A radiator eating Shanghai Sedan

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by Erik van Ingen Schenau:
When PostWarClassic offered the chance of  a free rally entry for the China 4C Rally (Classic Car Challenge China) I didn't hesitate a moment and I subscribed for the free entry, with my 1968 Renault R16.

Great was the fun when Joris Bergsma told me that I was one of lucky ones who got the entry tickets. When I contacted my friend Leo Seewald he suggested to do the rally in a vintage Chinese car the fun was even greater! Leo had just restored his 4-ton 1969 Jiefang (Liberation) truck. No chance with the organisers, they preferred fancy sports cars or wonderful pre-war models. But no problem, Leo had another car under restoration, a 1968 Shanghai sedan.

The Shanghai is best comparable with a 1960s Mercedes Benz 200. Logic, as this car was used as an example and inspiration to design the Shanghai. Yes, under restauration and there was a small problem: not ready until the day of the rally. And not tested on the road at all... There were in fact two reasons for that: (1) the car was not licensed and the Chinese authorities are very severe with illegal cars if they appear on the  road (2) the car was simply not ready earlier.

So the '69 Shanghai was transported on a truck to the start of the rally in Beijing, not far from the Great Wall where the starting ceremony would take place. Foreseeing that surprises were not excluded Leo discussed to bring the mechanic with us on the rear seat. We agreed and the three of us started the rally on the first day, driving from our hotel to the Great Wall. Immediately we were stuck in a traffic jam. Oh dear, engine temperature went up. After four kilometres we came to a halt under a fly over: engine overheated, gearbox stuck and starting motor broken.The mechanic worked on the gear box, Leo took by taxi the starter to a local workshop and the car had some time to cool down. Then we towed the car to a local garage. At the end of the morning we could continue our trip to the start at the Great Wall! Alas, upon arrival there everybody had gone, the starting ceremony was ended and all cars was were 'en route'! Luckily we had the road book, and on the wonderful smaller roads in the mountains the car was doing better and better and not overheating anymore. But then, a big Clunk...: the radiator fan had liberated itself and took a free flight into the radiator resulting in a big hole! That was the end of the first rally day, we had done about three-quarters of the stage. The towing car brought us to the hotel in Yesanpo.

The second day we towed the car to the third stage and had time to repair it.  The third day with new energy we left the hotel in Shijiazhuang and we did a big part of the stage. Then again we had the same problem, we lost radiator number two. Happy enough, we found a tractor radiator for sale in each village which fitted more or less. And this went on, we lost another two radiators, till we completely rebuilt the fan system, changing into an electric fan in front of the radiator instead of the belt-driven mechanic one behind the radiator.

During the days after our row of little disasters our rally went smoothly. Leo had made us 1968 Mao suits (click left) and you may understand what a commotion there was when two foreigners arrived in small villages in the country side, driving an old Chinese vehicle, wearing period Mao suits!

We travelled from Tai'an sleeping in five-star hotels in Xuzhou, Yangzhou and Suzhou to Shanghai. We passed beautiful gorges, wine yards in Hebei province, corn fields in Shandong province. And we enjoyed the beautiful view on the Lake Taihu (not to be mixed up with Lake Tahoe) in Jiangsu province.

We enjoyed the friendly Chinese people, always helpful, they even invited us in their houses when we were cold and waiting for the towing car.

When the awards were divided we were sure we earned with an award for our endurance and perseverance to our surprise we got the award: for the hardest working team!

Altogether it was a unique experience, thanks to my pilot Leo, our mechanic mr. He, the generous organiser mr. Zong and his staff and to Post War Classic.

(Words and pictures: Erik 'Chinese Cars' van Ingen Schenau)

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