I go out to China a fair bit with work, and during my last trip I tried to get some photos of any interesting metal that's out there to show you guys.
A vast majority of the cars out there are less than 10 years old and retro / classic stuff is very scarce. I reckon this is because nobody could afford cars in China until recently so old cars are rare. Also, they drive like utter lunatics out there so cars generally get driven into the ground or smashed to bits long before they reach a decent age.
As you might imagine, there's not much of a modifying scene out there on the streets - their certainly are people who mod cars out there but they are a very very small minority.
The photos aren't the best - when I'm out there I'm working my backside off so I only really get the opportunity to snap photos from a moving vehicle while going from place to place.
Anyway, here's what I've managed to see...
^ The only modified car I've seen out there which I glimpsed in traffic...
^ Taxis are often Jettas and Santanas, or licence-built versions of. Nice to ride around in something retro-ish. ;D
^ Weird vehicles abound.
^ Weirdest contraption of them all. I've spied a few of these - the front end seems to be a lawn mower of some kind, with a truck flatbed back end. There's a hinge in the middle for steering and the two-stroke engine pulls it along (just). I'm thinking a company must build these things as I've seen a fair few.
^ Most cars bear battle scars, new and old.
^ Santanas. Couldn't get a decent shot...
^ They love their mini vans...
^ Workshops like this are everywhere. Even late at night you can see them lit up with strip lights and the cold blue light of the MIG welder.
^ OK, this ain't a train forum, but the Chinese Bullet Train is pretty cool...
I'll try to keep updating this thread with more stuff - there were Toyota CROWNs out there which seemed to elude my camera but next time I'm out there I'll try to snap one.
Again, sorry for the pic quality, it's hard to compose a decent shot when the driver is hurtling along and you feel like you're a whisker away from a major accident! ;D
A vast majority of the cars out there are less than 10 years old and retro / classic stuff is very scarce. I reckon this is because nobody could afford cars in China until recently so old cars are rare. Also, they drive like utter lunatics out there so cars generally get driven into the ground or smashed to bits long before they reach a decent age.
As you might imagine, there's not much of a modifying scene out there on the streets - their certainly are people who mod cars out there but they are a very very small minority.
The photos aren't the best - when I'm out there I'm working my backside off so I only really get the opportunity to snap photos from a moving vehicle while going from place to place.
Anyway, here's what I've managed to see...
^ The only modified car I've seen out there which I glimpsed in traffic...
^ Taxis are often Jettas and Santanas, or licence-built versions of. Nice to ride around in something retro-ish. ;D
^ Weird vehicles abound.
^ Weirdest contraption of them all. I've spied a few of these - the front end seems to be a lawn mower of some kind, with a truck flatbed back end. There's a hinge in the middle for steering and the two-stroke engine pulls it along (just). I'm thinking a company must build these things as I've seen a fair few.
^ Most cars bear battle scars, new and old.
^ Santanas. Couldn't get a decent shot...
^ They love their mini vans...
^ Workshops like this are everywhere. Even late at night you can see them lit up with strip lights and the cold blue light of the MIG welder.
^ OK, this ain't a train forum, but the Chinese Bullet Train is pretty cool...
I'll try to keep updating this thread with more stuff - there were Toyota CROWNs out there which seemed to elude my camera but next time I'm out there I'll try to snap one.
Again, sorry for the pic quality, it's hard to compose a decent shot when the driver is hurtling along and you feel like you're a whisker away from a major accident! ;D