Farmboy Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I finally found these pics on my other laptop, thought I'd share. I have more of different cars I'll post over the next few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eshaver Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 Note the still popular Chrysler Imperial tail lights on the quarter panels . These lights have been a sought after accessory on the Cuban owned automobiles for many years . Im wondering when someone in Argentinia is going to start reproducing these pieces . They already have plastic molds for many of the Volkswagen Beatles we knew of from the sixties . Ed Shaver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Stone Posted January 5, 2010 Share Posted January 5, 2010 I have a book called "Cars of Cuba" or something like that, and this is typical of a lot of the cars in the book. Would be a cool idea for a build... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy Posted January 5, 2010 Author Share Posted January 5, 2010 ....here's a few more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george 53 Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Farmer, I saw a special on the T.V. about how they keep these things runnin cause it's illegal to trade with Cuba. They ACTUALLY MADE their own brake linings! An just about every other parts they need for them cause the COULDN'T get the parts they needed for them because of the embargo. They can't get new U.S. cars there, so they gotta keep REuseing what they had over and over again till they just couldn't use them no more! It was pretty interesting to see how ingenious these folks got just tryin to keep these cars running! But I sure wouldn't call them "Mint"! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy Posted January 6, 2010 Author Share Posted January 6, 2010 Most vehicles I saw on the road in Havana and other places were later model imports (Fiat, Lada, Skoda etc...). These old dinosaurs are getting fewer and fewer. The owner of the red chev said all of these older ones are kept going with Lada parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Most Posted January 6, 2010 Share Posted January 6, 2010 Farmer, I saw a special on the T.V. about how they keep these things runnin cause it's illegal to trade with Cuba. They ACTUALLY MADE their own brake linings! An just about every other parts they need for them cause the COULDN'T get the parts they needed for them because of the embargo. They can't get new U.S. cars there, so they gotta keep REuseing what they had over and over again till they just couldn't use them no more! It was pretty interesting to see how ingenious these folks got just tryin to keep these cars running! But I sure wouldn't call them "Mint"! I was reading in the Free Press about seven years ago about mechanics in Iraq- guys who've been rebuilding radiators with nothing but steel wool and battery acid since they were 9 years old. Kind of the same thing- ol' Saddam didn't let parts for old American cars into Iraq, so they had to kind of cobble up what they needed. Think about THAT next time you get the wrong part from the nearest Auto Zone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmboy Posted January 7, 2010 Author Share Posted January 7, 2010 Here's the last of them on that laptop. I know I have additional car photographs from previous trips to Cuba, I'll scan and post whatever ones I find. Hopefully the quality will hold. Basically, I thought these pics may offer a few ideas to give new life to the odd glue bomb or maybe an interesting curbside. Hope they were of interest. Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruno Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 The owner of the red chev said all of these older ones are kept going with Lada parts. Lada parts... hope they don't plan on going too far... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordairgtar Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 Another thing to note. These owners cannot sell to others. Those cars are kept in the same family since new. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impcon Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 (edited) Ed, you sure those are Imperial tailights? they look to me like accessory mirrors with lenses and stuff stuck to them. i had a set of those mirrors back in the late 80's and they were exactly the same with that big screw that allows them to be tilted from side to side. one mirror fits either side of the car. could have been Cal Custom mirrors maybe as you could get the pieces to go over your headlights to match. i too saw a TV special a long time ago on the cars of Cuba, watched it with my dad one night. i seem to remember them making alot of parts and there being a guy who specialized in making the curved glass for windshields and rear windows. i think one of the cars they showed putting a forklift engine into? alot of crazy stuff to keep those cars going. Dave It sure would be interesting to know the history of those cars. I had no idea about the sale of them being forbidden.. ain't socialism great! Having said that though, I always wonder what the story of each car is - who imported it to Cuba and how did it end up where it is. I would assume that many if not most of those cars were abandoned by Americans who owned property there before the revolution as I understand that the general population of Cuba is pretty poor. I watched a movie awhile back that took place in Cuba on the night of the revolution. It was actually sad knowing that all of the glamour and all of the nice homes would fall into disrepair due to lack of materials and money. Are there wrecking yards there that specialize in American built cars? Interesting thread - hopefully it stays alive. Edited April 28, 2010 by impcon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
85firebird Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 (edited) Im pretty sure the sale of those old cars arent forbidden. You can actually view some of them for sale on Cuba's craigslist. http://www.revolico.com/autos/carros/ford-1956-como-nuevo-una-joyi-1270115.html http://www.revolico.com/autos/carros/chevy52-en-perfecto-estado-rue-1364742.html http://www.revolico.com/autos/carros/nueva-foto-chevrolet-57-4-pue-1356024.html EDIT: I also found a knockoff jeep. Thought it was interesting. Apparently it has a Nissan engine in it. http://www.revolico.com/autos/carros/vendo-willys-moderno-con-mot-1163431.html Edited April 30, 2010 by 85firebird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High octane Posted May 1, 2010 Share Posted May 1, 2010 The heavily tinted windshields remind me of the cars I saw in Columbia several years ago. I guess the heat down there really gets bad? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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