Shanghai SH760

Fenghuang (Phoenix)/ Shanghai SH760
A 1986 Shanghai SH760B
Overview
Manufacturer	Shanghai City Power Machinery Manufacturing Company[1] (now SAIC Motor)
Also called	Shanghai SH7221
Production	1958-1991
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	FR layout
Powertrain
Engine	2.2 L Jinfeng 685 I6
Transmission	4-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,880 mm (113 in)
Length	4,780 mm (188 in)
Width	1,775 mm (69.9 in)
Height	1,585 mm (62.4 in)
Kerb weight	1,440 kg (3,170 lb)
Chronology
Successor	Shanghai-Volkswagen Santana

1964 Shanghai SH760 -- Shanghai Automobile Museum -- 2012-05-26

The Shanghai SH760 is a car produced in China from 1958 to 1991^[1] primarily for government officials not important enough to warrant a FAW Hong Qi.^[2] The design was based on the Mercedes-Benz 220S (W180) model of the mid-1950s, with modified front and rear styling.^[3] Originally built by the Shanghai City Agricultural Machinery Manufacturing Company, this became STAC (Shanghai Tractor and Automobile Corporation) in April 1969. The company changed its name to SATIC (Shanghai Automobile and Tractor Industry Corporation) in the mid-1980s and became SAIC in 1990.^[4] Unlike Beijing-controlled FAW and SAW, STAC was owned directly by the city of Shanghai.^[3]

1986 Shanghai SH760B

The Shanghai Automobile assembly line produced its first car on 28 September 1958, called Fenghuang (meaning Phoenix in English). It was also the first production car produced in China. Only very few Phoenix sedans were produced between 1958 and 1960.^[5] The Phoenix models are distinguished by round headlights and fins to the rear.^[6] The front end resembled the 1955–1956 Plymouth Belvedere.

1990 Shanghai SH7221, with Santana taillights and bumpers

In December 1964, a modified Phoenix changed its name to Shanghai SH760, and was in full production. A mere fifty cars were built in 1964, but by the mid-seventies factory capacity stood at 5,000 per annum.^[1] In 1968 and 1974, the SH760 underwent a series of cosmetic updates (SH760A and SH760B respectively). The SH760B was redesigned with rectangular headlights with a grid-shaped grille between them, replacing the 1950s style front end of the SH760 and SH760A. The taillights, which were originally integrated into the rear fenders, were changed to a rectangular shape and moved to either side of the license plate. The final SH760 was produced on 25 November 1991, after a total production run of 79,526 cars. Production peaked in 1984 at around 6,000 units.^[5] The last model in the series was the SH7221, which also received a variety of Santana parts. The bumpers, taillights (somewhat modified), wheels, and some interior parts came straight from the Santana, even though this was in direct contradiction to Shanghai's contract with Volkswagen.^[7] The SH7221 also had a blacked-out plastic grille in the front. The SH7221 was produced alongside the SH760B from 1987 to 1991.

The SH760 was powered by a 2.2 litre straight-six engine developing 90 bhp (67 kW; 91 PS) and coupled with a four-speed manual gearbox.^[5] As with the basis of the bodywork, this was a copy of 1950s Mercedes-Benz mechanicals, although the engine was OHV instead of OHC. Construction was by hand, with old-fashioned methods and on a small scale. A 1985 visitor described the process as chaotic, with many body parts rusting before they were even painted - but since the metal was so thick, this was not an issue, as they would still easily outlast the engine and transmission.

The SH760 was used as a basis for a four-door convertible, a three-door pickup truck, and a five-door station wagon. Few of these were produced.

Proposed replacements

In 1974 the Shanghai SH771 was developed as a possible replacement for the SH760. The SH771 was based on a 1970s Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W116) with different front and rear end styling, although the rear end resembled the W116. Unlike the SH760, the SH771 used the 5.6 liter V8 from the Hongqi Red Flag CA770. Never produced, only 30 SH771s were built, and were used for testing until 1978.

Another potential SH760 replacement, the SH761S, was developed in the 1980s.

References

Works cited

• Posth, Martin (2006), 1000 Days in Shanghai, Singapore: John Wiley & Sons (Asia), ISBN 978-0-470-82388-0 

Citations