When it comes to red flag cars, many people will think of many legendary stories of this international famous car full of oriental charm.

It can be said that in the world automobile history, no car has been so concerned by the leaders of many countries. Even in the 1970s, many political celebrities visiting China had three wishes: "See Chairman Mao, live in Diaoyutai and get on the red-flag bus!"

In the 1960s and 1970s, when hundreds of millions of people in China saw the simple, elegant and generous red flag car sneaking into Zhongnanhai, and saw the beloved Premier Zhou accompanying many foreign leaders to meet Chairman Mao, there was always some speculation and mysterious association in their hearts.

Hongqi car has experienced many ups and downs, but there are many legendary true stories circulating among the people of China. ...

The Red Flag Car beat the Gith Car of the former Soviet Union and became the national guest car of China.

1964, 30 days before National Day. 40 brand-new red flag cars gathered in Beijing, which was specially prepared by FAW for the National Day. However, it is necessary to wait for the decision of the relevant departments of the central government: whether to continue to use the former Soviet Giss car or use the domestic red flag car to undertake the task of welcoming foreign guests on the 0/5 anniversary of National Day/KLOC.

This is an extraordinary historical choice!

1958, the trial production of the red-flag car with strong political color was successful. From 65438 to 0959, the Hongqi limousine with strong national characteristics, which was further improved in small batch production, was gradually equipped to the central leadership and relevant ministries and commissions. But this is only a reflection of national pride. Whether it can really realize its use value depends on the performance of this National Day. Most of the visiting ambassadors use Gith or Jim cars made in the former Soviet Union. With the change of relations with the former Soviet Union, many people in China vowed to use China cars!

The central government instructed FAW to mass-produce red flag cars as soon as possible.

1964 At the end of August, FAW failed to live up to the expectations of the country and drove these 40 red flags to Beijing. On the second day of his arrival in Beijing, the State Council, then Secretary-General, came to Capital Automobile Company to inspect the cars and told the drivers of the company to drive them well and win glory for the country and the nation.

At that time, these drivers were drivers of Chance or Jim's car. Although they are happy to start the car made in China, they are really nervous and worried that an accident will embarrass the country. After a period of training, the relevant departments put forward that Red Flag and Gith cars should conduct road tests before making comments.

At 6 o'clock in the morning in mid-September, the red-flag car and the Gith car lined up in two rows at the Capital Airport, waiting for the departure order. The route is from the airport to Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Caption: The normal speed from Jianguomen to the airport, and the speed from Tiananmen to Diaoyutai is 5? 10 km.

The drivers who took part in the test run were so nervous that their hearts would jump out, and some drivers had sweaty palms. The result was quite unexpected, and 40 red flags reached their destination smoothly. However, a Gith car is parked in Tiananmen Square, because the speed is too slow and the car is boiling.

The red flag car became the only national guest car on this National Day by virtue of its own strength.

The delegation of the former Soviet Union who came to participate in the celebration saw the red flag bus pick up and drop off, and proposed not to take the red flag to Gith, on the grounds that these red flags did not have sound insulation glass.

The relevant national personnel replied: "We can keep your secret, and the red flag cannot be changed!

After the National Day, Secretary-General the State Council specially hosted a banquet to celebrate the success of drivers of FAW and Capital Automobile Company.

At the celebration banquet, it was officially announced that the Hongqi limousine produced by FAW was a special vehicle for China state guests!

Yang said that the red flag three-row sedan has been well restructured. Mayor Peng Zhen suggested putting red flags on both sides of the carriage to become the first official passenger.

1965 September 12, the first red flag three-row limousine came out,19 sent it to Beijing, and invited the central leaders to take a test ride.

This car is specially made for the leaders of China.

At that time, several leaders of the mechanical department looked at the car first. Minister Duan Junyi read the appearance and said, "This car is much better than two rows of red flags."

Minister Zhou Zijian went on to say, "I said much better."

Then, the section chief got on the bus and tried to sit back. He measured the gap between the top of his head and the ceiling with his hand and said, "The back seat is fine."

Minister Zhou smiled and said, "If you say yes, the chairman will be fine."

The next day, the prototype was sent to Zhongnanhai. Yang, then director of the General Office of the Central Committee, saw the car and said, "It's much better than the original' Red Flag'." Immediately arrange a test drive and find the drivers of Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou to evaluate the car. After the test drive, they all praised the three rows of red flags.

In the afternoon, the car drove to the Beijing Municipal Committee Building.

