American Classic Cars in Cuba – A journey back in time

The American relics of the 1950s that circulate in La Havana, Cuba, have become a tourist attraction for a good reason: if you don’t have the necessary car parts, make them up!

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The close political and commercial relationship between Cuba and the United States during the first decades of the 20th century allowed the massive importation of automobiles since Cuba had no car factories. However, after the Cuban Revolution by Fidel Castro in 1959 and the United States “embargo” against Cuba, cars and spare parts for Dodge, Ford, Chevrolet, Plymouth, Packard and other American brands already established in Cuba stopped arriving. Some cars have been able to be preserved in their entirety due to the extreme care by their owners. That’s why a group of owners and lovers of motor racing got together in 2003 to found the Escudería de Autos Clásicos y Antiguos “A lo Cubano” (Classic and Antique Car Racing Team). However, other owners were forced to use their imagination and local resources to keep them operational, including Soviet tractor engines and fridge coolers. Everything was worthwhile to keep running those cars (known also as “Almendrones”) which were the only possibility of having a car for many Cubans and have become in one of Cuba’s tourist’s attraction.

An excerpt from the documentary of NZZ Format “US Classic Cars in Cuba”. More from NZZ Format: https://www.youtube.com/user/NZZFormat