Ever wondered what a facelifted Maestro would look like? Well, now you know...
The Chinese automotive group First Auto Works (FAW) acquired the production rights to the Maestro and Montego from Etsong (who had produced the Lubao QE6400 and derivatives) and developed the car into an interesting amalgamation of the two.
On 11 May 2003, FAW revealed its CA6410 to the Chinese press. According to site contributor Erik van Ingen Schenau, "Production will take place, as First Auto Works (FAW) took over the project." It is very interesting that FAW have acquired the rights to this car, given their former production of the Ital-based Huandu CAC6430. As had been the case with the recycled Morris and the Etsong QE range, this re-born Maestro's name means it is registered with the Beijing authorities as a "bus" (hence 6000-series) and is classified as being 4.1 metres long (the "410" part of its name). One can only hope that given FAW's previous record, it will sell in reasonable numbers in Western China, and that the Maestro's long wheel travel and soft suspension will prove to be just the ticket on less-than-perfect roads.
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Rear view shows interesting badging (Picture supplied by Kevin Davis)
Upmarket model gets integral front foglamps and cheap-looking sill extensions.
Basic model gets by without the body addenda, and has what appear to be side lights built into the front bumper (a feature shared with the Etsong QE6400).
This intermediate model benefits from the fact that the contrasting bodyside rubbing strip is continued ahead of the front doors and onto the front bumper, giving the car a more finished look.
Side view shows the car in its worst light: the mismatch between the Montego front wheelarches and Maestro rear ones is plain to see, while the front overhang seems at odds with the curtailed back end. The black surround of the rear side window also looks out of place, now that the window frames on the doors have been painted in the body colour.
Thanks to Erik van Ingen Schenau and Graham Arnold