Minicars made by the Qinghua University in Beijing.

Several mini-cars made by the Qinghua University.

Not content with the physical labour people offered to transport others: the rickshaw and the pedicab, the Chinese authorities stimulated in the 1950s the development of minicars, to be used as taxicabs. The Automobile and Tractor Department of the Qinghua (Tsinghua) University in Beijing developed in the years 1958-61 a whole series of them, I counted 5 different models with 11 different versions which I will introduce here. Qinghua worked together with the Beijing Second Repair Works.

Continue reading “Minicars made by the Qinghua University in Beijing.”

How Iran Khodro Tried, and Failed, To Get Into China

Youngman Yunqu GHK7180

Back in 2006 Iranian automaker Iran Khodro (IKCO) tried, and failed, to get into the Chinese car market. They went into China in two ways: with a localized version of the Samand Soren sedan, and with the Peugeot 206 SD sedan.

Continue reading “How Iran Khodro Tried, and Failed, To Get Into China”

The right-hand drive Hongqi CA770C

Hongqi CA770C

In 1987, the Shenzhen sub-factory of First Auto Works (FAW) produced a single right-hand drive Hongqi CA770G called the CA770C. FAW had a desire to enter markets outside China and the CA770C was created to explore the possibilities of export to right-hand drive markets including neighbouring Hong Kong.

Continue reading “The right-hand drive Hongqi CA770C”

Hongqi CA7560: The last of the 770’s

The CA7560 series was the last hurrah for the CA77x series of Hongqi limousines. The CA770 was produced between 1966 and 1981 and was succeeded in 1985 by the CA770G which was a lightly modernised CA770 equipped with a 5.7 liter V8 engine from Ford. The CA770G lasted until 1988 with only 25 examples being produced in those 3 years. Between 1991 and 1992 a possible variant called the CA770E was produced (unconfirmed). Then in 1992 the final iteration of the CA77x series was released – the CA7560. In this article I will discuss the CA7560 and its stretched variant – the CA7560LH.

Continue reading “Hongqi CA7560: The last of the 770’s”

Trip Report: Taishan Classic Car Museum (Part 4)

The fourth floor of the Taishan Classic Car Museum houses a wide assortment of mainly foreign cars with everything from old Austins to a ZAZ. A rather beautiful Hongqi also makes an appearance but it is the only Chinese car on display.

Continue reading “Trip Report: Taishan Classic Car Museum (Part 4)”

The lost Beijing and Tianjin limousines of 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.”

Trip Report: Taishan Classic Car Museum (Part 2)

The second floor of the Taishan Classic Car Museum consists mainly of cars from China and the USSR. Everything from old Hongqis to an example of almost every Shanghai model and all sorts of glorious Soviet metal.

Continue reading “Trip Report: Taishan Classic Car Museum (Part 2)”

Trip Report: Taishan Classic Car Museum (Part 1)

The Taishan Classic Car Museum is the second museum owned by Zhang Yonglong, the other being the Weifang Generations Classic Car Museum that I have covered previously. His Taishan Museum is located on the north shore of Tianyi Lake (天颐湖) in the Tianyi Lake Resort Area, about 20km south of Tai’an city. The museum itself is a massive 5-storey building with each floor having a distinct theme. The collection is diverse and contains some vehicles that are very seldom seen in other museums in China. It is definitely worth a visit!

Continue reading “Trip Report: Taishan Classic Car Museum (Part 1)”