More Classic American Cars In Cuba.

[Wyatt Burp]

Here's a few shots of pre '59 cars in Cuba. They are everywhere. Lots used to drive tourists around, like that orange/white '55 Ford we were in. But even out in small country towns you see them all over, too. Mostly 55-57 Chevys though only the one here. That shot from above is in Havana looking down and seeing our guide waiting for us by his car.

 

[Watchdog]

Wow. Wouldn't it be great if you could buy one and have it shipped back here? Especially that '55 Ford.

 

[kraynky]

Good old American iron! Thanks for the pictures! Love that red convertible.

 

[jag312]

Several years ago, someone found a Jaguar D-Type racing car. After buying it, the car was shipped to England for restoration. You can buy a few dozen 55 Fords for the price of a D-Type. I have also seen a photograph of a Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing that supposedly was found in Cuba. Unfortunately, people in Europe have been combing Cuba for years looking for the high end collector cars. All that are left are Detroit Iron.

 

[shouldazagged]

Cuban mechanics are wizards at keeping those sixty-plus-year-old cars running. They fabricate a lot of parts and do weird and wonderful improvisations.

Pretty much a lost art in this country.

 

[4barrel]

Most classic cars in Cuba have diesel engines out of wrecked cars.

 

[DWalt]

Those Cuban antiques are far from being original.

 

[Texas Star]

I liked the pic of the Easter egg blue car with the girl running in the background. Got any pics of her frontal side?

The orange and white Ford by the orange and white building was an interesting match. Was that a Howard Johnson's? Did they survive there?

How were you treated in that Communist country?

 

[Stevens]

I spent a week there in 1996, legally, to attend a Sugar Industry Conference. There were about 8 of us from our company. It was a nice trip, the people there treated us well. I speak Spanish, I found the average person there is not really interested in the government politics, they are too busy just trying to make ends meet.
It was interesting to visit Hemingway's old favorite spots Floridita Bar and Bodeguita del Medio for Daiquiris and Mojitos. We stayed at the old Havana Hilton,now Havana Libre, it still had the old fashioned black telephones in the rooms. Most areas of Havana look run down and crumbling. We weren't able to get out into the countryside but I imagine it is the same or worse there.
We didn't get to the Varadero beach area either, I think there is a lot of European tourist business there so things there may be more modern.

Steve W

 

[Ματθιας]

There was a series on, I think, Discovery about the cars in Cuba. After seeing that, there's no way I'd want to buy one of those!

The only thing, possibly, original, is/are, the glass and sheet metal. Everything else is rigged!

 

[Marshwheeling]

How are the cigars?

 

[gman51]

From what I have read many if not most of these old cars the only thing original might be the bodies. As parts wore out and were not available anymore they had to do a lot of improvising using whatever was available to keep them running and drivable.
In other words finding a numbers correct car is highly unlikely. You might find an 8N powered 1956 Ford Crown Victoria.

 

[Wyatt Burp]

Most classic cars in Cuba have diesel engines out of wrecked cars.

The '55 Ford we traveled in pictured above had a Mitsubishi Diesel engine, power windows, air conditioning, and five on the floor in a reverse pattern because it was from a right side driving car. And it drove great. Down long four lane highways passing many people riding two wheel wagons pulled by one horse. And through muddy dirt roads without a hitch.