The aggressive expansion of Chinese car manufacturers is apparent. While the US market is still holding its own, regions like Europe are already flooded with Chinese vehicles, in the same way Japanese carmakers had established a foothold on US shores decades ago. But when it comes to classic cars, things aren’t as simple. Or at least, they weren’t.
A recent Hagerty video, with known car photographer Larry Chen, showcased something that would change the classic car scene for good. At least, on the surface. Juncheng Vehicle Co. is located three hours from Shanghai. It is a truly remarkable and large-scale operation. The company makes whole bodies, but also many replacement parts. If you crash your Toyota, guess where the replacement parts are made. There is a good chance your new body parts are made in this facility.
The rationale.
But there is a bigger question at play. Many classic car owners are also purists who pride themselves on keeping a car as original as possible. That’s what sustains much of the value. But for those that don’t have such prejudice, and just want to enjoy the analog driving feel of a classic car, without caring about the collector value as much. It’s why restomods exist, although granted, the more exquisite ones are more expensive than the originals.
Many classic cars rust. Cars like the Datsun 240Z and Corolla AE86 are known to suffer from that. What if you find or have an example you want to restore, but the body is beyond repair? That’s where Juncheng Vehicle Co. Granted, they are not the only ones making replacement bodies. TOM’s Racing partnered with Toyota to make AE86 white bodies as well as modernized versions of iconic engines like the 3S-GTE and 2JZ-GTE.
However, the Chinese company isn’t narrowly specialized in just a few models. It makes bodies and various parts for dozens of different models, ranging from Datsun S30 and Toyota AE86, to Ford Bronco and Mustang. In fact, the company’s latest body and chassis offering is for the 1967 Ford Mustang. You can literally get a full shell and chassis for an all-American classic… from China.
The prices are very reasonable, too. The Datsun 240Z and Toyota Corolla AE86 shells and chassis would cost you $9,500 each, while the 1967 Mustang will set you back $16,000. Not bad for an all-new body and chassis.
About 95 percent of the work is done in-house. To verify a new project, two original chassis are needed. Naturally, they need to be as straight as possible, as Larry Chen notes. One is taken apart while the other serves to verify that the new stamped parts are up to factory standards.
Many of these cars were never available in China, which makes the process more challenging.
Every original part is 3D-scanned. This is done for even the smallest parts. Most of the process is fully mechanical, and the end-polishing is done entirely by hand.
Moreover, due to utilizing modern techniques like hot-dip galvanizing, many of these parts are actually better than the OEM pieces. For example, the original AE86 body panels did not feature rust protection. These new ones do. The phrase “Made in China” may still be a synonym for cheap and low-quality, but it seems this perception might change rapidly.
The ethics behind this.
China is no stranger to copying. Many Chinese car companies started out by making cheap copies of established European models. Back in 2009, BYD rolled out the T6, which was a straight copy of the Porsche Cayenne, at least on the outside. There have been many design-copy and intellectual-property lawsuits against Chinese manufacturers, but most were ruled out in favor of the Chinese manufacturers, due to differences in copyright legislation.
With classic cars, things are a bit different. While Juncheng Vehicle Co. doesn’t do this with the blessing of car companies, the effort to reverse-engineer and reproduce original parts for these cars is commendable. Many of these vehicles that are liked because of their driving characteristics and what they represent are either totalled or rusting away. The reproduction of new parts means an indefinite extension in life for these cars. What’s not to like?
If you have a rusty but iconic classic car, would you give it a new lease on life with one of these Chinese-manufactured bodies and chassis? Would you try to keep it as original as possible, even if it means getting a measurably inferior car in the end? It is an interesting dilemma, and I would love to know your opinion in the comments below.
About the author
Dimitar Angelov has been an automotive journalist since 2014. His passion for cars and motorcycles led him to take up classic car restoration at the Classic Car Museum in Malta. While living there, he also graduated with a Master's in Media and Communications. Aside from Torquenews, his work can also be seen on Topspeed.com, HotCars.com, Motorheads.com, Jalopnik.com, and his own website, Ridereverie.com, where he also includes motorcycle content.
Other relevant experiences in the automotive scene include working at a Toyota dealership, professional driving, and automotive insurance. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
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