Light Trucks made by the Tianjin Auto Works.

Just before the Cultural Revolution, in 1965, Tianjin Auto Works introduced a small 1-ton pickup truck.

The Tianjin TJ120 was inspired by the East German (DDR) Framo V901. This car was also named IFA or Barkas.

East German Framo V901, photo by Lutz Bruno, Wikipedia.

The first TJ120 was presented in March 1965.

Tianjin TJ120, first prototype. Video Bilibili, registration 2 1102.

The Framo used the 900cc 3-cylinder engine from the IFA F9 and the Wartburg 311, but the Tianjin TJ120 was driven by the 1005cc V2-cylinder, which was in use in the Shanghai SH58-1 three-wheeler.

Shanghai 58-1 V2 engine, drawing Bilibili.
Shanghai SH58-1 threewheeler, wirth mr. Luo Wenyou, owner of the famous classic car museum in Huairou near Beijing. Photo Felix Bai.

In the first production year of the TJ120, 1965, 55 were made; in the second year, 212. In total, 809 TJ120s were made during the period 1965-1970.

Tianjin TJ120, in traffic, Beijing November 1978. Photo copyright Oliver Barnham.            Registration 31-05310.

Tianjin TJ120, drawing Bilibili. 

Tianjin TJ120, drawing Bilibili.
Tianjin TJ120, production model, photo copyright Oliver Barnham, Tianjin 1981.               Registration 59-09243.

The TJ120 was succeeded by the 2 ton truck TJ130 in 1978, first called Tianjin TJ130, later called Yanpai.

Tianjin TJ130 first series. Photo copyright Oliver Barnham, Tianjin August 1981.
Tianjin TJ130, photo copyright Oliver Barnham, Qingdao July 1981.

In 1988, the English MGA company (Coventry) was asked to update the TJ130. The Tianjin Automotive Industrial Corporation paid 7 million pound for a new cab design. Steve Harper was involved. In February 1991 the first prototype was ready and shown in Tianjin.

Yanpai TJ1041 prototype in Coventry, UK, 1991.
First new TJ135 two ton double cab truck. Introduction in Tianjin, July 1991.
Yanpai TJ1041, photo copyright Erik van Ingen Schenau, Xi’an 1994.

The vehicle was later renamed Yanpai (Wild Goose).

You can find the Bilibili video about the TJ120 here.

The Tianjin Auto Works also made the TJ210 cross-country vehicles and the TJ740 car.
The TJ360 15ton dumper was made by the Second Motor Vehicle Factory.

Tianjin TJ360 15 ton dumper

 

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Derek C.

Why does that Jiefang Ca-10 behind the TJ120 in the first photo have vertical grill slats?