The classic cars of Cuba – a waning tradition

A few of the taxis in Trinidad

Due to the US trade embargo, car imports stopped in Cuba for 20 years. Classic cars can be seen everywhere including some painstakingly maintained classics from the 1950s.

No new parts have been shipped into the country since the 1960s, so the 60,000 remaining classic cars now run on the ingenuity of their owners, with modern parts being repurposed into the old engines.

A selection of pristine, but far less attractive cars exist from the 1970s, bought from their Soviet comrades. Unexpectedly there were also a large number of reasonably modern cars, imported from allies such as China and France.

On the roads around the government district it is more common to see modern cars…

… but there are still a few classics parked up for the tourists

In major tourist spots there are some beautifully restored American and European cars, as perfect now as when they were imported in the 40s and 50s. These are often accompanied by men in 50s era suits, or more likely costumes given how flamboyant some are, and always smoking a fat cigar. They make their money by charging to pose for photos or even renting out their cars.

One of the perfectly restored engines in a car in Plaza de Armas, Havana, Cuba

And it’s equally carefully restored interior

A selection of modes of transport outside La Floridita in Havana – note the bubble taxi in the background

Families in Trinidad drive out to the beach in their remodelled classics

A little secret though – the majority of the classic cars seen driving on the streets are replicas. We took a taxi shaped like a 50s classic. Inside it was clearer that the bodywork was just tin sheeting, hammered into an impressively smooth shell. The badge in the middle of the steering wheel said Lada. I’m guessing they didn’t put that there to show off. On closer inspection most of the cars were of the same pedigree.

These three are all remodelled Ladas (taken from the back of one of the bubble cabs in the photo above!)

Laws passed a couple of years ago allow private citizens to own cars, but few have the purchasing power. Most of the Peugeots and Kias on the street are owned by the government. All the modern trucks and tourist buses are Chinese, as are the roads.

Still, our Lada got us safely back to the airport, and ready for our journey back to Mexico.

Classic truck in Havana with a very fancy grill

Hopefully related posts:

Buses to Bulls – Getting around Cuba by public transport Plaza de Armas Secondhand Book Market – Havana, Cuba Tips for travelling to Cuba, via Havana airport Old vs New – Shopping in Havana, Cuba