O/T..You have to give these Cubans credit...

I think I'd prefer that.

As long she doesn't look like Fidel. Or Geraldo. Or Bob Vila.

 

Someone aught to write their senators about the Navy sinking these and play the environmentalist whacko card - complain that sinking converted automobiles pollutes the seas with old motor oil, gas, anti-freeze (okay, they probabaly don't need and can't afford that in Cuba, but most politicians won't be smart enough to know that), and so forth, and that must harm wildlife etc. there. I bet that would at least get them towed to shore -

 

Actually, anyone could get a woman for free in Cuba. Marrying a stranger is the only way to get out of there for them. They'll do anything to get you to like them. But don't call that prostitution, they might not like it. I've seen a guy learn it the hard way!

As for cars, from what a Cuban told me one time I was there, they can't be sold or bought. Almost all the old cars have been in the same family since the 50's, getting passed on from generation to generation. Most people rely on public transit, cabs and hitchiking for transportation. I've seen truckbeds loaded with people and guys taking a ride in a tractor bucket. All personal cars carry "Particular" plates and are either old american or old russian. Cubans that own cars are very proud about them. Even if they could sell it to you, I don't know how they'd get another car, much less how you'd get the car out of the country (Fidel doesn't like that!).

By the way, seeing all those cars running down the streets is an amazing experience for a young guy like me. Such a time warp! Every HAMBer's dream.

 

FWIW, Pakistan is full of old American cars, and English ones too. You should see the ingenuity that keeps these relics on the road, there are some fine mechanics in third world countries.

 

Oh yeah? Then why don't we ever see Pakistanis building boats out of old cars and trying to escape to Miami or London?

 

They just go right over land man.

 

hehehe

 

Yeah sure, but boats! Boats made out of old cars! That's where it's at I tell ya. I'd also take airplanes made out of old motorcycles. Or, in a pinch, hovercraft made from lawnmowers.

It's really too bad we closed up shop on Cuba in the 50s. If we were still buddies in the 60s, they might have had some of these:

 

If you want to see some AMAZING ingenuity, go out and but yourself a copy of the documentary "Yank Tanks". It's a great film and shows all the tricks that the Cubans are using to keep their 50's era cars running despite the lack of parts and resources.

I highly recommend it.

http://http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/02.14.02/cinequest-0207.html

Stacey

 

http://www.imaginature.nl/pages/cuban%20cars.html

 

Stacey, I was going to say the same thing. It is on the Sundance channel every now and again for those of you with cable or satellite TV. It is a great show. One guy is mixing up asbestos and glue without a mask or gloves so he can reline brake pads. A scrap of sheetmetal to make a patch panel is like gold down there.

 

This is an excellent film! You really get a feel for what the Cubans are experiencing. One of the saddest scenes was the old cabaret drag performer who makes windshields from flat window glass. The country is dirt poor with no true industry. Raw materials are virtually non-existent. One guy has used up most of his chain link fence for welding rod. Even if parts and materials for the cars became readily available, very few could afford to them.

I would have liked to see more of the "how it's done" in each of the interviews. I'm sure a whole series films could be done with each automotive cottage industry being the focus. None the less, this is a film you’ll want to buy and watch more than once.

 

Don't shortchange the Americans for cleverness, remember in The Naked Gun how they changed a Lincoln Continental into a Corvair?

 

So, when Castro dies and the place wants to go free-market, then I suppose the US will be doling out all sorts of financial aid even though we are already in bad shape with the Federal money thing... GREAT.

However, I can see Florididians going over and buying cars and bringing them back, or offereing $ (or bars of soap) for parts off of those cars...

 

Most of their cars are shitty four doors anyway.

 

True, most of them are four doors, but I've seen a few very nice two doors there.

 

Yeah, but what about the Italians!

 

That Italian shit is funny!!
did anyone notice they even painted the fuckin boat-cars!
even those guys who built them are proud of there shit!