A walk through China’s auto-industry spirit with vintage car collector

The Beijing Classic Car or truck Museum, situated in the Chinese capital’s Huairou District, properties around 100 Chinese and foreign classic limousines treasured by the museum proprietor Luo Wenyou.

“I have been fascinated with equipment and automobiles since young. When I was a child, I utilized to chase behind tractors to see how they plowed the field,” mentioned the 67-year-previous Luo, including that he considers himself fortuitous to go after his interest as a lifelong endeavor.

Luo’s selection began with a Polish Warszawa sedan that he acquired in 1977. On the other hand, in the next decades, Luo was much more centered on China’s 1st generation of vehicles.

In the mid-1980s, Luo acquired his initially Hongqi car. Founded in 1958, Hongqi, that means “purple flag,” is China’s legendary household-developed motor vehicle brand and it has been applied as the automobile for parades at countrywide celebrations.

Chinese men and women have regarded the model as the nation’s pride thanks to its historical significance. There are much more than 70 Hongqi autos in Luo’s museum, some of which had been once utilised by Chinese leaders, in accordance to Luo.

In 1998, the classic motor vehicle collector took section in the Louis Vuitton Traditional China Operate, driving a few-row seating Hongqi from northeast China’s Dalian to Beijing as the sole Chinese participant in the rally.

“For the duration of the rally, the Chinese followers cheered for me, although quite a few international drivers required to give Hongqi a try out. I was truly touched and produced my mind to obtain far more Chinese vintage autos of this manufacturer given that it represents a nationwide achievement,” he claimed.

Luo reported he invested over a decade organizing and sooner or later founded the typical automobile museum in 2008, incorporating that most of the classic limos there are about 30 a long time previous with all unique parts and nonetheless operable.

Luo has arranged quite a few classic car rallies in collaboration with fellow enthusiasts throughout the region in latest several years, and in 2019, he established up a further museum in Shiyan Metropolis, central Hubei Province. All these attempts stem from his passion for vintage autos, in particular Chinese-produced cars.

“The auto sector demonstrates a country’s energy in producing and science and technologies, and so, the collections in my museum portray the progress of China’s car field from scratch and display the Chinese workers’ spirit of hard get the job done and perseverance,” Luo said.

Today, China’s auto sector has accelerated its advancement and realized worldwide prominence, and Luo is very pleased of it.

“I will keep on to share the tales at the rear of the common vehicles in the museum with as a lot of persons as doable, so that our international close friends could have a far better knowing of China’s auto business and the country’s development as a result of the many years,” Luo said.