[su_slider source=”media: 26947,26948,26949,26950,26951,26952,26953,26954″ limit=”25″ link=”image” target=”blank” width=”700″ height=”460″ speed=”500″]
Cuba is the only place on earth where cars from the 1950s still dominate the streets.
Images of those cars are as symbolic of Cuban culture as are images of Ché Guevara; the classic two-tone ’57 Chevy Bel Air hardtop is on all the tourist websites.
On a trip to Cuba last month, I was struck by the great variety of 1950s cars on the road. Many of them are taxis. I saw lots of Chevys and Fords, but also many Buicks, Oldsmobiles, Chryslers, a few Cadillacs, Dodges, Plymouths, and even a couple of Studebakers and DeSotos—lots of tail fins too on the late-50s models.
In the United States we only see these in car shows, but Cuba’s cars are of a different breed. They are everyday, working vehicles amidst the scarcity of parts, paint and polish caused by U.S. embargo. Cubans are forced to improvise and the results are a wonderful kaleidoscope of unique paint jobs, hand-crafted parts and countless, special touches that give those cars a special character.
A few cars are nicely restored with great paint jobs, but most others mirror the scarcity found throughout Cuba today. Some cars have mismatched tires, headlights and other parts, including engines. Many have unique, individual touches like decorative lights mounted on fenders and trunks, fancy hood ornaments and fans mounted on dashboards.
Some cars even have improvised grills. A few cars have been altered so much it was hard to tell their year, make or model…but still they run, adding to the island’s unique ambiance. The resourcefulness and imagination evident in their cars extends to the daily lives of Cubans. They make do with what they have, but also hope for an end to the embargo that keeps many of the most basic necessities out of their reach.