Cuba's Vintage Cars, the agonies and the ecstasies.

In September 2012 I walked part of the Great Wall of China in support of Dementia UK, Admiral Nurses.

 

I recall my experiences, in words with photos, in the ebook 'Scaling the Dragon's Back' which is available from Amazon for Kindle at the new price of $2.99 or £1.99, that's less that the cost of a cup of coffee.  

                                                           

Or, help to develop the growth of the Admiral Nursing service, make a direct  donation to Dementia UK.

 

A visit to Cuba probably wouldn’t be quite the same without its vintage cars.  “the sort of veteran cars that send some men into inexplicable ecstasies.” Dervla Murphy, The Island That Dared, Journey’s on Cuba, 2008.

Legislation which was in place until 2011 decreed that only cars built before the 1959 revolution could be sold.  The result of this is the big 1950’s US classic cars which are seen throughout the island but especially on the streets of Havana, many brightly coloured Chevrolets, Fords, Chryslers and Buicks can be seen; with many resprayed cars used as taxi’s.  They are expensive to hire and aimed squarely at the tourists. 

Not the taxi but a rather battered car.

It is amazing given how old the cars are that so many are still running although many are falling to pieces. A guy from my tour jumped unknowingly into an unlicensed taxi to find it had no suspension, indicators or door handles, he had to hang onto the passenger door during the ride so as to keep it closed.  A little frightening to say the least.  He was pleased and not a little relieved when he arrived his destination unscathed.  

 I am full of admiration for the owners of the vehicles who must spend many hours working on the cars to keep them running, even if they are battered and not in good condition.  Many have had engine replacements and run on Japanese diesel and I was told Skoda engines. 

In 2014 Cuba relaxed its trade restrictions and allowed the importation of some new cars allowing new cars to be sold on the island for the first time in over 50 years.  However, the high purchase prices have kept the number of new vehicle to a minimum as they are priced out of the reach of most Cubans. In Cuba wages are low so most of the population cannot afford to buy cars and not many own one.  According to The Guardian newspaper (2014) “there are only 60,000 cars to the islands 11 million population.”  Low car ownership adds to another one of Cuba’s charms, empty roads and an absence of motor vehicle traffic jams.

A British Morris 1000 gets in on the act.

I wonder now that the US trade embargo is being relaxed and diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba have been restored will these remembrances of times past gradually be scrapped or sold to classic car collectors?