The cars of Cuba

One of the first things one is asked upon returning from Cuba is whether the old American cars — fins and all — are as ubiquitous as people often say.  The answer:  Yes — they’re everywhere.  Some are shiny in brilliant shades of metallic lime or grape or cherry.  Others are patched with bondo (or its Cuban equivalent) and obviously limping along awaiting repair.  There’s no telling what’s under the hood — a Russian engine, Korean water pump and radiator from who knows where.

These glorious old vehicles remain on the highways and byways because the long-standing American embargo kept parts and new U.S. vehicles from coming to the country (maybe a good thing if you remember the old Chevrolet Monza of the mid-1970s).  With U.S.-Cuban relations now thawing, who knows what will happen to these old gas guzzlers?  One thing is for sure:  It’s an almost surreal experience to see vehicles racing around now that also were on the streets when Twilight Zone first aired.

Here are some of the favorites we saw in a recent trip:

An old Desoto with the country’s National Assembly, modeled after the U.S. Capitol, in the background.

Cars often are lined up near the Prado in downtown Havana to take tourists on taxi rides.