Has anyone ever seen a 901 in China?

[72_sporto]

After speaking with a register member who is in China currently...

I do a lot of business in China and have travelled there frequently over the last 20 years. I can't ever recall seeing an early car there. Plenty of newer cars- particularly cayennes- celebrating their new found middleclassness . ( I'm not including HK in my survey.)

Anyone ever spend time there and see any 901s?

[griffiths_r]

the extension would be whether there'd be an opportunity to ship cars there for cheap resto work and back again?

ensuring work is of a suitable quality could be an issue... but cost of labour could make it an interesting proposition?

[e72phil]

You cannot import a car into China that is more than a few years old. Hence no classic car market YET. But things could change and there are plenty of speculators ready to pounce once that market opens up.

[jedwards]

Sending cars to China for restoration is unlikely to be a sensible option for us for some time. China is now so costly, that unless you have production runs in the millions, specialist manufacturing is largely reserved for local consumption.
A close friend and long standing car nut in Singapore who owns 17 factories in China, sends all his cars to Malaysia for restoration work.

However, I have seen some of that work and I don't believe it is of an acceptable standard for us, so for the time being it will remain Australian skills, Australian standards of quality and Australian prices.

[72_sporto]

I wasn't actually thinking about getting them restored there. Hard enough getting new stuff made! I was musing about their increasing taste for collecting and appreciating all life's finer things.

[Michel]

You cannot import a car into China that is more than a few years old. Hence no classic car market YET. But things could change and there are plenty of speculators ready to pounce once that market opens up.

cant speak for china but vietnam allegedly has a no big bike policy in force. flying into Hanoi struck up a conversation with a 'dude'. young guy running a graphics firm. he had a then new 2007 ducati sport 1000 and I got an invite to the hanoi 'big bike club' sunday run.

who you know I guess

[npvpositive]

Back when the dollar was at parity with the USD I think there was an interesting opportunity to ship cars and/or engines to California to get restored. I'd guess CPR Classic would have done a top quality bare metal restoration for half the Aussie price then . . . sadly at 74 cents that window has firmly closed.

I remember raising the idea here at the time but getting lots of flack . . . "half the fun is being part of the process, etc."

[Merv]

I have seen in China, after 3 weeks extensive travelling, more high value cars than anywhere except Dubai. Porsches - one Boxter, quite a lot of Cayennes,the odd Macan and heaps of high spec Panameras. No 911s at all and the only convertibles seem to be Audis and BMWs. The pollution would rule roof lowering out anyway. As Phil says there seem to be no classic cars at all. I am sure there are some out there, just not on the roads.

If the Chinese taste for fine very expensive wines is a guide, classic car investment could be next. Japanese cars are less common as there are still strong feelings around. You would not park your Lexus on the street or in an accessible car park at night.