This is about three mystery-Volkswagen’s. The FAW-Volkswagen Olympia Taxi, a FAW-Volkswagen Vento (Jetta A3) and a Shanghai-Volkswagen Santana (Passat B2).
Three mystery Volkswagens.
Prototypes made in Changchun.
Recently I bought from a Changchun bookseller a bunch of 47 photos of prototypes made in the 1990’s by the First Auto Works Automobile Research Institute (FARI). The majority of the photos show trucks.
The Changchun Automobile Reseach Institute was established in 1950. Originally it worked mostly for FAW (First Auto Works in Changchun), but also designed for other companies, factories in Beijing, Tianjin or Guangzhou etc.
Since 1978 CARI worked only for FAW and in 1980 it became the FAW Automobile Research Institute (FARI).
China Concept Cars: The 2009 & 2011 Brilliance EV Concept Cars
In the late 2000’s China started to get serious about electric cars. Many Chinese automakers launched concept cars and small-series EVs for demonstration projects. One of these car makers was Brilliance Automotive. In 2009 they unveiled an attractive electric concept car, followed by a follow-up concept in 2011.
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Made for China: Dodge T234 (1944-1946).
An interesting subject is the vehicles which are not made in China, but are made specifically FOR China.
Before, I wrote about the trucks made by the French company Berliet for China, the Berliet GCH 6×6 26 ton trucks.
There was a predecessor. The Chrysler Company developed the Dodge T234 in 1944, especially for the Nationalist Army to fight against the Japanese. The car had the nickname ‘Dodge Burma truck’ as it was meant for use at the Burma and Ledo highway.
Small electric cars of the 1950s.
It is amazing how many experiments took place to develop an electric car, decades before they became popular in China.
The never produced Tianjin Xiali Station Wagon.
During the 1990’s the Tianjin Automotive Research Co. Ltd. made several proposals for a Xiali Station Wagon. In the end none was taken into production.
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The beautiful paintings of Jörg-Peter Rabe (2).
Nearly one and a half year ago I showed you the beautiful drawings and paintings of Jörg-Peter Rabe, which he made for us.
Jörg-Peter continued his great production. Here we go on….
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Chinese Car Brands That Time Forgot: Yanjing Auto
Today in Chinese Car Brands That Time Forgot (CCBTTF): Yanjing Auto, a brand owned by the Beijing Yanjing Auto Factory (北京燕京汽车厂). In the 1980’s and 1990’s the factory produced buses, minibuses, and SUVs under the Yanjing brand. Have a beer, get some chips, because this is a long read.
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China Concept Cars: The 2002 Tianjin Toyota T-1
At Auto China 2002, one of the main exhibits was a Toyota T-1. Lets take a closer look at it!
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Mr. Zhong Boguang’s Shanghai SH7180.
This is a painting made by my good friend Jörg-Peter Rabe, to show you how the Shanghai SH7180 (or SAIC96) would have looked like when it was really produced.
