150 or so car pics from Havana....

[RDMcG]

Cuba is changing, and the expectation is for more change. As it is there is a new optimism, and in Havana, private ( and very good) restaurants have sprung up. As the US-Cuba world changes, there are already many Americans on the ground. This will inevitable changed the time-warp status,and among the gains there will inevitable be a loss. Today, Havana has no neon billboards, no chains, no Starbucks, no condo boom, no millionaires’ paradise. It will change drastically in the next ten years.

I have sorted out a few photos below of the cars that still circulate in Havana;

Sedans are the common workplace cars, of course:

[RDMcG]

Of course, the quintessential car of Cuba is the American convertible. Here are some of them:
































and one being restored in a back street..a ’46 Ford de Luxe

[RDMcG]

British cars of all kinds:

-Consuls:







-Zephyrs and Zodiacs:\









-Prefects and Anglias:









Austins have survived:














Hillmans are also common:







Even an MGA

Edited by RDMcG on Monday 20th April 17:53

[RDMcG]

There are a number of Mercedes 180Ds around,some Opels, a smattering of Wartburgs, and of course VW Beetles

This one has original engine and a good amateur restoration:







A Wartburg




Older cars prior to the forties exist in limited numbers:

[RDMcG]

Viva la France!…there are a few here:






I THINK these are French but stand to be corrected:






A Renault Juvaquatre

Edited by RDMcG on Monday 20th April 17:57

[RDMcG]

As would be expected,there are still Russian cars on the streets:

-Chaika Limousine previously used by Castro, now re-engined with Mercedes diesel:





-Miscellaneous Volgas, Moskvitches and SUVs

[RDMcG]

There are lots of Jeeps, almost all re-engined, plus many American utilities:

-1954 Willys:









and then there are the Cuban Creations:












Some stretch limos and station cars can also be found:

[RDMcG]

Station wagons were very useful and many have survived:













Not sure is this is American or British..Farnham Estate?

[RDMcG]

Pristine Fiat 500

Fiat 1100


Seems Italian but not sure


Fiat 126 with a Morris Minor behind




Alfa is rustier than it looks:

Edited by RDMcG on Monday 20th April 17:38

[RDMcG]

Trucks come from everywhere, lots of old American and Russian vehicles:







Not sure what this is now

[RDMcG]

This oddball I could not identify..Opel maybe?? Saw several of them

[Nickyboy]

Christ a lot of those look like bd survivors of road crashes

[RDMcG]

Nickyboy said:

Christ a lot of those look like bd survivors of road crashes

Very few car have original drive trains. The Cubans are amazing at using non-original stuff and making it work. Was in a '56 Mercury with a Lada engine and a four speed floor shift....bodies are modified as required.

[RDMcG]

What you do not see a lot of are Coupes. Presumably have neither the utility of a wagon nor the open air tourist draw of the droptops.

I did see a Studebaker and a Chrysler and a couple of others. Wonder what happened the rest?....

[Db1904]

Awesome pics, thanks for sharing! Remember watching a programme a while ago about Cuban cars and as stated, they're far from standard. Many have lada Diesel engines and are seriously bodged, they do seem to do wonders with what they have though, saw a guy cutting asbestos for re-lining brake shoes, no mask or anything! A place I've always wanted to visit as it's deeply fascinating!

[RDMcG]

Db1904 said:

Awesome pics, thanks for sharing! Remember watching a programme a while ago about Cuban cars and as stated, they're far from standard. Many have lada Diesel engines and are seriously bodged, they do seem to do wonders with what they have though, saw a guy cutting asbestos for re-lining brake shoes, no mask or anything! A place I've always wanted to visit as it's deeply fascinating!

My advice is to not put off the day for too long, avoid the resorts, and stay right in Havana, which is a bit of a shambles, but full of character. I go every year to replenish my cigar humidor, and have developed a lot of affection for the place. Cubans are very friendly and helpful people in my experience.

[Axionknight]

Superb - I enjoyed rifling through those, thanks for sharing!

[J4CKO]

Enjoyed that, thanks !

Italian but not sure looks like a Fiat 132.

[RDMcG]

J4CKO said:

Enjoyed that, thanks !

Italian but not sure looks like a Fiat 132.

I ws thinking Fiat myself...but it was unbadged as i recall.

[Wolff]

one more for you was hoping you had a more up to date pic (this is from 2011)