The island of misfit cars.

[Gary 351C]

My stepmother just returned from two weeks in Cuba.

[Monk]

Going to Cuba is on my bucket list.

There was a show, can't remember when, that did a segment
on all these cars in Cuba.......and how creative they are keeping them running as parts
are available to them.

Great photos.

[pdub]

Going to Cuba is on my bucket list.

There was a show, can't remember when, that did a segment
on all these cars in Cuba.......and how creative they are keeping them running as parts
are available to them.

Great photos.

Yeah, I saw that show too and I can't remember when, either. Great photos! Stepmom has to be a gearhead to take that many great shots while on the move.

I thought Americans are prohibited from traveling to Cuba?

[DanStokes]

I'm thinkin' that as trade opens up a bit between the USA and Cuba (assuming that happens) that there will be a market in importing these old rides - maybe trade a new one for these old guys. At lest I hope so - love to see them back in the 'States.

Dan

[oldsman496]

As I have read, most of these cars will be running on Russian and Polish diesel engines that had been removed from military vehicles. The bushings, seals, and such were unavailable for the american cars and the folks on the island substituted the drivetrains from the only stuff they could get parts for.... military vehicles.

But what a treasue trove of pristine body parts.... the land where rust never goes!

[starterguy]

But what a treasue trove of pristine body parts.... the land where rust never goes!

There is far more rust there than you think. I spent my honeymoon in Cuba, as a Canadian we always had good relations with Cuba so travel is not restricted. I saw way too much cool stuff as well as stuff I never knew existed

Getting stuff out of Cuba is harder than you want to guess. Even though we trade with them getting cars out is virtually impossible, many guys have tried here to no avail. If cars could get out eventually there is definately some late fifties iron I would like to get

[Scott Liggett]

There is far more rust there than you think. I spent my honeymoon in Cuba, as a Canadian we always had good relations with Cuba so travel is not restricted. I saw way too much cool stuff as well as stuff I never knew existed

Getting stuff out of Cuba is harder than you want to guess. Even though we trade with them getting cars out is virtually impossible, many guys have tried here to no avail. If cars could get out eventually there is definately some late fifties iron I would like to get

It's a relatively small island surrounded by salt water. The key word here is salt. You can sure tell the cars here in LA that spent their life by the beach. I hope the cars will be there and not all get shipped out if the Cubans are ever allowed to get new ones. It will lose some of it's charm.

[groucho]

Going to Cuba is on my bucket list.

There was a show, can't remember when, that did a segment
on all these cars in Cuba.......and how creative they are keeping them running as parts
are available to them.

Great photos.

Yes, Import motors in American cars, 6 and 8 lug truck/military axles sticking out of the 1/4 panels on passenger cars, etc

[Huskinhano]

Man, I'm going to have to look up my relatives there that we haven't been in contact the last 100+ years. My family fled the French revolution and some of them ended up in Cuba. My grandfather left Cardanas in the late 1800's to early 1900's.

Wanna buy a French miltary rifle? Only dropped once *G*

[SuperBuickGuy]

Wanna buy a French miltary rifle? Only dropped once *G*

easy to tell if it's French, has a white flag on the end of it

[Deaf Bob]

easy to tell if it's French, has a white flag on the end of it

And never been fired.....

[Thumpin455]

Come on, the French won some wars... It was more than 100 years ago, but they still won. Other than Paris its a nice place.

Wait, a guy with German heritage defending the French? WTH?

[DanStokes]

People forget that without LaFayette and other French support we would be speaking English today. Oh wait...... I mean ENGLISH, not American. We eternally owe them a debt - and it was their skill on the battlefield that got us here.

But in modern times the French are more interested in loving than in fighting and I can't say as I blame them. It's a LOT more fun!

Dan