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HD, Musclecars, etc...Why haven't I seen any in SH ?

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bougie
Board Legend

Joined: Nov 20, 2004
Posts: 12901
Location: Wuhan Hubei China

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 11:29 AM
Post subject: HD, Musclecars, etc...Why haven't I seen any in SH ?

I've lived here for several months and I came many times before that. I see many nice cars: Beemers, Audis, Mercs, Lexus...some of the people here can truly afford nice things. I really don't think these cars are all governemnt issued.

Why have I not seen 60's American Muslecars ? Why have I not seen 1 soft-tail HD ? I think the largest bike you can find here is a 250cc ? Its strange to me that these higher class people that spend there money in Cigar Jazz Clubs and KTV's but aren't spending the big bags or rmb cash on these things

Any comments ?

MaomingMaster
Board Legend

Joined: Feb 03, 2004
Posts: 11059

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 11:36 AM

You're not in Compton now!

bougie
Board Legend

Joined: Nov 20, 2004
Posts: 12901
Location: Wuhan Hubei China

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 11:43 AM

S*it, and all this time I thought I was in Compton. Hang on, I need to make a few phone calls cause I just got scre@ed in this deal...

BaDaXianRen
Low Seater

Joined: July 11, 2004
Posts: 3298

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 12:03 PM

The Chinese are newly rich and dont know how to be rich yet. Most of these guys with beamers have to wear coats in their unheated homes during the winter. They get all of their ideas for being RIch from magazines or from the Expat crowd which is mostly corporate, stody, and Anal. Hence they wouldnt know from a muscle car.

In fact they dont know anything but BMW, Rolex, and Louis Vuitton.

MaomingMaster
Board Legend

Joined: Feb 03, 2004
Posts: 11059

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 12:18 PM

Muscle Cars are probably illegal here.

A motorbike above 150cc is ilegal. Unless you know the right people.

bougie
Board Legend

Joined: Nov 20, 2004
Posts: 12901
Location: Wuhan Hubei China

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 12:20 PM

I think you hit the nail on the head. They drive the beamer and wear the fake rolex meanwhile they live in a shoebox...(in some cases anyway). I'm still really surprised I haven't seen any of these things yet. I mean how many million in SH, about 25 ?

BaDaXianRen
Low Seater

Joined: July 11, 2004
Posts: 3298

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 12:26 PM

bougie
Board Legend

Joined: Nov 20, 2004
Posts: 12901
Location: Wuhan Hubei China

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 12:28 PM

MaomingMaster wrote:

Muscle Cars are probably illegal here.

A motorbike above 150cc is ilegal. Unless you know the right people.

I think emmision control is no big deal, I see weard stuff coming out of exhaust pipes here. I thought for sure I say a pretty big Vulcan (Yamaha if i'm not mistaken). I thought the regulations only applied in certain city limits or cities...

SHMSPAC
Reacher
Reacher

Joined: Sep 01, 2004
Posts: 236

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 01:07 PM

Bougie

There are a number of Harleys in Shanghai, but you don’t often see them. Also there are vintage style BMW’s remanufactured by the Chinese, they are 750cc, bikes with side cars. They look good from a distance, but when you get close the workmanship is really poor, i.e. welding and fit/finish. The reason I was given for not allowing larger displacement bikes, is because of noise. Even the 750’s that are legal are restricted from certain parts of the city. There are a couple of bike clubs, in Shanghai (China) if you’re interested.

I haven’t seen any muscle cars in Shanghai, but there are in Hong Kong. Actually, I have owned and built many muscle cars, big block Chevy’s, Corvettes, GTO’s, etc. as well as early rods, i.e. ’32 and ’34 Fords. I also built a couple of Cobras, and have considered building a Cobra here, but just no time. If you’re interested in these cars, and or racing, street/drag, I have been involved in the same for 40 years, and enjoy talking about it.

When I first moved to Shanghai (almost 5 years ago), I tried to find people with vintage cars, but was not successful, although, I’m sure there are some around, as there were lots of cars in Shanghai in the early 1900’s.

bougie
Board Legend

Joined: Nov 20, 2004
Posts: 12901
Location: Wuhan Hubei China

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 01:20 PM

Hi SHMSPAC,

I would look in bikes clubs maybe but I don't have a bike here. If I could bring even a V twin 750 I'd be pretty ok for starters. Although my free time is also very limited, I would consider building a bike (like a large V twin kit) but right now I would struggle on where to set this up. I'm gonna be putting $ away for either this or a pre owned harley I think.

Far the cars, I may want to chat about this for sure...the racing events are certainly gonna grow in this area. For cars, I wouldn't mins starting a reso job on a 66 GTO.

SHMSPAC
Reacher
Reacher

Joined: Sep 01, 2004
Posts: 236

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 01:25 PM

Bougie

What did you select a ’66 GTO, over other models?

bougie
Board Legend

Joined: Nov 20, 2004
Posts: 12901
Location: Wuhan Hubei China

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 01:33 PM

The thing is, i like so many of them that i don't know what project I would start with . I know the 68 to 70ish GTOs might have a better powerplant but the thing is a really like the 66 body style (I would even car if it was exactly original).

