About the History of Cars in China
At least four projects were undertaken by FAW (First Auto Works) to develop a small family car. Well, to be exactly it was either FAW itself or the Changchun Research Institute, which functioned as the research and development department of FAW.
Continue reading “Four attempts to make a Hongqi family car.”
In the early years of the twentieth century there were a lot of factories that made car chassis and engines. These chassis and engines were exported to other countries where local bodybuilders assembled and finished these automobiles.
The International Concession in Shanghai city was an important place where several body builders were settled.
Continue reading “The Shanghai Horse Bazaar and Motor Company Limited”
In June 1958 Beijing First Automobile Accessory Works surprised with the introduction of the quite modern Jinggangshan, a Volkswagen Beetle-based rear-engined car.
Deng Xiaoping meets the first Jinggangshan, June 1958. Chinese press photo.
The oldest automobile show in China I know is the exhibition organised by the National Good Road Association of China in Shanghai, September 1931.
Continue reading “Early Exhibitions with Chinese automobiles.”
On the 2004 Beijing Auto Show, Changan Auto unveiled two concept cars. The first was was the Chinese Dragon roadster, and the second one was this Changan Chinese Sturgeon sports sedan.
Continue reading “China Concept Cars: The 2004 Changan Chinese Sturgeon”
We know the Tianjin Auto Repair Works from the Heping saloons made in 1958. People name this factory as developing the first Chinese car. For two reasons, the 1946 Feiying closed three wheel vehicle and the 1951 station wagon.
Continue reading “The first products of the Tianjin Auto Repair Works.”
Dear friends,
I have a very good reason to write this item today.
Continue reading “Unique chance to drive your veteran car in China!”
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.”
Thunder Sky is a major player in the development and production of LiYePO4 Rare Earth Lithium Ion batteries. Thunder Sky started experimenting with electric vehicles around the turn of the last century by converting existing petrol powered cars to electric power. This included, as you shall discover from this article, everything from the humble Geo Metro to über collectible Hongqis. Join me as I take you on a journey to discover one of the most ambitious, ingenious and downright insane (in a good way) companies we will ever discuss here on the pages of China Car History. A journey so long it has to be split across two articles. The first shall cover all their vehicles prior to 2007 and the second everything after. Please note that right up until the day of publishing we were uncovering more and more vehicles produced by Thunder Sky and likely may find more in the future so these articles will more than likely be updated.
In today’s article I cover the third hall (what I will call Part 4) of the Weifang Generations Classic Car Museum. Around 25 cars are on display in this hall and there is a wide variety of cars on display.
Continue reading “Trip Report: Weifang Generations Classic Car Museum (Part 4)”