About the History of Cars in China
In my last article I promised you to write more about the Dutch Globe B.V. initiative.
It was a brave Dutchman, Peter de Koster, who bought about 6 BJ212s when making a sales trip to Beijing in 1987. He started a company named Globe B.V., established in Loon op Zand in the south of the Netherlands, where he was a local Chrysler, Jeep and Mercedes dealer. Later De Koster imported more BJ212s.
Continue reading “Globe B.V., European import of the Beijing BJ212 in the late 1980s.”
The first 4×4’s used in the People’s Republic China were of Russian origin. After the GAZ 67 followed the GAZ 69.
When it was time for a replacement, the Soviet Union and China worked together to design a successor; the Soviet Union got the UAZ 469, China the Beijing BJ212.
Continue reading “Export of the Beijing BJ212 in the 1970s and 1980s.”
After my article about the Whale JZK1010S last week, we received a lot of comments. (Super! Continue sending!) Some were about the different versions of the Changjian sedan made in Meng county, Henan province.
Continue reading “So many sedans made by the Jiaozhuo Bus Works.”
During my studies of all the small cars of the 1990’s, those made outside the regular car producing industry, I encountered this car on the web: the Whale JZK1010S.
Continue reading “A case of double identity: the Whale JZK1010S.”
One of the most desirable cars is the Rolls-Royce. It is not strange that over the years many copies, look-a-likes, or Rolls-Royce-inspired cars, appeared in China.
At the Shanghai Show of 2009, Geely introduced a whole range of concept cars, small and big. They were designed by Nova Design of Taiwan.
Continue reading “The Geely GE was a Chinese Rolls Royce with a single rear seat.”
At the end of the 1990’s it was clear that the Chinese state limousine, the Hongqi CA770, designed in 1965, was old fashioned and needed replacement. A last revival was the Jiang Zemin version of 1999, called the “9910 Model”. In fact, five old CA772 armoured cars were rebuilt to make a last appearance during the celebrations of the 50 years existence of the People’s Republic.
Time for new blood.
This is a drawing of the Hongqi HQD concept. The drawing is made by the designer Chang Bing.
Continue reading “The Hongqi HQD was a state-limousine that was too wild for China.”
Again about a car that has no place in history. I tell you about two different pickup versions of the big Hongqi limousine.
Continue reading “The Da Hongqi Pikache (The Big RedFlag Pickup)”
In addition to my last item, I want to show to you other cars which were made by these two companies.
Continue reading “Other cars made by Jiangbei and Qinchuan.”
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.
Continue reading “The Jiangbei JJ720 and the Qinchuan SX720.”
Production of the Daihatsu Charade in Japan started in 1977. In 1983 a second generation was launched, which was replaced in 1987. The third generation Charade was also made in China as the very popular Tianjin Xiali TJ730.
But before the third gen., the Tianjin Automobile Industry Corporation assembled 3000 units of the second generation in 1986-1987.
Continue reading “The Chinese Daihatsu Charade (2nd generation) and look-alikes.”