It would be a hard decision as a like the Shelby mustangs preverably GT500KR 68, but that might be outa my league. The cobra as you mention would be an awsome roadster. I like Chargers, Fairlanes, etc but I usually prefer 67 68 yr periods. Those 34 fords (and trucks) like good as well for Rods...

bougie
Board Legend

Joined: Nov 20, 2004
Posts: 12901
Location: Wuhan Hubei China

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 01:41 PM

my idea would be european styling, 400 hourses maybe weber carbs, lower gear ratio (i think), for less take-off but better top end speed, drop by several inches and low prfiles. that would be on a late 60's body. I would also modernize the interior..

fukuman

Wonder Wit

Joined: Sep 18, 2003
Posts: 3699

Status: Offline

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 01:49 PM

i guess they've got no clue what they are; and imagine the spare parts difficulties, there must be no existing network whatsoever so every little thing would need to be imported. maybe the govt have strict regulations on personal imports

Plus the local ladies drop their pants quicker for ferrari owners.

any1 know about the old chinese-made copies of the russian ZIL? cant remember the name now and meant to be an unreliable dog-s breakfast of a motor, but it's a 3rd generation copy of a '53 caddy or sth. that would be cool.

bougie
Board Legend

Joined: Nov 20, 2004
Posts: 12901
Location: Wuhan Hubei China

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 01:59 PM

of course you're right , but its still nice to dream...someday maybe somebody will sell cobra kits in SH for example...that might not be too difficult, but then you still would have to import the much of the stuff here which i'm sure is very difficult, f)%k

SHMSPAC
Reacher
Reacher

Joined: Sep 01, 2004
Posts: 236

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 02:03 PM

Bougie

I’ve had a ’64 and ‘67 GTO’s, the ’67 I bought new, in 1967, it was a very nice car, but for it’s time, the ’64 with a 389, was ahead of other manufacturers, in performance and looks. In ’67, when the new big block Corvettes came out, I sold the GTO and bought a 427 Corvette, with 3-2’s, it was a fast car for the time, and attracted lots of attention.

I owned a GT 350 (Shelby mustang) it was a fun car, but not as good as other manufactures, when it came to handling. Of course today, they are worth “big money”. What I liked better than the mustang was a Falcon Sprint; basically it had the same suspension as the mustang, as well as a 289 engine. I owned a ’64; Sprint and have often regretted selling that car.

bougie
Board Legend

Joined: Nov 20, 2004
Posts: 12901
Location: Wuhan Hubei China

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 02:06 PM

My father had a 67 Ford Fairlane with a 289, and it was a nice car blue with white trimming. unfortanately I was too young to remeber it well...pictures brought some ofthat memory back. Was the sprint similar to the fairless or galaxie 500?

SHMSPAC
Reacher
Reacher

Joined: Sep 01, 2004
Posts: 236

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 02:11 PM

Bougie

I have talked to the owner at Everett Morison about building a Cobra here. I was thinking about making the chassis in Shanghai, as it is a simple tube frame, and just shipping the body parts. All the other items drive train, I would have sent as well, but this is really the easy part. When I checked with China custom’s there were some problems, as they really didn’t understand the concept of a “kit”, although I suppose there are ways around this issue. For bikes, this is much easier, just have it sent as parts, and reassemble in Shanghai, but I’m sure you’d end-up paying lots of tickets to the local police!

SHMSPAC
Reacher
Reacher

Joined: Sep 01, 2004
Posts: 236

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 02:17 PM

Bougie

Yes, the Fairlane was similar to the Sprint, but larger. Actually, the ’67 Fairlane was a very good car, and made a great street rod, it just didn’t catch-on like many other models did.

bougie
Board Legend

Joined: Nov 20, 2004
Posts: 12901
Location: Wuhan Hubei China

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 06:58 PM

Wow SHMSPAC,

you owned a lot of really nice cars. I'm too young to have owned even even a quarter of the cars you've owned but the good news is I still can buy these cars restored alreday a-z, or as a project car (probably not in SH)

How bout anybody else ?

Have you owned nice american muscle cars ? how about european ? The old farraris are nice, like the 70's.

fukuman

Wonder Wit

Joined: Sep 18, 2003
Posts: 3699

Status: Offline

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 11:11 PM

oh, u fuggaz. man, am i jealous. i dont completely comprehend ur meigou-slang shite, but have u guys got the dough 4 that?
the most i can r 4 for is a Porsche 914 in the UK

bougie
Board Legend

Joined: Nov 20, 2004
Posts: 12901
Location: Wuhan Hubei China

Posted: Dec 25, 2004 - 11:30 PM

Common man, I had to let go the steering wheel of the first car I owned cause the frame was broken, anytime I'd hit a bump i'd baby the thing cause i wasn't sure if it was gonna snap,m your talking cracked welds man...