Readers' Photos # 34: CA7560 Hongqi Limousine

And now for something completely different! Today's Readers' Photos offering comes from some-time UMPH correspondent Michael, who spotted this magnificent Hongqi limousine whilst on a recent trip to China.

According to a plaque that proud Chinese officials helpfully placed near the Hongqi, the marque was established in China by the FAW group in 1958 and was the first car to be entirely designed and produced in that country. They are apparently "regarded as world-class cars," or so the nationalistic plaque-writer would have us believe!

I'm not sure just how world-class Hongqi cars really are. However, I would hazard to guess they're probably very robustly built and that, as a symbol of Chinese aspiration, the CA7560 limousine is hugely likely to be beautifully finished, too.

Of course, a limousine is not the sort of vehicle your average bicycle-riding Chinese peasant is ever going to own. Again quoting the plaque, the CA7560 was a "concierge car," available only to vice-ministers, chief concierges of foreign affairs or higher-ranked party officials. Capable of carrying eight, plus the chauffeur, the car features a separate driver's section and a passengers' compartment with a double row of seating, including two fold-down seats for bodyguards.

If you're in any doubt about the pride the Chinese feel for the Hongqi limo, an example was chosen to transport US President Richard Nixon during his history-making 1972 visit to Hangzhou. It would be interesting to know what Nixon thought of the car and how it compared to his presidential Lincoln Continental.

According to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hongqi_(marque)), early Hongqis were based on a 1955 Chrysler model and were powered by a V8 engine. However, there's no specific mention of the CA7560 in that article, although the twin-pipes on the car featured here also suggests a V8 motor's been fitted.

World-class or not, I rather like the CA7560. There's something quite dignified, yet slightly ominous, about them. They also show that there's significantly more history to the Chinese automotive industry than the Great Walls, Cherys and SAICs that we're used to seeing here in Australia.

U M P H

(uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

Photos supplied.

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