German Car Zone

Thought some of you might find this interesting - I attended an event at the Blackhawk Auto Museum here in California recently where they showed off their new pride and joy, a Red Flag limousine built in China from the 50's into the 70's. It's the first time China has ever allowed a collector car out of the country and there were many Chinese government officials there at the ceremony. Good photos attached to the article.
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By Brendan Moore

12.11.2008

The Red Flag, a Chinese car produced for state officials from the 1950’s until the 1970’s, was unveiled yesterday at the Blackhawk Auto Museum in California. The car was obtained by Blackhawk as a result of an unprecedented trade of classic cars between China and the United States. It marks the first time that this type of cultural exchange has occurred between the two countries.

Don Williams, Blackhawk Museum President and owner of the prestigious Blackhawk Collection stated, “This exchange represents cultural and automotive history as a collector car has never left China before, nor has China been able to purchase collector cars from outside the country”.
So, this is kind of a big deal in the collector car community.

The subject of the unveiling, the Red Flag, is a big deal, too. In fact, it’s a massive car. The photos do not do its sheer size justice – think a late Fifties Cadillac Sixty Series parade car, and you’ll get the general idea of the length and girth of the car, although if I had to sum up the looks of the car, I would say it’s a pastiche of the largest Ford and Chrysler cars of its era. The might of the Chinese people was truly represented by the Red Flag.

Rest of article

Interesting.

The car has a very Russian appearance, almost ZIL like. Wouldn't surprise me if this was a license built version (or a copy!!!).