China's first limo and Chinese leaders

Luo said he forgot how many times he was moved to tears during the game. "Many witnesses shouted 'long live China, long live Hongqi'," he recalled.

Wherever he arrived, people lined the roads, cheering and taking photos with the Hongqi "in a display of respect and pride to Chinese-made vehicle".

"The rally changed me from a common classic car fan into a responsible lover of Chinese-made limousines, especially the Hongqi," Luo said.

"Since then, I have dreamt of letting more people know the history and value of them," he continued.

Luo sold his businesses and house after the rally and immersed himself in China' s classic car collection. His "craziness" used to anger his family, but nothing would stop him.

In 2005, he went to Beijing to build a classic car museum, only to find his love for ancient vehicles being cold-shouldered.

After spending eight million yuan, Luo's private museum, a two-floor building of 3,000 square meters, finally opened in 2009. But he also changed from a multi-millionaire to a church mouse.

"It takes a certain strength to collect these cars, and an entirely different kind to let people know their existence and value," Luo told.

His initial purpose was to show people the history of Chinese classic cars as well as the nation. Unexpectedly, only a few school children and individual travelers visit the museum. It fails to make ends meet now.

"My sources of income are from tickets (50 yuan per person) and car rentals for exhibitions and movies. It is far from enough to cover the maintenance and repair costs," Luo said frowningly.

Many well-to-do people offered to buy his 10.08-meter Hongqi over the past years, but he rejected the deals.

Equipped with a refrigerator, air conditioning, TV, telephone, leather sofas, the super long V8-engined vehicle is placed outstandingly in the museum and capable of holding ten passengers.

"How could our country produce such a great limousine in 1970s? Its technology and design are so amazing that even now it's not a possibility for many countries," he said, declining to say how it came into his possession.

According to FAW research institute, Luo's lengthened Hongqi was ordered by Chairman Mao in the early 1970s. But when the car completed in 1976, the same year Mao passed away, it failed to emerge and be used.

The glory of Hongqi was tarnished as FAW was ordered by the government to cease production in 1981 because of high fuel consumption and costs compared with foreign vehicles.

"It could be said that 1981 was a watershed for Chinese domestically produced automobiles," Luo said.

"For me, Hongqi means hand-made cars produced before 1981. Each part, from the small screws to the engine, was innovated and manufactured by Chinese people themselves," he added.

Luo indicated that current domestically produced automobiles, including Hongqi cars, boast higher technology and quality but lack the imprint of history.

China's policy of reform and opening up gave the chance for Hongqi's revival. But he said it is hard to regain the past glory if the brand fails to innovate itself.

Fashion-conscious Chinese people do not show enough interest in Hongqi today.

In Beijing, there are 21 Audi car dealerships but only three FAW ones.

"Shulei Chris" said at China's twitter-like service Sina Weibo, "I like the Hongqi brand but worry about its quality."

She intends to buy a BMW 320li for 350,000 yuan and indicates homemade cars lack competitive quality and a good after-sale service.

Luo agrees but insists on preaching the Hongqi brand. He said that domestically produced vehicles are indispensable for China's big events.

China remained the world's largest producer and market for automobiles for the fourth consecutive year in 2012, according to data released in January by the country's auto industry association.

"I hope a Chinese car with good brand history and quality could be thrust into the world limelight one day," Luo said, "its name may not be Hongqi, but it carries the dream of all Chinese people."