Mr. Chen added a tent on the car and a box at the back, instantly transforming an ordinary vehicle into a "camper."
On the morning of the 10th, a "camper" parked on Caotang Road in Chengdu attracted crowds of onlookers. This old Peugeot 505 sedan was modified by its owner into a three-story "camper," with the passenger seat and the right rear single bed, a small "cabin" on the tailgate, and a double tent on the roof forming three bedrooms. The interior was fully equipped with pots, pans, tables, and chairs—its ingenious modifications drew continuous admiration from passersby.
However, what earned even more praise was the owner Mr. Chen’s filial piety. At 58, he went to great lengths to modify the vehicle in order to fulfill his dream of taking his 100-year-old mother on a tour of the entire country.
In 2006, Mr. Chen’s elderly mother, Madam Yu, was 94 years old. During a rare family trip, the family visited Mount Qingcheng. The beautiful scenery of Mount Qingcheng thrilled Madam Yu, who had never gone hiking before. Mr. Chen said that at that moment, he realized his mother had a deep love for traveling. "I made up my mind right then—I would take her to see the whole country while she was still alive." In early 2007, Mr. Chen spent over 30,000 yuan to buy a used car. "Soon after, I took my mother to some attractions around Chengdu," but Madam Yu felt uncomfortable sitting in the passenger seat and couldn’t handle long drives. So, he modified the car. "There were dozens of modifications, big and small. The exact cost is hard to calculate," Mr. Chen said. "The tent cost several thousand yuan, the cold-weather bedding and equipment cost over ten thousand, plus the materials and labor for multiple modifications"—a rough estimate totals no less than 50,000 yuan. Next, Mr. Chen plans to drive to Tibet and take his mother to Qinghai to see her favorite rapeseed flowers.
Traffic police: Unauthorized vehicle modification results in 500-yuan fine
Staff from the Chengdu Traffic Police Bureau stated that modifications to motor vehicles are generally only permitted for changing the body color or making same-level engine replacements in case of damage. Acts of unauthorized alteration of a vehicle’s exterior or registered technical specifications will result in a 500-yuan fine for the owner and an order to restore the vehicle to its original condition.