Hot Rods Cuban Cars

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These cars could be more expensive in the long run than what you'd have to pay for a similar car here (unless you collect taxi cabs) and probably have been heavily modified / repaired over the years to keep them running. I also believe many of these cars are either taxi cabs or limos (income earners) too, and have been, literally, the prize possessions of their families for decades. Also consider that since new cars are very expensive / unobtainable in Cuba now, you might have to pay a pretty sum for one of these survivor taxi cabs. And even if you could provide a replacement new Toyota or Fiesta for the Cuban car of your dreams, how would the average Cuban get a 2014 car maintained / repaired in a country that has no ASE trained mechanics and diagnostic tools? It might be awhile before the second shoe falls on this story. Perhaps we have some International members who have traveled to Cuba recently and can provide some background? I wonder what other brands of cars and trucks are also there... Czech? Russian? French? Chineese? Korean? Gary

 

We could probably fill a container ship full of all of those 4-doors that nobody wants here and send them over there as parts cars.

 

I think the old American cars are what makes Cuba special. It's one of the reasons many Europeans go there on holiday. I expect once Americans are allowed to travel there, there will be a tourism boom as so many Americans will love to go there and photograph the cars. Hopefully if the embargos are lifted they'll be able to get parts for their cars easier. I for one hope they don't start importing too many modern cars. It'd spoil the look of the place.
I hope the government there appreciate how important the old cars are for tourism and make an effort to encourage their continued use, for instance by imposing no import duties on parts for old cars.

 

I think that this picture was taken in Cuba.

 

Just notice this thread is 5 years old. These olive branches are taking a long time.

 

...........................They were wilting for sure, but they've just been given a new dose of "fertilizer".

 

As I've said on other threads, Revolico.com (Cuba's idea of Craigslist) is a great place to look even if you can't buy.
Some cars are cherry:


And some aren't:


And some are just, well, creative:


(This started out as a '47 Studebaker or "Estuevay" per the ad.)
Happy hunting:
http://www.revolico.com/autos/carros/

 

That Caddy looks pretty darn sweet.

 

From what I have seen there are no nice American cars left,they have been *******ized that the typical rat rod,,they use what ever they can find to keep a car running,many of them have been p***ed down through the family.

Personally,I don't think I would want any of the cars from Cuba,I can't imagine the amount of rust on these cars. HRP

 

CUBAN CARS ARE ALL JUNK

 

Yep, most are all clapped out powertrain wise. The bodies would be worth it though. Lots of solid metal at least the ones that aren't frankensteined.

 

How can they be nice surrounded by salt water all that time?

 

Salt water ? What salt water ?



Don

 

If anybody thinks the Cuban government, even if relations between our countries gets better, is going to allow us to come into their country and ****** up all the "cl***ic cars" is mistaken. There will be tariffs , taxes and all sorts of money grabbing ideas before any of the cuban junk is allowed out of the country.

 

The bodies can't be half as bad as what we deal with in the rustbelt..

 

What's that the Cuban Navy?

 

Just in from Hemmings... Gary
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/...-in-cuba-courtesy-of-graham-lloyd/?refer=news

 

I agree that many/most of the cars there are spent. I used to think Cuba was full of hidden gems but I've seen do***entaries and magazine spreads showing most of the fleet is held together with sealing wax and bailing wire. Talk about high mileage!

 

Yeah, I guess most of the original metal is not there after doing a little research. Consider the old American iron there as "folk art" on wheels. Interesting to look at but someone elses idea of gold.

 

right away runnin down 4 doors!

 

But its a four door!

 

The cubans modifing there cars the way they do is no worse than stickin a chevy motor in a 32 ford!=RAT ROD

 

again draggin down the four doors!

 

There was a story in the Hudson Es*** Terraplane Club's magazine a few years back about a 1947 Hudson Commodore that was spotted by some American Hudson enthusiasts on a trip to Cuba. They finally caught up with the owner. He had no clue about the car; Hudsons were so rare, he didn't even know it was made in America. It had been refitted with a Russian diesel engine and the guy still used it as a daily driver. When the Americans came home, word of the Hudson spread around the club, and people decided to dig through their spares and see what they could find to help the owner out. The same group made a trip down about a year later with a set of 4 original wheel covers, some missing chrome trim and badges, and a working original radio. They said the owner was literally in tears when they presented him with the parts. Hopefully, he's still driving the old Hudson and enjoying it.

 

I watched a show on TV last night about this event and the Cubans are excited that they may finally be able to get parts from the USA to fix those cars. I am thinking of starting an American/Cuban export business. But I bet Rock Auto will be there first, and maybe a few of the OPG guys.

You gotta admit, those Cubans are resourceful, clever people. They have been able to keep those cars running for years and years with very few parts. We might pick up some new HAMB members if they open up the internet there !

Don

 

here's a bunch from an article today :



this last shot looks like the lineup from the Bay Bombs Car Club here in the Bay Area except if they were Bay Bombs members they would be all cherried out.

 

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