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Cuba's Classic Cars: Catch Them While You Can
There are few places in the world where you can find modern Toyotas sharing the streets with Model T's, and Cuba is one of them. The country's abundance of classic cars may be the result of historic trade restrictions, but it's also a key element of Cuba's romantic, stuck-in-time ambience.
Why does Cuba boast so many classic cars? Until last October, Cuban residents were forbidden from buying and selling vehicles without the government's permission. Only automobiles purchased before the 1959 Cuban Revolution could be freely traded, forcing car owners to use creativity and craftiness to make their existing vehicles last. By outfitting their old cars with replacement engines, fixtures, lining and paint, many have been able to significantly extend the lives of their vehicles, instead of sending them to the junkyard as we're so quick to do in the Western world. In fact, most cars you'll find on the street resemble a mash-up of different parts: a hubcap here, a dashboard there, topped off with a dash of house paint and often a Playboy bunny sticker.
Gallery: Classic Cars of Cuba
But last October, President Raul Castro (Fidel's brother, for those unversed in Cuban history) announced that Cuban residents would now be able to buy and sell cars "without any prior authorization from any entity," for the first time in 50 years. According to Reuters, the new law is one of many reforms intended to put a greater emphasis on private initiative, a notion that has largely taken a backseat under Communist rule.
While the new law is a definite step forward for Cuban society, it does mean that owners of classic cars will be less motivated to maintain their vehicles, now that they have the freedom to trade up for new ones. But during a recent trip, the new law hadn't seemed to have made much of an impact – yet. The streets of central Havana were filled with propped-up hoods and self-taught mechanics, and on the Bay of Pigs was parked a perfectly preserved 1929 Ford Model T, at our service. "Original engine," our driver boasted, beaming.
Still, change is in the air, and the chance to ogle beautifully preserved classic cars may not exist for much longer.
While the new law is a definite step forward for Cuban society, it does mean that owners of classic cars will be less motivated to maintain their vehicles, now that they have the freedom to trade up for new ones. But during a recent trip, the new law hadn't seemed to have made much of an impact – yet. The streets of central Havana were filled with propped-up hoods and self-taught mechanics, and on the Bay of Pigs was parked a perfectly preserved 1929 Ford Model T, at our service. "Original engine," our driver boasted, beaming.
Still, change is in the air, and the chance to ogle beautifully preserved classic cars may not exist for much longer.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Business, Cuba, Transportation, Caribbean
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
LatAm Jun 29th 2012 12:49AM
The prior prohibition on the sale of privately-owned autos is NOT the reason for the old cars. Cuba does not build cars. It must import them, as well as replacement tires and spare parts; it must also provide enough gas and oil, importing these if needed. There are other more-pressing needs, like public transportation, industrial and commercial trucks, health care, education, and housing. Cuba therefore limits imports and parcels out the imported cars carefully. The new rules on the sale of private cars allow owners to cash in or to switch to a different vehicle; they do not magically yield new imports and all that is needed to support them. One reason that Cuba is short of money is the US embargo, which is meant to create precisely situations like limited imports.