It’s been a while since we visited Curbsidelandia, and Rivera Notario has facilitated that for us, with a recent download at the Cohort. I’m not going to identify them all for you, and no, Buick did not build a 9-passneger sedan, so enjoy the colorful classics of Havana.
Best in show is the ’47 Dodge reimagined as a ’47 Caddy. Excellent shaping of the door.
A subtle standout, that one.
Yes, nice bodywork and the hot pink color only adds to the effect.
Whereas Cuba is today’s “living car museum” featuring relics of the ’50s and earlier, in the 1950s it was the CANARY ISLANDS that was the “lost in time” outpost with cars of the ’20s and ’30s still roaming the streets in large numbers. So I wonder if the cars from this earlier sanctuary of pre-war classics are still around . . .
(Car Life, December 1957)
The one that has me stumped is the magenta 2 door wagon 3rd from the bottom.
Opel Rekord?
It’s got an Opel emblem and A-pillars from the late 50’s
like their models did. Maybe a modified one?
Thank you. I didn’t recognize that logo, looks like the lightning bolt that I’m familiar with didn’t start until the mid ’60s.
I’m shocked there’s a Corvair!
I was in Cuba last summer (I should post some photos) and many of those older cars no longer have their original drive trains but were converted to Soviet gas and diesel power to keep them running. You will see the Corvair has a makeshift grill on the front – it might now be front-engined, rear wheel drive now. The somewhat raised stance may support that too.
It appears from these photos that not only have the drivetrains been replaced, but also the entire chassis, certainly on many of the body-on-frame cars.
Love that Buick truck!
Love the Buick truck too!
The red Nash is rare by North American standards, amazing to see one in good shape in Cuba.
I guy from Havana told me had a 1954 Dode-ga. A what? A Dode-ga. Spell it. D-O-D-G-E.
That orange 57 Dodge is interesting for a lot of reasons. Is it a Canadian Plodge? Or is there some other explanation for the Plymouth fins on the back? The 2 piece windshield replacement looks nicely executed.
The 59 Ford 4 door hardtop is interesting – I don’t think those were ever all that common.
Love the Opel Rekord Caravan, and that Rambler!
Thanks for featuring my photos again! I still keep uploading new pictures from my February Cuba trip to that Flickr account. You can take a look and also sometimes help me identify the cars… it can get really hard!
For instance, you say that pink (coral?) Dodge might be a Plodge. It could. I saw one of those my first time in Cuba, in 2013. And I saw a couple Meteor this time. Also among the spottings is a DeSoto Diplomat, which I think were export only?
By the way, I saw more pickup conversions of old cars this time around than in 2013. Seems like hauling stuff is in more demand. Might be the limited economic openings to private enterprise.
How have these bodies not rusted away in the tropics? Hawaii is brutal. Is there a secret tobacco-based primer they use?