{{Use Australian English|date=July 2025}} {{Infobox automobile | name = Saehan Camina | image = Holden Torana 1972-73.jpg | aka = Chevrolet 1700 (시보레 1700)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.naver?articleId=1972102500329206001&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1972-10-25&officeId=00032&pageNo=6&printNo=8331&publishType=00020|title=세계제일의 지엠(GM)이 보증 하는 格調(격조)높은 乘用車(승용차) 시보레1700}}</ref><br>GMK Caravan (Wagon model, 1972–76)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.naver?articleId=1976012000209208020&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1976-01-20&officeId=00020&pageNo=8&printNo=16706&publishType=00020|title=큰짐도 실을 수 있는 실용적인 승용차}}</ref><br>Saehan Caravan (Wagon model, 1976–79)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.naver?articleId=1977062400099201025&editNo=1&printCount=1&publishDate=1977-06-24&officeId=00009&pageNo=1&printNo=3478&publishType=00020|title=넉넉히 타고 넉넉히 싣습니다 —새한 캬라반}}</ref> | caption = The Holden Torana (LJ), which the Chevrolet 1700 and Camina was heavily based on. | manufacturer = {{unbulleted list | GM Korea (1972–1976) | Saehan Motors (1976–1977) }} | production = {{unbulleted list | November 1972 – April 1976 (Chevrolet 1700) | April 1976 – November 1977 (Saehan Camina) | April 1976 – March 1979 (Saehan Caravan) }} | assembly = South Korea: Bupyeong<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.carlife.net/bbs/board.php?bo_table=school&wr_id=1585 |title=GM-Daewoo Auto – 40 turbulent years |access-date=2010-03-08 |date=November 2001 |language=ko |archive-date=7 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307030732/http://carlife.net/bbs/board.php?bo_table=school&wr_id=1585 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | body_style = {{ubl | 4-door sedan | 5-door station wagon}} | engine = {{ubl | 1.7 L Opel ''17N'' I4 | 1.5 L Opel ''15N'' I4 }} | transmission = 4-speed manual | layout = FR layout | related = Holden Torana (LJ) | successor = Saehan Gemini }}
The '''Saehan Camina''' ({{langx|ko|새한 카미나}})<ref name=Chung>{{citation | url = http://data.adic.co.kr/lit/thesis/1992/P0001055/000.html | title = 韓國 自動車 廣告寫眞의 變遷에 관한 硏究 | language = ko |trans-title=A Study on the Transition of the Korean Automobile Advertisement | last = Chung | first = Hwan | publisher = Central Media College, Newspaper Broadcasting Institute | date = 1992 }}</ref> is a passenger car built by General Motors Korea (later Saehan Motor Company) between 1972 and 1979, it was a reworked version of the Australian market 1971 Holden Torana.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2011-10-13 |title=The 1972 Chevrolet 1700: Meet GM's First Small Chevy With Daewoo Ties |url=https://www.motortrend.com/news/the-1972-chevrolet-1700-meet-gms-first-small-chevy-with-daewoo-ties-81321 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126204622/https://www.motortrend.com/news/the-1972-chevrolet-1700-meet-gms-first-small-chevy-with-daewoo-ties-81321/ |archive-date=2025-01-26 |access-date=2025-04-27 |work=MotorTrend |language=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Background == After Toyota abandoned the joint venture between them and Shinjin Motors, General Motors stepped in to form General Motors Korea with Shinjin Motors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.naver?articleId=1972033000329202005&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1972-03-30&officeId=00032&pageNo=2&printNo=8153&publishType=00020|title=코리어·GM의새乘用車(승용차)}}</ref> The end result was a slightly reworked version of the LJ Holden Torana, production commenced in 1972, lasting until 1976 when it was renamed to Saehan Motors when Shinjin sold its 50% stake in GMK to the Korea Development Bank due to Financial Troubles that the company faced.<ref name="Saehan">{{cite web | url = http://autocade.net/index.php/Camina_%281976%E2%80%938%29 | title = Camina (1976–8) | work = Autocade | publisher = JY&A Media | access-date = 17 October 2009}}</ref>
It would be the first Korean car presentation, along with the GMK Rekord, at the Westin Chosun Hotel in 1972.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.naver?articleId=1972090600099208001&editNo=1&printCount=1&publishDate=1972-09-06&officeId=00009&pageNo=8&printNo=2002&publishType=00020|title=GM·코리아「시보레 1700」型(형) 이달中旬(중순) 부터 市販(시판)}}</ref>
