Archive for the ‘China Car History’ Category
China Car History: the Benz-like vehicles of Bamin Automobile
Published on October 12, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
Today in China Car History the strange Benz-like vehicles from Bamin State Automobile Works, or Bamin Automobile for short. Bamin Automobile was based in the great city of Minhou in Fujian Province and the company was owned by the Chinese army, it was also called the ‘PLA 7427 Works’. Bamin Automobile started business in the late 1980′s with a local licensed variant of the Beijing 212; the Bamin BM212A/BM213A.
Spotted in China: Hongqi CA7202 E3L
Published on October 10, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
This is the Hongqi CA7202 E3L limousine, based on the Hongqi CA7202 E3 Shijixing (Century Star) sedan. The CA7202 E3 was the last Hongqi (Red Flag) based on the Audi 100/200 that was made by the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture. The CA7202 E3 arrived in 2000, long after the Audi 100/200 was replaced with the first generation Audi A6. The E3L arrived two years later in 2002.
Beijing BJ130 is a Prisoner for Life in Beijing
Published on October 6, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
Another beautiful Beijing BJ130 light truck, abandoned behind a big fence in Beijing. The truck must have been standing there for years, tires almost gone, chrome dark ‘n dirty, looking sad. Still, it wasn’t crushed and that is a good thing!
China Car History: the Nanjing Yuejin NJ131 light truck
Published on October 1, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
Here we have a fine old truck! This is the Nanjing Yuejin NJ31, made from the 1985 until 1996. The Yuejin NJ131 was the successor of the Nanjing NJ130 (without ‘Yuejin’) which was based on the good old Beijing BJ130. Yuejin is a sub-brand of Nanjing Automobile making commercial vehicles like light trucks and vans. The brand still exists today as part of Naveco, the Nanjing-Iveco joint venture that also makes Iveco vans for the Chinese market. Nanjing Automobile became part of SAIC in 2007.
Spotted in China: Dongfeng-Fengshen EQ6482
Published on September 30, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
This is the Dongfeng-Fengshen EQ6482, based on the Yunbao YB6480 which was based on the first generation Mercury Villager which was based on the Nissan Quest that also spawned the Ford Windstar. Yunbao was a Taiwanse-funded company that made Nissan-based automobiles for the Chinese car market in the 1990′s. In 1999 Dongfeng took over most of the operations and rebranded the various cars as ‘Fengshen’, a Dongfeng brand-name that still exist today. Note Ford Tempo parked behind the EQ6482!
Spotted in China: Beijing-Jeep Cherokee Limited
Published on September 29, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
This big beast is a Beijing-Jeep Cherokee Limited, the most luxurious version of Beijing-Jeep Cherokee that was made in China by the Beijing-Jeep joint venture from 1984 until 2009. The Limited arrived in 1994 and continued until 2004. It came with big wheels, shiny sporty alloys, a roof rack, and a sorta two-tone paint with the bumpers, wheel arches and side skirts in a different color.
Spotted in China: Hongqi CA7220 V6
Published on September 28, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
Here we have a very special Hongqi CA7220, based on the Audi 100/200 that were made by the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture. Hongqi, Red Flag, is a brand from FAW. The CA7220 debuted in 1998 and continued until 2004. This is the facelifted model which was made from 2001 until 2003. Read more »
Spotted in China: Beijing-Jeep Super Cherokee
Published on September 28, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
This is a rare Beijng-Jeep Super Cherokee, a dressed up variant of the Beijing-Jeep Cherokee that was made in China by the Beijing-Jeep joint venture from 1984 until 2009. The Super Cherokee came with the high roof, a roof rack, extra thick bumpers, sporty wheels and standard 4×4. Bull bar was optional but almost everybody took it.
(Recent) China Car History: the Volkswagen Golf-Bora
Published on September 22, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
Here we have a very special Chinese made Volkswagen Golf that was not called Golf but Volkswagen Bora HS. The Bora HS was based on the Golf IV and was made from 2007 until 2009, it got a Bora front end and Bora rear lights. The Bora was the Chinese version of the fourth generation Volkswagen Jetta.Both Bora’s were made by the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture.
China Car History: the Shanghai SH771
Published on September 21, 2012 by Tycho de Feyter
This is the Shanghai SH771, developed by Shanghai Auto in 1974 as a possible successor of the Shanghai SH760 series. The SH771 was based on the 1972 Mercedes-Benz W116 S-class. The engine however wasn’t German, Shanghai Auto opted for the 5.6 liter V8 from Hongqi (Red Flag) which was originally a Chrysler power plant. German-American cooperation in China!
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