When it comes to “luxury” car collections, people often think of Dubai, Monaco or the United States. However, it turns out that China also has a car collection that surprises many.
Mr. Luo sitting inside the Hongqi limousine.
This collection belongs to a Chinese man named Luo Wenyou. In December last year, Mr. Luo’s car collection appeared in a short documentary film called Driven.
Vintage cars in Mr. Luo’s collection.
Mr. Luo currently owns about 200 cars of different types. From the dark black limousine that was made to serve Chairman Mao Zedong to the magnificent red fire truck, all can be found in Mr. Luo’s collection.
In this collection, there are many unique cars, such as this tank.
According to Luo, he started collecting cars in 1979 with a blue Warsaw car from Poland. At that time, in China, there were very few individual car collectors like Mr. Luo. He spent about 5,000 Chinese Renminbi, equivalent to 16.5 million Vietnamese dong, to buy that Warsaw car.
Mr. Luo and his wife taking a photo with their first car.
“I wear white gloves and sunglasses every day when driving“, Mr. Luo said while sitting in the back seat of a 1966 Hongqi limousine. “Even in winter, I roll down the window so people can see me“.
“At that time, there were very few cars on the streets. There were no traffic lights. Only the police regulated traffic“, Mr. Luo recalled.
From a driver to a famous car collector
Mr. Luo used to work as a driver for government officials.
Mr. Luo used to make a living as a driver for government officials. After that, he quit his job and started his own business. He used to run a car repair shop, a travel company, and even built a go-kart race track.
After participating in the Louis Vuitton Classic China Run event in 1998, Mr. Luo sold all of his companies and focused on collecting cars. Eventually, he opened the Beijing Classic Car Museum in 2009.
The exterior of Mr. Luo’s classic car museum.
His past connections with the government helped Mr. Luo find rare cars. His car collection now serves as evidence of China’s car design history. At the same time, this collection reminds people of the time when only government officials could own a car.
“Everyone had great respect for car drivers“, Mr. Luo said when recalling the period after the Chinese Cultural Revolution in 1976. “Only government officials and military leaders owned cars. But I could buy an imported car“.
Hongqi cars that were exclusively reserved for government officials.
The highlight of Mr. Luo’s car collection is the Hongqi cars. This is a Chinese brand specialized in producing cars for government officials.
Hongqi limousine
Inside the car, there is even a landline telephone.
Logo on a Hongqi car
The Hongqi 770 limousine is perhaps the most important car for Mr. Luo. It was produced in the late 1970s and used to belong to General Nie Rongzhen. To participate in the Louis Vuitton Classic China Run event, Mr. Luo drove this car for about 808 miles, equivalent to 1,300 kilometers, from Dalian to Beijing.
Chevrolet that used to belong to the last emperor of China, Puyi.
Broken window of the ZIS 1945 car
Furthermore, Mr. Luo’s collection also includes a ZIS 1945 car with a broken window. This car used to transport former Chinese Chairman Liu Shaoqi. The broken window is a trace from the Cultural Revolution era.
Red and white Dong Fang Hong car
Car with the logo of Tian’anmen
Traditional Chinese lantern-style taillights on a car made by First Automobile Works in 1958.
In this collection, there are several dozen Dongfanghong cars that were produced.
Evidence of history
A photo from the 1998 Louis Vuitton Classic China Run event
Perhaps the most important car to Mr. Luo is the Hongqi 770. It was produced in the late 1970s and used to belong to Marshal Nie Rongzhen. Mr. Luo drove this car for about 808 miles, equivalent to 1,300 kilometers, to participate in the Louis Vuitton Classic China Run event from Dalian to Beijing.
Mr. Luo was the only Chinese participant in this event.
In this event, Mr. Luo was the only Chinese participant. “I was fined by the organizers because my car was surrounded by too many people in Dalian“, Mr. Luo recalled. “I remember an old man carrying his granddaughter to watch. When I drove by, the old man was so excited that he raised both hands to applaud and dropped the granddaughter“.
Chevrolet that used to belong to Emperor Puyi, the last emperor of China.
Today, China has become the largest car market in the world. The ownership of cars is no longer limited to government officials. However, Mr. Luo’s museum still attracts many visitors because it reminds them of the country’s changes over the past 40 years.
Finally, Mr. Luo emphasized that he still wants to enrich his car collection. “I really want a car that runs on a steam engine from England“, he said. “I think I already have enough Chinese cars in my collection“.
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