Carryout Cars: Former Subaru distributor may import cheap vehicles from China

At age 75, David Shelburg isn’t ready to be put out to pasture, although he enjoys occasional trips back to his family’s homestead in Iowa where he drives the 1947 Frazer he bought as a youngster when he was working for Henry J. Kaiser and Joseph Frazer.

Shelburg’s latest job? He is trying to make it possible for more people to drive cars like those he has been in lately. No, we’re not talking about his ’47 Frazer, but about vehicles such as the Great Wall Admiral II, a crew cab pickup, or the Geely Solo, a compact sedan, or other cars produced by independent Chinese automakers. Shelburg is chief executive officer of the China Motor Co. of Scottsdale, Arizona. He anticipates having Chinese cars in North American dealerships sometime this fall, and at prices starting in the $8,000 range.

Shelburg moved to Arizona in the 1950s while working for American Motors. Shelburg was among the Kaiser-Willys staffers absorbed by AMC when it acquired Jeep.

When Malcolm Bricklin started importing Subarus, Shelburg was one of his first hires. Shelburg eventually became the Subaru distributor for the Southwest, and could afford to retire after selling his business to Subaru of America in 1974. But he didn’t like retirement, so first he investigated the potential for importing cars from Russia. Then, in 1992 he established China Motor, and suffered a much-publicized and ill-fated false start in 2001. But now he is back, and confident.

Shelburg has Chinese-produced cars undergoing emissions evaluations at an independent lab, which recommended such things as moving catalysts closer to engines and changes to gasoline filler necks to meet EPA requirements. Shelburg says those changes already are scheduled for the 2005 model year as Chinese auto regulations for emissions and safety are tightened.

"This is my swan song," Shelburg says. "At my age, I have to push hard."

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
More From News