Peng Zhen, the mayor of Beijing, looked at the inside and outside of the car very carefully. When he saw the side sign of the red-flag car, he pondered for a while and suggested that the red flag should be used as the symbol of Mao Zedong Thought.

Since then, this proposal has determined that the image symbol "Red Flag" of the red flag car is popular at home and abroad.

At that time, among the central leaders, the minister sat in Jim, the vice premier, the vice chairman of the National People's Congress and other leaders sat in Gith, and only the mayor Peng Zhen sat next to the "big red flag". Whenever there is a meeting in the Great Hall of the People, the three rows of "red flags" are particularly "eye-catching", attracting some big names to be particularly "jealous" and eager to get one side.

It was not until May 1966 that Chen Yi, He Long and other leaders were equipped with 20 luxury cars with three rows of big red flags. On the basis of this car, FAW has developed two-row and three-row red flag limousines, which can be used by leaders of central ministries and commissions and provincial and military leaders.

At that time, the red-flag car was the most eye-catching in Beijing, and even the old ladies in Beijing knew the "red flag". Many people said, "This is the first car in China."

Chairman Mao got on the 772 Red Flag Insurance Car and took away the ice basin for cooling under his feet. The chairman smiled happily. When did Chairman Mao really get on a domestic car?

Some people say it is 1958. When Dongfeng Motor entered Beijing, Chairman Mao tried to sit in Zhongnanhai and said that famous saying: "I finally got on a domestic car!"

Actually, it's just a test ride. Chairman Mao really got on the domestic car, and the historical pointer is in the1972,772 Red Flag premium insurance car.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the state has strict regulations on what kind of cars leaders at all levels use. Vice ministers, ministers, deputy prime ministers, prime ministers, presidents and vice-chairmen of the National People's Congress, and even Chairman Mao all strictly and consciously abide by the central regulations on car use.

At that time, China's four political giants, Chairman Mao Zedong, Chairman Liu Shaoqi, Chairman Zhu De and Premier Zhou Enlai, all took the Gith bullet-proof insurance car made in the former Soviet Union.

However, who would believe that Chairman Mao, the great leader of a country with a population of 1 100 million, was riding a Gith insurance bulletproof car without air conditioning!

Chairman Mao is tall and fat, especially love sweating. In summer, the car is like a steamer. In order to ensure the safety of his old man, the window can't be opened at will. No security guard dared to offer to change the chairman to a high-end car or install air conditioning!

In order to reduce the temperature inside the car, we have to put a basin of ice in the gap between the front and rear seats of the car to adjust the temperature inside the car.

Chairman Mao has never been dissatisfied with this indigenous method, nor has he made any demands. In this way, the ice basin on this car spent more than a dozen hot summer days with him.

However, FAW has never forgotten that China's automobile industry should develop by leaps and bounds, and still remembers Chairman Mao's words: "When can I sit in my car for a meeting?"

1969, faw produced hongqi brand advanced insurance bulletproof vehicle.

1972, after improvement, Chairman Mao was finally put on the domestic red flag bullet-proof limousine, and the basin of ice was taken away, so that his old man could go to the meeting and meet foreign guests in the domestic limousine.

According to the relevant personnel's recollection, Chairman Mao was so excited that he didn't say a word on the first day when he sat on the red flag bulletproof car. Perhaps this is also an old saying of China: "Silence is better than sound."

Premier Zhou has always had a soft spot for "Red Flag", but Mr. Chen's driver complained endlessly. China's leader's favorite red-flag car should be Premier Zhou Enlai.

Because it is the first time for Premier Zhou Enlai to receive foreign guests in public.

1June, 962, Premier Zhou went to FAW to inspect the work, visited the production workshop of Hongqi car at that time, and was very happy to get on the ordinary Hongqi car that just got off the assembly line.

At the end of that year, the relevant departments in Beijing suddenly conveyed the instructions of Premier Zhou to FAW, demanding that the Red Flag sedan after his trial ride be sent to Beijing as soon as possible.

FAW people didn't expect that it was this car that took Premier Zhou Enlai from the Capital Airport to meet the visiting Prime Minister Ceylon at the end of 65438+February that year, and then transferred to the Red Flag Review Car to review the hundreds of thousands of people who came to meet the capital.

From this day on, at the initiative of Premier Zhou, the red-flag car began to formally participate in the ceremony to welcome foreign guests, leaving a story of Premier Zhou wearing shanghai table and riding a red-flag car.

However, when three rows of red flag seats were officially assigned to Vice Premier Chen Yi, they kept hearing complaints from Mr. Chen's driver.

