Classic Cars in Cuba

In the interest of full disclosure, the cars in Cuba that have exteriors from the 1930's, 1940's, and 1950's are largely cars from the 1970's and 1980's under the hood. The cost of fuel in Cuba made economizing necessary--but especially in Havana, every 9th car came off the assembly line before I was born. Cars had style then. They were gorgeous, things of angular beauty in an inanimate metal vehicle kind of magnificence. And in Cuba, they retain their glory.

So the upside is that the streets of Havana are packed with gorgeous cars. And Cubans are legendary mechanics--our guide notes that Cuban with a Swiss Army knife and wire, a Cuban can fix almost any mechanical failing--it is a skill they have born of necessity. So they are the ultimate recylclers--which would be great for the environment if they had some way to clean up the gasoline engine--which they do not. The air quality on the streets of Havana is poor, reminding me of Bangkok, where the diesel fumes limit the time you can spend walking the streets. The computer-based technology that has marked car manufacturing for a decade in the first wolrd makes modern cars useless in Cuba--not only are there no replacement parts, there are no diagnostic computers, so Cubans laugh at men who try to flaunt their wealth with big expensive late model cars--they will be rendered useless before long.
Cars in Cuba reflect on the available resources on the island in a number of complex ways that makes watching classic cars even more enjoyable than it would first appear. Just be sure to come up occasionally for air.