Author: Tycho de Feijter

BMW M3 Is White With A License Plate In China

BMW M3 E92

A wondrous white BMW M3 with an ultra cool 京Y·YM399 license plate, matching the car’s type. The speedy Bimmer is further dressed up with darkened windows, black window frames, and a set of big black wheels. A very nice package indeed.

The E92 BMW M3 coupe was very popular in China, I must have seen hundreds. Power came from a 4.0 liter naturally aspirated B8 engine with 414 hp and 400 Nm, good for a 0-100 in 4.6 seconds. Price for the base model, there were lots of specials as well, started around 1.22 million yuan.

A Chrysler Concorde Is A Giant American Sedan In China

Chrysler Concorde

A gorgeous second-generation Chrysler Concorde sedan, seen in the Chinese capital Beijing in 2010. The gigantic American sedan was in a good general shape, with shiny paint, darkened rear windows, and factory original alloys.

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A Man With A White Hat In Beijing

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”

Gold Fish On The Tricycle In China

Gold Fish On The Tricycle In China

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.

Beijing Concept Cars In China In 2010

Beijing Concept Cars In China In 2010
Beijing C71

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.

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One Beijing-Jeep Cherokee I Almost Bought

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.

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My Beijing-Jeep Cherokee XJ When I Just Bought It

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.

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Ultra Rare C126 Mercedes-Benz AMG 560SEC Is Black In The Rain In China

C126 Mercedes-Benz AMG 560SEC

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.

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