It should be said that not only the Prime Minister likes Red Flag, but Mr. Chen also supports FAW to produce domestic cars as soon as possible. He gave his "Mercedes-Benz 600" to FAW as a prototype.

At that time, China was short of cars, so most ministers could sit on the stage, Jim. Only when 1959 has two rows of red flags, can some national leaders get one side.

However, the red-flag car is handmade after all, and some technical problems need to be solved. At that time, domestic cars were badly needed, and FAW could only produce, develop and improve them, which would inevitably lead to vehicle problems.

Chen was China's foreign minister at that time, and most of his drivers received foreign dignitaries. He is afraid of throwing the leader into the middle of the road, and even more afraid of causing international influence. It can be said that I love and fear the red-flag car, so I can only complain frequently and let the maintenance personnel "stare". He said, after all, foreign guests are still willing to drive a big red flag to see them off, because this car is made in China after all, and it has face to drive.

During Nixon's visit to China, the red flag blocked the US President's car from entering, which made China people angry and made her famous.

Many people still remember President Nixon's visit to China 1972. When Premier Zhou Enlai accompanied him to visit Chairman Mao, he entered Zhongnanhai in a red flag sedan with three seats.

It seems that there is an unwritten rule in the United States that when a president visits a foreign country, especially a developing country, he will usually bring a presidential car at random. This is especially true when visiting China for security reasons.

After the advance team led by General Rigg arrived in Beijing, the President's special car entered China, which was submitted to China as a formal condition.

Premier Zhou read it and gave instructions: "We have a car, and the American plane is parked in Shanghai. The internal instruction is "traffic accident-free! "

With more than 500 people accompanying President Nixon's visit, almost all eyes of the world turned to China.

At that time, 30 red flag three-row luxury cars were sent to meet. Facing a red flag with oriental charm, like a palace, how can Americans not believe that China people who have been isolated from the world for a long time can have such a good car?

They come from the automobile kingdom. Although they got on the red-flag bus, all of them were red flags from Shanghai to Beijing, and they had a safe trip, but they were not convinced and thought it was accidental.

However, they visited the Badaling Great Wall, which left a deep impression on them.

The day before the visit, there was a heavy snow. After checking the road surface, American security personnel thought that the road surface was slippery and the safety factor was low.

After listening to the report, General Rigg proposed to the relevant departments of our country to cancel the visit plan. Our staff's answer is: "No problem, the visit is still the same." When I left Beijing the next day, the dozens of kilometers of road to Badaling was cleaned without even a snow star. The red-flag car drove fast and steadily, which made Nixon and his party feel that the Great Wall was not a hero.

On the way back to Beijing, the entourage kept praising: "Great, we Americans can't do it!" "

It turned out that overnight, the officers and men of the army and the members of the local people's commune (the old name at that time) cleaned up the road. They let red-flag cars appear all over the world and let the world know that there are red-flag cars in China. Since then, the red flag car ranks among the world famous cars.

Lin Biao loved the red flag, and he didn't leave it in the last period of his life. He dedicated the round holes in the doors and windows of the red flag to future generations, leaving a permanent impression on them.

1969, faw manufactured the first red flag advanced insurance bulletproof vehicle. After being sent to the central government, the serial number is 1.

The owner was the second person in China at that time, and later Lin Biao fled for treason. Why did Lin Biao take the 1 bus?

The first one is probably insurance; The second reason is that Lin Biao likes to roam by car.

According to people who worked for him, in the early 1960s, when Lin Biao was the Minister of National Defense, he went to Guangzhou once. At that time, Huang Yongsheng, commander of the Guangzhou Military Region, was an old subordinate of his four fields and took good care of him.

However, Lin Biao always seems unhappy. One day, he asked the guards to find a temporary driver to drive for him and wanted to get off. He said "drive" when he got on the bus.

The driver can only obey orders. The car has already left, but he doesn't know where to go. Drive straight ahead and soon get out of town and gallop along the highway.

At this point, Lin Biao said in the back seat, "Drive into the wild."

The driver adjusted the front of the car, and the car accelerated in the wilderness, while Lin Biao sat behind and groaned painfully as the car bumped.

After a while, the guard told the driver to stop, took out a green military blanket and covered Lin Biao, who was sleeping, and whispered, "No more fighting."

When this red flag insurance car became Lin Biao's car, it became his constant pet, and drivers often drove him around Beijing.

At the most famous meeting held in Lushan, no one took the bus, and even the chairman and prime minister were allocated cars by the conference. Only Lin Biao flew the car to the airport and took it to Lushan Mountain. 1971September 13, Lin Biao was riding a red-flag car when he set foot on the road to death from Building 58.