Unlike the original Holden Torana, there was a 5-door station wagon that was never sold by Holden.<ref name="Holden">{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Corey |date=25 October 2022 |url=https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/cars/features/abandoned-history-daewoo-motors-gm-s-passport-to-international-sales-part-iv-44497218 |title=Abandoned History: Daewoo Motors, GM's Passport to International Sales (Part IV) |work=The Truth About Cars |accessdate=1 July 2025}}</ref> Competition was expected to be fierce, but it sold poorly compared to its domestic rivals, Kia's Fiat 124 and Hyundai's Ford Cortina. The main deterrent to sales was the high government taxes imposed by the government in relation to this class of vehicle - the automobile taxation system of South Korea greatly favours engines of less than 1.5 litres displacement. The car was also perceived to suffer from high fuel consumption, while the suspension was seen as unsuitable for Korean roads and poor fuel economy during the 1970s contributed to its lower than expected sales.<ref name=":0">https://autoen.entermedia.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=6524</ref>
The low ground clearance was also a problem.<ref name="1700 Taxi">{{Cite web |title=금호클래식카 ::: 영화, 방송 촬영용 차량의 모든것 |url=http://www.kumhoclassiccar.com/ |access-date=2025-04-28 |website=www.kumhoclassiccar.com}}</ref> The minimum ground clearance of 163 mm was lower than that of the Hyundai Cortina (180 mm), and even the company’s mid-size car, the Rekord 1900 (187 mm). In South Korea, where the road pavement rate was incomparably lower than today, a car that would frequently scrape the ground caused disappointment among customers.<ref name=":0" />
Currently, the only known surviving example of a Chevrolet 1700 is a yellow taxi owned by collector Baek Joong-gil in the Kumho Classic Car collection.<ref name="1700 Taxi" /><ref name="Holden" />
Due to the poor sales of Chevrolet 1700, the car was revised as the Camina in April 1976, receiving a new grille and a four headlight upgrade for the wagon, using some parts from contemporary Opel models (General Motors Korea was sold to Saehan Motors in 1976 after management troubles).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.naver?articleId=1977111100329203007&editNo=2&printCount=1&publishDate=1977-11-11&officeId=00032&pageNo=3&printNo=9884&publishType=00020|title=메이드 인 코리어 100億弗(억불) (78) 自動車(자동차) [2]}}</ref> However, the Chevrolet version continued to sell alongside it until both models were discontinued in 1978.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newslibrary.naver.com/viewer/index.naver?articleId=1976031300099205007&editNo=1&printCount=1&publishDate=1976-03-13&officeId=00009&pageNo=5&printNo=3085&publishType=00020|title=GMK서 新型車(신형차)개발「카미나」4월市販(시판) }}</ref> A smaller 1492-cc engine, imported directly from Opel Germany, was fitted to deliver better fuel economy than its Hyundai and Kia competitors, but sales did not recover with only 992 cars sold in two years.<ref name="Saehan" /> The 1.5-liter engine offered {{convert|66|PS|kW|0|abbr=on}}, enough for a top speed of {{convert|140|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}} for the sedan.<ref name=samsungday>{{cite web | url = http://carlnc.milestory.com/dbg_board/MileStory/content.asp?id=1281&pagec=8&boardname=MileStory_exhibition | title = 애니카 자동차문화 축제 |trans-title=Anica car culture festival | language = ko | date = 2007-11-08 | work = CARLNC | author = Lee Geun-tae }}</ref> The station wagon, which retained the 1700 engine, was now called the Saehan Caravan ({{langx|ko|새한 캬라반}}); 966 of these were sold from January 1976 until March 1979. An ambulance version arrived in April 1976. The 1700 and Camina replacement, the 1977 Saehan Gemini, was a rebadged Isuzu Gemini fitted with the Opel 1492 engine (the Australian version of the Isuzu Gemini which was sold as the Holden Gemini).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://autocade.net/index.php/Saehan_Gemini | title = Saehan Gemini | work = Autocade | publisher = JY&A Media | access-date = 17 October 2009}}</ref>
== References == <references />
Saehan Camina Category:Sedans Category:Rear-wheel-drive vehicles Category:Cars introduced in 1972 Category:Cars discontinued in 1979
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