Buick's in China

Hubert_25-25 · January 12, 2020

I just spent a little over a week in mainland China. I had a few days in Chengdu and went to the Sanhe classic car museum. There are no old cars to speak of in China. I was hoping to see a few obscure Russian or Chinese cars. This is a city of almost 8 million people. The owner of the museum owns several automotive dealerships. There were only 2 Chinese vehicles in the entire collection. 2 Chinese vehicles for dignitaries. Very behind in the styling for 1965 and 1974. The 1974 model is pictured.

I assume the museum owner bought what he liked from the US or abroad, as he had some very rare and expensive cars. Numerous Rolls Royce’s. He did have a 1919 Buick H45. All of the bodywork on these cars was top notch. Posting a few other cars here just because of the sheer rarity. Hugh

Edited January 12, 2020 by Hubert_25-25 (see edit history)

Bill - 29 Buick · January 12, 2020

I have a couple of China pieces. The first is a poster advertising the 1929 Buick and the second is a brass plaque that, I believe, was attached to the wall outside the office door at General Motors China.

Bill McLaughlin

1929 Silver Anniversary Buick Club

Hubert_25-25 · January 12, 2020

Bill,

That is really cool that you have those items. Let me remind people that Buick is hugely successful in China, and the Chinese love their Buicks. There is just very little history left in China. The cultural revolution was from 1966-76. The moto was to remove the Four Olds. The Four Olds were: Old Customs, Old Culture, Old Habits, and Old Ideas. Hugh

39BuickEight · January 12, 2020

I’ve always heard Buick would have been dissolved long ago if not for China. I’m not sure if that’s true or not.

I did read that 800,000 Buick’s were sold there in 2017 and only 220,000 here.

Edited January 17, 2020 by 39BuickEight (see edit history)

Morgan Wright · January 13, 2020

When I was in Shanghai in 2008 the most popular car by far was the Volkswagen Santana. Lots of Japanese cars and some weird looking Chinese-built Fords, but mainly everybody was riding bicycles and gasoline powered scooters with 4 inch wheels and tiny motors, and electric bicycles. But mostly bicycles. And lots of busses. Didn't see any Buicks.

AussieBuick · January 13, 2020

Late eighties just bicycles and more bicycles.......

Hubert_25-25 · January 13, 2020

All the old stuff is removed rapidly in China. The air pollution is pretty bad in China. They have banned all gas powered scooters in the cities and people have replaced them with electric scooters. Lots of electric scooters. To save energy 9 out of 10 will drive at night with their lights off so you have to be extra vigilant because you can't hear them either. Most of the taxis are on CNG.

And when you think about driving, most of these drivers are recent drivers and have not driven their entire adult lives like us.

Edited January 13, 2020 by Hubert_25-25 (see edit history)