Topic: Solved: PN #577 -- Jinan JN220 (or JN200)

[4popoid]

Thanks for the clue.  It could prove very helpful.

Is the manufacturer that I am looking for: Liaocheng Vehicle Manufacturing and Repair Factory (now known as: Zhongtong Bus Holding Co., Ltd.), which was founded in 1958?  If so, I assume I must still find a different (not Liocheng) brand name, as well as model designation.

[pnegyesi]

no, it's not that one, but you are heading into the right direction (the current company is not a bus manufacturer though)

[4popoid]

Is the manufacturer of the puzzle vehicle currently a part of the big FAW Group?

[pnegyesi]

no

[4popoid]

We have ruled out the two largest Chinese holding companies (Chang'an & FAW), so I'll try number three.  Is the manufacturer of the puzzle vehicle currently a part of the big Dongfeng Motor Corporation?

[pnegyesi]

Not part of Dongfeng. It is the biggest in its field

[4popoid]

Is the manufacturer of the puzzle vehicle currently a part of Loncin Holdings, Ltd?  Its Longxin Motorcycle Industry Co., Ltd.is reputed to be the largest motorcycle manufacturer in China.  I haven't been able to discover if they ever made vehicles like the puzzle car (although other divisions of the Loncin group make trucks), nor if they go back to at least 1958, but perhaps Longxin might be the brand I am looking for.

[pnegyesi]

not motorcycles, but you mentioned the field where the manufacturer currently is the biggest (or one of the biggest)

[4popoid]

Well if I mentioned the current field of manufacture in my previous post, it must be trucks.  And, if they are the largest, or one of the largest in the truck field, and since we have already ruled out FAW, Dongfeng and Nanjing (Yuejin), I would guess China National Heavy Duty Truck Group Company Limited (CNHTC or Sinotruk Group) which is one of a few old enough to have produced the puzzle vehicle.  One of their early models was Huanghe (Yellow River), but the puzzle vehicle may have used another brand name.

[pnegyesi]

It is locked for you. This was made by a company which evolved into the Sinotruk Group.

[4popoid]

Sinotruk evolved from Jinan Automobile Works.  Is this the name you are looking for?

[pnegyesi]

yes. Would you care to give a shot at the model designation?

[4popoid]

Well I'll give it a try, but I'm not have much luck coming up with former Jinan model numbers.  In fact, so far I have only been able to find one, JN150, which is the model number of the famous Huanghe truck of 1960.  The puzzle picture doesn't look anything like those I've seen of the Huanghe, although I suppose it could be some sort of prototype or variant.  Rather, since the puzzle vehicle is earlier (1958 vs 1960), I would guess that it carries a model number beginning with the letters JN, and having a number lower than 150.  Am I even close to being on the correct path? 

[pnegyesi]

absolutely on the right path. It was a JN something - bigger than 150.
Still locked

[4popoid]

I think I have found a possibility.  I have a reference that says that Jinan produced a jeep in the 1950's.  Is the puzzle car a: Jinan JN220?

[pnegyesi]

And the point is yours. I have it as Jinan JN200, but the Sinotruk site refers to it as JN220.

Very good job!