Author: Tycho de Feijter

Beer!

Dongfeng truck loaded with Yanjing beer in China.
Dongfeng truck loaded with Yanjing beer in China.

Here we have a big Dongfeng 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 liter of easy drinkable beer with an alcohol percentage of 3.6%. In my good old days I drunk a truck of the stuff each week. Sadly, most Chinese beermakers have since changed their bottle size to the internationally more acceptable 0.5 liter.

The Dongfeng 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 bicyclist from ending up underneath. Cheers old Dongfeng, 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.

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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.

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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.

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A Hafei Police Van And A Six-wheel Motor Truck In China

Out in the village.

A Hafei Songhuajiang police van parked behind an intriguing partially-home made dual-axle 5-wheel flat-bed motorbike. I saw these two cars in a small village on the far west of Beijing back in the summer of 2006.

The Hafei has the word ‘police’ in English above the windshield, which is rather unusual. Normally there would be a Chinese term in that place. Songhhuajiang police minivans usually seat four officers + a bunch of criminals in a cage in the back. It didn’t seem on active duty anymore.

The motorbike was clearly in use and available for rent. The owner likely got his inspiration from these monsters. Note the extensions on the handlebars to protect the driver’s hands from sunshine. In winter, these will be replaced with thick gloves against the cold.

In the old villages around the capital you can still find all sorts of fascinating old vehicles, even today, but it is getting less and less. With the electrification of everything the old petrol cars are slowly disappearing. Go there before it is too late!

Volkswagen Individual Touareg W12 Is Dark Blue In China

Volkswagen Individual Touareg W12
Volkswagen Individual Touareg W12

Here we have a very pretty Volkswagen Individual Touareg W12, seen on a second-hand car market in the great city of Chengdu in China in 2016. The massively impressive SUV was on sale for a steep 520.500 yuan. Good deal! When new in 2006, price was a far steeper 1.58 million yuan. Not many were sold in China, so seeing one in the wild is very special.

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A Most Beautiful Volvo 121 S Amazon In China

Volvo 121 S Amazon
Volvo 121 S Amazon

An extremely beautiful Volvo 121 S Amazon four-door sedan, seen in the great city of Chengdu in Sichuan Province in 2016. I met this great Swedish motor in a Volvo dealer owned by the Sanhe Group. This company operates dozens of car dealers in the Chengdu area, and they also have a museum with a PV544 and a large classic-car restoration shop.

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The Qinchuan Flyer QJC7081 Was A Cool Alto-based Hatchback

Qinchuan Flyer
Qinchuan Flyer

This purple beauty is a Qinchuan Flyer QJC7081, commonly called ‘the Flyer’. It was a bit dusty and a bit dirty but in a very good general shape. I met it in the great city of Chengdu in Sichuan Province.

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Heico Sportiv Volvo C30 Times Two In China

Heico Sportiv Volvo C30
Heico Sportiv Volvo C30

A fiery red Heico Sportiv Volvo C30, seen on a local auto show in Beijing in 2010. It looked absolutely brilliant and there was another one nearby.

The show was in a small sports stadium. Just previously, there had been a travel exhibition at the same venue, and the backdrops were still there! The red C30 stood in front of Greece.

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