I found this perfect Hongqi CA770 state limousine at the Shanghai Car Museum, and it is definitely one of the best looking examples I have seen in China so far. The Hongqi (Red Flag) CA770 was a giant sedan made exclusively for the Chinese government. Only 847 cars were produced in its long life from 1966 until 1981. Here is its story …
The Hongqi CA770 was based on the platform of the 1950′s Chrysler Imperial, the body work however was designed in China by First Auto Works, or FAW, to this day the owner of the Hongqi brand. The design sought to combine ‘modern’ elements with traditional Chinese characteristics.
For modernity, FAW looked to the United States. Loads of chrome up front, very square greenhouse, and small tail-fins at the back. The Chinese characteristics emerge in the grille which was shaped like a Chinese fan. The rear lamps were good for a Chinese lantern festival.
Power came from a big American 215hp 5.6 liter V8 made by Chrysler. That power it needed! The CA770 was gigantic: 5980x1990x1620, wheelbase is 3720. Curb weight was 2730kg. Claimed top speed 160km/h which is actually not that bad for a vehicle that catches more wind than a house.
Chrome is good, more chrome is better, but Hongqi-chrome is king! A Hongqi in super state will normally fetch up to 100.000 USD, this example in Shanghai is probably worth quite a bit more than that…
The two Chinese flags look cool in a museum or on an auto show, but in the real world it doesn’t work that way. When the Chinese dignitary is inside, the vehicle will fly one Chinese flag. When a foreign dignitary is inside, the vehicle will fly the Chinese flag on one side and the flag from the foreigner’s country on the other side.
This CA770 joins my own private Hongqi collection. Here it is: CA770G, second hand restored, second hand unrestored, abandoned 1, abandoned 2, CA772T bulletpr0of, perfect unrestored, with rubbish, two with lotta dust and one of those once again.
More from the Shanghai Car Museum soon!
Dutchman Tycho de Feyter runs Carnewschina.com, a blog about cars in China, from Beijing, China. He also collects die-cast models of Chinese cars.
Hello Tycho,
How can we convince Bertel to buy a CA770 (or similar Hongqi) so TTAC can ride in true style in China? #pantherloveforall
Best,
Sajeev
I DO NOT DRIVE when in China. I am not THAT insane. Always with a driver. Always in the back.
So you’re basically the perfect guy for some red flag. To honor your heritage I do recommend a 600 or an Adenauer too. Monday-Thursday Red Flag, Friday-Sunday Benz?
As this is an American site….. hmmm… Maybe you could squeeze in a Caddy 75 mid week?
Add a Toyota Century while he is in Japan.
Never knew that the CA770 was done on a Chrysler platform, though I was aware that the engine and transmission had certain similarities to contemporary Chrysler engineering (as did the autoboxes used in Soviet ZILs and GAZ Chaikas). Was that a formal strategic alliance between the two automakers, or did FAW somehow go out and buy Imperials and strip them down for rebuilding?
I so want one of these. At least I have the diecast toy version.
This was produced during the Cultural Revolution. How ironic.
Murilee–we need a photo of the toy version, and info on where you got it. And how.
If you’re going to tell us about the Chinese lantern taillights, we need a photo.
Just what I was thinking.
Davide and Mandalorian..
Yeah, I agree, but it looks like this particular car was up against a display curtain and may not be accessible to museum visitors from the back side.
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There’s ample pictures including tail lights on the half-dozen or so links he privided.
Here’s another article by Tycho on an earlier variant, which more closely resembles the Chryslers of the same era….
http://www.carnewschina.com/2012/12/05/shanghai-car-museum-1959-hongqi-ca72/
If you scroll to the last picture, it shows the Chinese-lantern style taillights. Kind of Sino-Art Deco cool… if there is such a style.
And some people say that the Chinese only makes copies, those rear lights are clearly the inspiration for the horrible altezza/lexus lights.
Does that mean there was Chinese espionage in the 50’s?
Spy-“Yes, Chairman Mao we did get the Imperial chassis plans from Chrysler”
Mao-“But I wanted 354 Hemi and gunsight taillight plans too” “Off to the reeducation camp for you”