Erik Van Ingen Schenau | ChinaCarHistory

Shenyang Songliao and Polarsun. Part 1: Songliao.

Songliao SLQ6450, Beijing 1995, photo Erik van Ingen Schenau.

Shenyang Songliao Auto Works were born in a military factory in the East China Military Region, established on April 24, 1949. The original site was located in Nanjing; in the early days, their main business was to repair cars for the army. On March 8, 1952, the military factory was ordered to go to Dandong on the bank of the Yalu River in Liaoning Province to participate in the Korean War, and to repair vehicles on the front line day and night.

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A Hongqi for the common people.

After their life times efforts to make cars for the leaders, mr. Hua Fulin and two other FAW senior researchers and engineers decided to develop a real “people’s car”. The project was named “Sankoule”(literally “Three Mouths”) the name revers to the then standard Chinese family with two parents and one child.

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The Seat cars made in China.

Nanya (Nanjing-Fiat) Eagle (Yingge’er), photo Erik van Ingen Schenau, 2003.

Imported Spanish cars were not for sale in China, the Seat was unknown . This won’t say that Chinese couldn’t buy Chinese -made Seats. Here an overview.

FAW-Volkswagen Citi Golf AS513. Photo Erik van Ingen Schenau, 1996.

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The Complete Story of the Austin Maestro in China (part 2: Yema)

According the official website of Yema , www.yemaauto.cn, Yema was founded in 1988. That is not correct.

Yema ‘suv”, photos Jos van der Wiel, Leshan (Sichuan) 1982.

Chengdu Light Auto Refit Works made Yema suv’s already in the early 1980s. In 1988 this factory merged with three other factories to start the Chengdu Light Vehicle General Works. Tycho has written about this and more. Continue reading “The Complete Story of the Austin Maestro in China (part 2: Yema)”

The beautiful paintings of Jörg-Peter Rabe.

After my post “Our draftsmen” Jörg-Peter Rabe made on my request several car paintings. Each of them are beauties! I show them here.

Rabe started, as you remember, with the Xianjin 71-5 of 1958. Here is a second drawing of the car.

Xianjin 71-5 made in Chongqing, 1958, by Jörg-Peter Rabe, 2021.

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The complete story of the Austin Maestro in China (Part 1, Etsong)

FAW Lubao, a further development of the Austin Maestro.

This story starts in the Great Britain, a car named Austin Maestro was made from 1983-1994. About 605.000 were made.

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The successor of the Beijing BJ212.

With the start of the joint venture with Jeep, a possibility showed up to use the modern 2.5-litre engine of the Cherokee in the BJ212.

Left the Beijing Jeep Comanche, right the Beijing Jeep BJ212E. Note the small 15-inch tyres.

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Our draftsmen.

During our research we unearth a lot of old car photos of bad quality, or photos that give us only some details of the cars we introduce to you.

We get help from friends. They make drawings to enhanse the photos. Sometimes we ask them, sometimes they volunteer.

I want to thank them. To honour them, we give you an overview of these draftsmen.

The 18 meter long wallpainting “China dream- Hongqi dream” made by the artist Lu Jia. This is part 2.

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The Dongfeng EQ6400PL Baolai Xideng station wagon.

This is the most ugly station wagon I know. Yes, as automotive historians it is not expected from us to give our private opinion about the design of a car. But the EQ6400PL, well have a look for yourself.

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Anhui Wei’er Small Cars

The People’s Liberation Army (Jiefangjun) no. 5720 Works in Wuhu City, Anhui Province switched to civil vehicle production in the 1990s, like so many military factories.

Wei’er WHJ6440. Photo Erik van Ingen Schenau, 1995.

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