Here we have a slightly modified sixth generation Cadillac Sedan de Ville, seen in a residential compound somewhere in east Beijing in 2010. The Caddy was fitted with a set if ultra bling alloys, wide tires, and a fake 京A·00006 license plate.
The sixth-gen Sedan de Ville was made from 1985 until 1993. It was based on the C-body platform, which meant a transverse front-engine front-wheel drive layout. Power came from a big V8 engine. Size depended on model year, most common is the4.5 liter version. There was also a 4.3 liter V6 diesel available in some markets. The Sedan de Ville is a very rare sight in China. Just a few were imported in period and some others arrived via diplomatic channels. Note the red car on the far-left of the photo. That is a…
… Yunbao YB6470 wagon. It too was slightly modified, with racy tires and matte gray alloys. And all its badges were removed. Was the owner ashamed of his Yunbao? No need. It is a very cool car, manufactured by a company called Guangzhou Yunbao.
This company was closely related to a Taiwanese company called Yulon Motor. Yulon Motor manufactured the Y30 Nissan Cedric wagon for the Taiwanese market, using Complete Knock Down (CKD) kits shipped in from Japan. Some of these kits were then shipped to China, and turned into the Yunbao YB6470. Production in China started in 1990 and ended in 1998.
The YB6470 was powered by the Nissan 6V87Q 2.9 liter V6, with an output of 146 hp. The engine was mated to a five-speed manual, sending horses to the rear wheels. Yes, a Japanese car with rear-wheel drive and an American car with front-wheel drive. Our world can be an odd place to be.