Author: Tycho de Feijter

Volkswagen Santana Variant Is Very Unlucky In China

A dark blue Volkswagen Santana Variant, seen near Ikea in Beijing in 2009. The license plate reads 京E·04444. In Chinese culture and tradition, 4 is a very unlucky number, comparable with 13 in the West.

Most people, therefore, prefer to avoid a 4 on their license plate, fearing bad luck. The driver of this car is not so superstitious, he got himself four fours! That’s bad luck².

The Volkswagen Santana Variant station wagon was made by Shanghai-Volkswagen from 1987 until 2013, yes you read that right. It was a very popular carrier and today it has achieved somewhat of a cult status. Deservedly so!

Also note the Sinopec 2008 Olympics sticker on the left side of the window, this was for a nation-wide sponsored competition in 2007, just before the start of the Beijing Olympics. Whoever had the sticker on their car could win huge prizes. There was a TV show about it and what not. Also, in the background is a Beijing subway train.

A Wondrous White Beijing Commercial Vehicle BJ2020M

This is a rare Beijing Commercial Vehicle BJ2020M, a hard-top 4×4 off-road vehicle. The one we saw was fully loaded with dealer accessories, including: a three-phase bull bar, flag poles, side bars, ultra shiny wheel covers, roof-mounted mirrors, and spotlights on that same roof.

Continue reading “A Wondrous White Beijing Commercial Vehicle BJ2020M”

A Rare BAM BJ2020SA In Yellow Brown In Beijing

This beauty is a very rare BAM BJ2020SA, a two-door 4×4 off-road vehicle. I saw it in Beijing back in 2003, just across the street from the Workers’ Stadium. The building on the left has long been razed to the ground and replaced by something new, and recently the stadium went down as well! Note the purple trousers and the old 京C license plates.

Continue reading “A Rare BAM BJ2020SA In Yellow Brown In Beijing”

A Dusty Moskvitch Aleko 2141S In Beijing

Moskvitch Aleko 2141S
Moskvitch Aleko 2141S

A truly rare car for China this is. A light blue Moskvitch Aleko 2141S, seen at a small car repair shop in north Beijing, back in 2011. The good Moskvitch was very dusty and looked neglected. Staff at the store told me they were planning to restore it. Well, they always say that when I ask…

Continue reading “A Dusty Moskvitch Aleko 2141S In Beijing”

Beer! A Dongfeng Beer Truck In China

Here we have a big Dongfeng beer truck, in the correct worker’s blue, loaded with about a hundred crates of delicious Yanjing beer, standing in front of a restaurant in central Beijing.

I saw the truck in 2007, when Yanjing beer bottles still contained 0.645 liters of easily drinkable beer with an alcohol percentage of 3.6%. In my good old days, I drank a truck of the stuff each week. Sadly, most Chinese beer makers have since changed their bottle size to the internationally more acceptable 0.5 liter.

The Dongfeng truck was already an oldie in 2007, and it was clearly not having an easy day with its heavy load of booze! I love the frames on the sides, with reflective 3M tape, intended to prevent bicyclists from ending up underneath. Cheers, old Dongfeng beer truck, hope you are still around somewhere.

Spyker Arrives In China In 2004

Back in the summer of the great year 2004, I was invited to the launch event of Dutch supercar maker Spyker in China. The company shipped in a beautiful Spyker C8 Spyder, painted in purple with a red-beige interior. It was unveiled to the media at the capital’s famous Zhengyangmen Gate.

Continue reading “Spyker Arrives In China In 2004”

Going To The Races At Goldenport In Beijing In 2003

Going To The Races At Goldenport In Beijing In 2003

Back into July 2003 I went to the great Goldenport circuit in northeast Beijing to see some speedy racing. In those days, the track wasn’t in a very good shape but the atmosphere was fantastic. Lots of on and off track action below, with fast cars, cool cars, and some babes.

Continue reading “Going To The Races At Goldenport In Beijing In 2003”

Three Fantastic Wuling Mini-cars In Southern China

Wuling LZ100

A fantastic dark blue Wuling LZ 100 mini truck, seen in the great city of Dali in Yunnan Province in 2006 during a long trip through southern China. The car was likely made in the late 1990’s. It was in a very good shape, with the original decals, and wheels. The rear freight container was a factory option. Note the Changan-Suzuki Alto City Baby on the left side of the road.

Continue reading “Three Fantastic Wuling Mini-cars In Southern China”