According to records, the guards failed to stop the car, fired warning shots, and the red-flag car carried Lin Biao straight to the airport, abandoned the car and boarded the plane, and finally ended up in a foreign land.

After the "9- 13" incident, when Hongqi car was transported from Shanhaiguan to Beidaihe for maintenance, the staff saw a round hole on the front window of the car. Is it a bullet hole or damaged? Who made this round hole? This trace can only be deciphered by future generations.

The People's Daily criticized the red-flag car by name because of fuel consumption and loss, but the real reason is hard to say.

198 1, People's Daily criticized the red-flag car for its high fuel consumption, which was not suitable for China.

Then, the State Council Energy Saving No.3 instruction wrote: "Hongqi brand limousine, with high fuel consumption at present, has been discontinued since 198 1."

Among them, one who does not resort to words is a serious loss.

In a short period of time, a well-known automobile product at home and abroad was undoubtedly executed.

Since then, the gate of China has been flooded by foreign cars? Whether it's a brand-name car or an ordinary car, it's a car crash.

According to some statistics, by the early 1990s, the foreign exchange used for car purchase had reached 654.38+050 billion yuan!

Is it expensive to buy a car or build a car, gasoline or imported cars? The answer is self-evident.

What's more, there are only 200 Hongqi luxury cars serving the national leaders, and the national possession is only 1200!

How can a big country not have a domestic limousine belonging to its own nation?

High fuel consumption, if compared with Mercedes-Benz, Lincoln and other luxury three-row luxury cars produced by the United States, Britain, Germany and the former Soviet Union, its fuel consumption is the lowest!

The red flag car weighs 7.2 tons and is driven by eight cylinders. How to compare fuel consumption with ordinary four-cylinder vehicles?

The loss is serious. FAW produces 1540 Hongqi cars of various models ranging from 1958 to 198 1 * *, with a minimum bicycle cost of 6,000 yuan. By 1968, the cost of bicycles has reached 220,000, but it can only be sold to the country for many years at one price: 40,000!

However, at 196 1, only one "red flag" was made for the king of Morocco, and its cost is difficult to estimate.

By 198 1 year, the accumulated loss of Hongqi car production was 60 million yuan. How to complain about the specific reasons?

We can only stop production and wait for the afterlife.

Rao Bin, the pioneer of China's automobile industry, said to the FAW staff who came to visit him when he learned that Hongqi had stopped production: "Hongqi production can't be stopped, and it is possible to produce five cars a year. Once it stops, everything will be over. "

In recent 10 years, a well-known brand-name automobile manufacturer at home and abroad can only make a living by repairing red flag insurance cars or limited cars, watching products from major automobile countries compete for the China market, listening to their brothers and sisters taste foreign cars, and waiting for a new life in loneliness.

However, this, after all, left China with a trace of vitality in the regeneration of the red-flag car.

Deng Xiaoping took a red flag review car to review the three armed forces. The Japanese inspection car was eclipsed by the idle stop.

History will always remember this day: 1 9841kloc-0/October1,the 35th anniversary of the National Day.

The red flag car once again showed good charm and brilliance.

Hundreds of millions of people in China still remember the historical scene of live TV broadcast: Comrade Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of reform and opening up, took a red flag review car and reviewed the soldiers of the China People's Liberation Army, the army, the navy and the air force!

"Hello, comrades!" On the way through the red flag review car, the cheers of "Good Chief" came one after another.

Comrade Deng Xiaoping, accompanied by General Qin Jiwei, set out from Tiananmen Square in two red flag review cars, inspected all the departments under review from east to west, and returned to Tiananmen Gate.

The lens of the whole world once again aimed at China, took this scene, and took the reformers' elegant demeanour and red-flag car as a part of the historical process, and recorded it permanently.

However, at this time, who knows how difficult it is to make this test car? What is even less known is that, to be on the safe side, a Japanese inspection vehicle was imported to replace the Red Flag inspection vehicle at any time.

At this time, the production of Hongqi car has stopped for four years, the equipment and molds are not complete, and many experienced old workers have been transferred. However, it is said that Deng Xiaoping will take the inspection vehicle, which was built in only one month, and a floor lifting system was installed for the inspectors to adjust the height and enhance and improve the image of national leaders.

Although FAW started to produce red flag inspection vehicles from 1959, and * * * also produced eight such vehicles, it may be the first time in the history of world automobile production to produce high-standard vehicles in this state of suspension!

