(click on all pictures for full size)
Turns out that our first visit to Cuba last week was just the teaser. Bowen/Flatblack66 has posted a bunch more, and man, are they fueling my desire to get down there. Next winter, for sure. Turns out that the US gives out special visa/passes to journalists. So pour yourself a mojito, kick your imagination in high gear, and take in some more wheeled sights, like this superb shot of an old English Ford Consul on the beach. All it needs is a girl, appropriately dressed for the occasion.
Here’s an old Chebbie in front of one of the many large mansions that were almost inevitably abandoned by their wealthy former owners. Unless theyr owners stayed behind, they’ve been appropriated by the state, and turned into apartments. If you want a fab read about this era, “Waiting For Snow In Havana”, is the autobiographical story of a kid growing up in a comfortable family, and then sent to the US as an eleven-year old. Great insights into what life was really like then, just before, during and after the revolution.
Here’s a real veteran, an old Plymouth (or Dodge?).
This gaudy Studebaker really fits in with its surroundings.
Wide-tracking wasn’t really the most practical thing to do in Old Havana’s narrow streets.
A ’56 Plymouth ready for work.
During the Soviet era, Ladas were the predominant new car. This one’s already starting to look pretty vintage. Maybe someday Russian tourists will flock to Cuba in order to check out the Soviet-era vintage cars still on the street.
Can’t not have a ’55 Chevy. This one has obviously been restored to a higher standard, and not a taxi or basic transportation. There are active car clubs for enthusiasts who can afford to restore their old yanqui tanks.
This is obviously a taxi, a 55 Plymouth. They’ve almost all been “upgraded” with Russian diesel motors (typically), as well as other running gear.
I’m also adding a few shots flatblack posted in the comments in Part 1. This Corvair, obviously a 1960, shows a very tail-high attitude. The rear wheels must have a healthy amount of positive camber. Ralph Nader does not endorse this approach. I suspect it’s to get the adequate ground clearance for heavily rutted roads.
This one gives us a bigger view of the old Anglia panel van, a ’52 Ford hardtop, and a quite contemporary Mercedes van.
Time to say goodbye.
Loving the two tone green on that 55 Chevy.
Nice to see more The Consul is a long way from stock Fords of the 50s ran 5 stud wheels so this one has had a major running gear swap and taillamps 100 E vans were sold as commercials and under the Ford Thames brand and are quite rare most having been beaten or hotrodded into the ground here. The Russians CC tourists may invade Havana Pacific we still have a LADA dealer active here how rare is that, Love the 56 Customline as a parting shot.
Sorry Paul, but that Corvair with the high tail will have positive camber, and that is anything but healthy.
Of course; it’s what I meant to say….
The rear axle on that blue Plymouth/Dodge seems to be way too far forward. Almost as though they dropped the body onto a different chassis with 4-5″ less wheelbase.
Second the recommendation of “Waiting for Snow in Havana.”
Amusingly that ’59 Pontiac looks to be in better shape than the one someone tried to sell me recently for $3000.
Click here for a short blog article on that one
Great photos, I especially like the ’54 Chevy and Corvair shots – probably because I have an interest in architecture as well as cars. Those buildings in the photo with the Corvair must have been brand new when the revolution happened, they have more of a 1960s vibe to them.
That Ford in the shot with the Thames van is a ’51, you can tell by the elliptical taillights. 1952s were the new body, and the first with the large round taillights that became a Ford trademark.
Yeah, you beat me, Tom, that’s definitely a 1951 “shoebox”.
Great photos!
I’m hoping that this one I saw in Havana still has it’s original motor……