A Walk Through the Mind of China’s Automotive Industry with a Vintage Car Collector

The Beijing Classic Car Museum, located in the Huairou district of the Chinese capital, houses more than 100 Chinese and foreign vintage limousines treasured by museum owner Luo Wenyou.

“I have been fascinated by machines and automobiles since I was young. When I was a child, I used to run behind tractors to see how they plowed the field,” said Luo, 67, adding that he considered himself lucky. to have pursuing his interest as a lifelong endeavor.

Luo’s collection began with a Polish Warszawa sedan which he acquired in 1977. However, over the following decades Luo focused more on the first generation of Chinese automobiles.

In the mid-1980s, Luo bought his first car from Hongqi. Founded in 1958, Hongqi, which means “red flag”, is China’s iconic car brand and has been used as a vehicle for parades during national celebrations.

The Chinese have considered the brand the pride of the nation due to its historical significance. There are more than 70 Hongqi vehicles in Luo’s museum, some of which were once used by Chinese rulers, according to Luo.

In 1998, the classic car collector took part in the Louis Vuitton Classic China Run, driving Hongqi three rows of seats from Dalian (northeast China) to Beijing as the only Chinese participant in the rally.

“During the rally, Chinese fans cheered for me, while many foreign drivers wanted to try Hongqi. I was really touched and decided to collect more Chinese vintage cars of this brand because it represents a national achievement. “, did he declare. .

Luo said he spent more than a decade planning and eventually established the classic car museum in 2008, adding that most vintage limos are over 30 years old with all original parts and are still usable.

Luo has organized many vintage car rallies together with other enthusiasts across the country in recent years, and in 2019 he established another museum in the city of Shiyan in the central province of Hubei. All of these endeavors stem from his passion for classic cars, especially Chinese-made automobiles.

“The automobile industry demonstrates a country’s strength in manufacturing, science and technology, and thus, the collections in my museum depict the development of China’s automobile industry from scratch and show the spirit of hard work and perseverance of Chinese workers,” Luo said.

Today, China’s auto industry has accelerated its growth and achieved international fame, and Luo is proud of that.

“I will continue to share the stories behind the museum’s classic automobiles with as many people as possible, so that our international friends can have a better understanding of China’s automotive industry and the country’s progress over the decades,” Luo said. .