Just in case, FAW and the test driver tried for a whole month at a military airport in Beijing. Just like the red flag state guest car, they have tried it from high speed to low speed, from the lifting of door glass to the opening of hood and the adjustment of floor.

It has been debugged until the day before the National Day, and finally decided to use the red flag to review the car.

As a result, the red flag review car did not live up to the expectations of the Chinese people and greatly boosted the national prestige.

Famous cars from various countries in China are constantly flowing. German Chancellor visits China to sit on the red flag by name, and Japanese visiting county governors prefer the red flag.

Since 1980s, China has gradually become the world automobile museum, and the strict car allocation system in the past has obviously lost its binding role.

Look at the parking lot of the Great Hall of the People today. There are only a handful of red-flag cars, and red-flag cars are gradually forgotten by Chinese people.

However, the international reputation of the red-flag car has not diminished, and many visiting foreign dignitaries remember the red-flag car Nixon took when he visited China.

1993, German Chancellor Kohl visited China. Talking about his riding, he named China to ride the red flag.

The relevant departments urgently allocated two 772 red flag insurance bulletproof vehicles for their use. Cole visited China for three days and took a red-flag bus for three days. He is extremely satisfied with the simplicity, elegance and oriental charm of the big red flag, and thinks it is too comfortable to ride.

Coincidentally, many Japanese county governors who visit China will never put down the red flag as long as they see it. Not long ago, at the Shanghai airport, the governor of a Japanese county led a delegation to visit China and got off the plane. A red flag fluttered at the entrance of the airport and stopped not far from him. He thought he had come to pick him up. After the reception department explained clearly, he immediately stood in front of the red-flag car and took a group photo with several Japanese people.

Later, he told the receptionist that it was best to arrange for him to sit on the red flag during his stay in China. Similar situations have been encountered in many places, because the Japanese know that the red flag dedicated by Premier Zhou and Chairman Mao was the only first-class car in China at that time. They love red-flag cars very much. At the same time, there are not many red-flag cars in the world, and they are rarely seen abroad. They are eager to ride.

In recent years, even Americans in the automobile kingdom have the same love for red-flag cars. Two American businessmen came to FAW to discuss business. During the negotiation, they only sit on the red flag when they call the roll.

There is also a businessman from Washington who tried his best to buy a red-flag car and put it in the garage at ordinary times, unless there are major festivals or meaningful occasions.

The red-flag car became a cultural relic and was auctioned off. With the rise of market economy, the first private entrepreneur who bought a red-flag car appeared.

1992 Beijing International Auction. Two big red-flag cars placed on the auction platform attracted many people's attention. Not only is the red-flag car less and less in China, but more importantly, its distinguished life experience is very collectible.

One of them received visiting Japanese Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira and the wife of Philippine President Marcos. Although the other car did not indicate where it came from, the bids of both cars were not low, and the highest opening price was $654.38 +0.8 million. In the end, the transaction was not completed, because the reserve price of this car was $200,000.

It is said that a few days ago, among overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia, many people entrusted people to China to buy old-fashioned red flags, especially some car collectors are more optimistic about red-flag cars. A businessman in Taiwan Province Province bought two red flags that were almost scrapped at one time, and paid a huge sum of money to invite painters from Taiwan Province Province. After restoration, one was used in mainland China and the other was shipped back to Taiwan Province Province for collection.

A brand-name car in China, with incalculable brand value, is regarded as a cultural relic collection, which is a miracle of Hongqi Automobile.

Changes in market supply and demand will inevitably lead to changes in policies.

1April 1989, the State Council and relevant departments approved FAW to resume production of Hongqi luxury cars. Although the factory was badly hurt, it produced 20 red-flag cars that year and sent them to Beijing to meet the needs of the National Day.

1993 on March 20th, the red flag car once again attracted the attention of Chinese people, except that the main body of making news was not a national leader, but an ordinary peasant entrepreneur in Zhejiang province? Wang Wengan bought a big red flag limousine from FAW for his ride, which improved the company's popularity and of course achieved a sensational advertising effect.

Nowadays, people who come to order red-flag cars have queued up. Hotels, restaurants, joint ventures and bosses who get rich first all want to buy a big red flag to fulfill their celebrity dreams. Although the price of cars keeps rising, people who come to buy cars are still in an endless stream.

This is the law of the market and the good luck of Hongqi, the only automobile brand in China.

Red flag car, from the whirlpool of political situation to the tide of market economy, people hope that she will walk with the times and expect her to have more and better legends, adding luster to the development of national automobile industry.