Red Flag Added to The Blackhawk Collection

So, in a series of three articles, VeloceToday will give our readers a detailed look at the ultra rare Red Flag (below), interview Don Williams to allow him to tell us how this was achieved and what it means to the classic car hobby and lastly, we’ll take a look at the the Blackhawk Pavilion at Shanghai Auto Museum in China.

1973 Hon Qi, “The Red Flag”

Eight years ago, a wealthy Chinese industrialist came to America to visit the famous Blackhawk Museum in California. He was greeted by Blackhawk’s President Don Williams, who did not speak Chinese. But that mattered not, and in no time Jason Huang from Chengdu and Don Williams from Danville were talking about cars. “Like golf, the language is international,’ said Williams (although a translator was on hand). This meeting of two like- minded classic car enthusiasts from two different worlds would eventually result in a history making exchange between their respective countries.

Huang told Williams that he would like to build a car museum in Chengdu, and needed ideas. He needed cars, too, and told Williams how in China, classic cars often are imported one part at a time, such as the 1931 Buick Sedan completed in Huang’s superb restoration shop, . The relationship flowered as the two exchanged ideas, and eventually Williams traveled to China to see Huang’s shop. “It was one of the best restoration facilities I have ever seen,” said Williams. And there, he fell in love.

“Huang had recently completed restoration of one of the 100 odd Red Flag cars built for government officials,” recalled Williams. “I wanted the car from the moment I laid eyes on it,” he said. “Who wouldn’t want one of China’s very first cars?” Williams is no newcomer to car collecting, having learned his trade from Ken Vaughn, of Hill and Vaughn Restorations. He assisted Japanese collectors in the 1980s and has worked with the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance for years. If Williams was taken away by this rare Chinese car, it is something special. “Let’s talk quality. I can say that the Red Flag is a better quality car than the Mercedes 600, in fit, finish, materials and workmanship,” says Williams. Heavy stuff, but the chrome, paint, brocade cloth interior, walnut dashboard and pile carpeting support Don’s claim.

This particular 1973 Red Flag was used for visiting dignitaries and heads of state in Beijing. According to Williams, when Nixon went to China, he wanted to bring a car from the U.S, for transportation. The Chinese government said no, and that their Red Flag would provide more than adequate transportation for the President of the U.S.

It is mind boggling to realize that until the dawn of the 21st century, the roads of China were not occupied by automobiles, but by pedestrians, animals, bikes and rickshaws. The first automobile plant was constructed in 1958, in Changun Kirin, Manchuria built to produce the Hon Qi, or “Red Flag” model, but the emphasis was on the production of “Liberation” trucks. A small number of Hon Qis, both sedans and convertibles, were built for use by Chinese dignitaries and government officials.

While the Red Flag may not be as attractive as the Mercedes 600, the Lincoln Continental, or the Rolls-Royce, it does have a certain charm, giving the impression of strength before beauty and brute power.

Power in this case comes in the form of a modern Chevy 327-like 5.3 liter V8 rated at about 200 hp at a fairly high 4,4000 rpm. Most models used an automatic transmission and options included power brakes, power steering, power windows, air conditioning and automatically tuned radio. William’s car features every available option.

Huang drove Williams around in the Red Flag and then thought, well, if you want this car, let’s see what we can do. Huang wanted a car for his museum, preferably a replica Benz to represent the first practical automobile at his museum. (Even the example at the Mercedes Benz Museum is a replica). He was also in need of a variety of other goods relating to classic cars. Williams said he could meet his end of the deal, and that left only the Chinese government; it was not legal to export used cars from China. But both Don and Jason were determined.

Three years after the handshake, a ceremony was held at the Chengdu Automobile Show–with all systems go, Huang took delivery of the Benz, and with great showmanship, placed it next to the Red Flag, soon to be shipped to the U.S. “This exchange represents cultural and automotive history, as a collector car has never been legally exchanged in the United States with China, nor has China been able to purchase collector cars from outside the country,” said Williams.

All of this required great patience, but earned Williams the trust and permission of the Chinese government to bring the car to America. Williams and Huang have made significant headway in classic car trade between our countries and the possibilities are extremely interesting to all car collectors. Williams plans to bring the Red Flag to Pebble Beach in 2009, giving many more Americans a chance to see this rarity.

In our next article, we’ll see the arrival of the Red Flag in California, and Williams will give us his vision of a new era of trade with China, what is needed next, and how it may compare with that of Japan circa 1980-85.