About China's Coolest Cars
A man in a white hat approaching me on a summer’s day on a road in old central Beijing sometime in 2010. He came with the sun! He was related to the woman sitting on the horse cart on the other side, and curious why I was curious about them. In the process, I took one of my best pictures ever. Thank you, man in white hat. It was just that one moment in time. Continue reading “A Man With A White Hat In Beijing”
A tricycle carrying fish pods filled with gold fish, seen in Nanjing in 2011. The golden creatures were sold for a few yuan each, depending on the fish’s size and relative rarity. Buyers carry their new pet home in a small plastic bag. They could also buy fish food.
Selling gold fish, and other small animals, off tricycles was very common in China until 2018 or so. Today these paddle pet shops are a rarity in the big cities but they are still common down country. The seller in Nanjing was on a popular spot doing good business, I remember seeing lots of kids buying, and some of his tanks were already empty when I took the picture.
And that day in 2010 I went to a new-energy show in Beijing. Local hero Beijing Auto Industry Corporation (BAIC) had a big booth on the show with all sorts of Beijing-branded concept cars including two EVs.
BAIC was on a roll those days. They had just purchased the rights to the Saab 9-5 and Saab 9-3 from General Motors, including the 2.0 and 2.3 turbo engines. The Beijing C71 was a concept car based on the Saab 9-5. It got a modernized new front, a new rear, new badges, and new wheels.
Going back to Tiananmen Square in 2011 I met these interesting camera vans. They look kind of funny but they actually are fully mobile police camera vehicles, able to control and inspect large areas of town. Continue reading “Hongma Camera Vans In Beijing”
Before I bought my Beijing-Jeep Cherokee BJ7250 in 2004 I checked out several other vehicles, most of which were other Cherokees. It was my favorite. Most second-hand cars were sold in giant open-air markets.
It was there that I found this great Beijing-Jeep Cherokee, painted in factory purple and powered by the 4.0 liter six and with four-wheel drive. It had very old blue 京A license plates and it was modified with a slightly raised suspension, big wheels, and shiny alloys.
Continue reading “One Beijing-Jeep Cherokee I Almost Bought”
In December last year I posted a long post on my 1998 Beijing-Jeep Cherokee BJ7250 City Special. I took those photos in 2013. After some digging I found a set of photos of my Jeep in November 2004, nine years earlier, taken on the very first day she was mine. I proudly stand behind the door.
Continue reading “My Beijing-Jeep Cherokee XJ When I Just Bought It”
That day in 2008 I was on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. It was an exceptionally busy at the square. Workers were preparing the giant space for the traditional October celebrations and for the start of the Olympic Games on October 8.
An ultra rare C126 Mercedes-Benz AMG 560SEC, Spotted in China on a rainy day on a parking lot near an apartment building in central Beijing. The German monster was in very good shape, a bit dirty and dusty, but what do you expect in the capital..? Otherwise completely original, with a smooth body and paint, all parts in their places, and no bad or bruises.
Continue reading “Ultra Rare C126 Mercedes-Benz AMG 560SEC Is Black In The Rain In China”
A wondrous white Beijing Auto Senova D320 sedan, seen on the streets in Beijing in 2013. The Shenbao D-Series was based on the first-generation Saab 9-5. Beijing Auto bought the rights to the first generation Saab 9-3 and 9-5 in 2009 from General Motors, then the owner of Saab. The deal included the Saab-developed 2.0 turbo and 2.3 turbo engines.
Continue reading “Beijing Auto Senova D320 Is A Sort Of Saab In China”
Here we have a Nissan 350Z sporty car, seen at a parking lot of an apartment complex in east Beijing in January 2013. I remember i as a cold cold day! Did the Nissan give me any warmth? Sure she did!
Continue reading “A Lime Green Lowered Nissan 350Z In China”