Also called Shanghai SH7221 Body style 4-door sedan | Production 1958-1991 Transmission 4-speed manual | |
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Manufacturer Shanghai City Power Machinery Manufacturing Company
(now SAIC Motor) Engine 2.2 L I6 (copy of Mercedes-Benz M127) | ||
The Shanghai SH760 is a car produced in China from 1958 to 1991 primarily for government officials not important enough to warrant a FAW Hong Qi. The design was based on the Mercedes-Benz 220S (W180) model of the mid-1950s, with modified front and rear styling. 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. Unlike Beijing-controlled FAW and SAW, STAC was owned directly by the city of Shanghai.
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. The Phoenix models are distinguished by round headlights and fins to the rear.
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. In 1968 and 1974, the SH760 underwent a series of cosmetic updates (SH760A and SH760B respectively). 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. The last model in the series was the SH7221, which also received a variety of Santana parts. The bumpers, taillights (somewhat modified), and some interior parts came straight from the Santana, even though this was in direct contradiction to Shanghai's contract with Volkswagen. The SH7221 also had a blacked-out plastic grille in the front.
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. As with the basis of the bodywork, this was a copy of 1950s Mercedes-Benz mechanicals. 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.