About the History of Cars in China
With the development of the Beijing BJ212, the possibility to produce a forward control 4×4 minibus arose. The Russian had the UAZ452, so why not.
Beijing BJ421 1974. Registration ‘Beijing 01-64515’.
Continue reading “Forward control vehicles based on the BJ212.”
There is a place where classic chinese cars can live forever – where that might be you ask? Videogames! Today we will look into some of the games that feature classic chinese vehicles.
The most important Chinese cross-country vehicle is the Beijing BJ212. Developed in the early 1960s, in production since 1965. Yes, still in production!! The introduction was during the mass-movement Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, chairman Mao using it to inspect the Red guards.
Continue reading “Jeeps made before the production of the BJ212.”
This picture shows four Hongqi CA72, three Beijing CB4 and two Tianjin Heping 2-type, together on Tian’anmen square in Beijing in 1959 or 1960. It is a very interesting gathering of the three candidates for manufacturing state-limousines for the People’s Republic of China. The chances are already clear taking into account the number of cars present: 4 Hongqi, 3 Beijing and 2 Tianjin.
Yes, it was Hongqi that won. And Beijing and Tianjin were the losers. Recently new photos have been found of the limousines from Beijing , which we will present here.
Continue reading “The lost Beijing and Tianjin limousines of China.”
Xingtai 114 Auto Works was founded in 1969 in a village to the southeast of Xingtai. Xingtai 114 was one of three main automakers in Xingtai that I have covered so far, the other two being Red Star and Changzheng. Xingtai 114’s product line consisted mainly of SUV’s, pickup trucks and buses, as well as some conversions based on products from other manufacturers such as ambulances. Perhaps most interesting of all were the unique Dacias they produced, unlike anything seen in Romania. More on those a bit later.
Today in Chinese Car Brands That Time Forgot (CCBTTF™): Zhengtian, a fascinating brand that made a series of station wagons and pickup trucks in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s.
Continue reading “Chinese Car Brands That Time Forgot: Shijiazhuang Automobile Works – Zhengtian”
In 1980 the Englishman Oliver Barnham travelled through China and took pictures of every local made vehicle he could find. He took pictures of a BJ212-style jeep in Chonqging and Shanghai.
Both cars had military plates.
This is the BAW Leichi, a Chinese variant of the Jeep Cherokee XJ, looking beautiful in black in what seems to be a holiday village. And check those front fenders! What was the Leichi, and how did she come to exist..?
Continue reading “The BAW Leichi Is A Chinese Variant Of The Jeep Cherokee XJ”
This fine Chinese vehicle is a Shuanghuan SHJZH213. It looks a lot like a Jeep Cherokee XJ but it is not. It is however not totally-not a Jeep Cherokee XJ. Here is why:
Continue reading “The Shuanghuan SHZJ213 Is Not A Jeep Cherokee XJ But Not Totally Not”
This little red and white beauty is the Beijing Auto Works (BAW) Dongfanghong BJ760, a mid-size sedan launched in 1960 and manufactured until 1966. I met this BJ760 at the Beijing Classic Car Museum to the far north of the Chinese capital.
Continue reading “The Beijing Auto Works Dongfanghong BJ760 Is A Beautiful Chinese-Russian Sedan”
