Dongfanghong [1] (China) - AllCarIndex

Dongfanghong was an automobile brand that operated in China during the 1960s, primarily associated with the Beijing Auto Works. The brand emerged following the introduction of the JINGGANGSHAN rear-engine car in 1958, marking an early attempt to mass-produce automobiles in the country.

The first significant model produced under the Dongfanghong name was the BJ 760, which was a four-door sedan closely resembling the Soviet Volga M21. The BJ 760 featured minor design alterations, such as flat sides that omitted the Volga's characteristic mudguard imitations. It was powered by a 2,445 cc four-cylinder engine, which was a direct clone of the Volga's engine. This engine later found utility in the Beijing BJ 212, a 4x4 vehicle that became a workhorse in China.

Despite its ambitions, production of the Dongfanghong brand was limited, with only 238 units of the BJ 760 manufactured. During the Great Cultural Revolution, a modified version of the sedan was developed, featuring a squared-off design and a prominent Mao badge on the grille. This iteration was also known as Dongfanghong, but it is believed that only one unit was produced. Additionally, a prototype of an estate car based on the same design was showcased in the same year.