One of the star attractions in Cuba is of
course the antiquity – the fact is, the country has suffered under trade embargoes since shartly after the
revolution in 1959.
To us, the Western visitor, the sight of row upon row of 50’s American limousines cruising the Malecon seafront is like being in a movie set. All those film noir productions with Bogey and Bacall driving cars the size of the average living room.
To Cubans it’s a symbol of their plight – being stuck in limbo while powers far more aggressive than their own government try to change their way of life through embargoes and other forms of political skulduggery.
Politics aside, these vehicles not only
provide the locals with cheap taxi rides across town, but also the promise of
much needed hard currency in a nation that is only now considering free
enterprise as a way to generate income for the masses. You can hire car and
driver for about $30-40 for an hour. I think this is good value – a taxi to
Sydney airport from where I live costs about $60 and chances are the driver
speaks worse English than a Cuban…
Anyway, most of the cars seen here are hybrid – not because they generate electricity, but, because there have been no spares available for 57 years, they comprise a mix of different bits pirated from other vehicles; diesel, petrol, Japanese, Ford, Kia, you name it, it’s thrown together to keep the vehicles going. When you start editing images of these cars, especially ones shot and HDR’d, you notice that no one panel is the same colour as another. One of the car images here looks as if the bodywork have been repaired with 10 different types of paint and body filler, the result more patchwork quilt than seamless paint job.
It's fascinating to learn how these vintage vehicles have become an integral part of Cuba's culture and history, defying the passage of time and scarcity of resources. Thank you for this engaging piece, which opened my eyes to the world of Cuba's iconic cars and also reminded me of the positive impact that Cash for Junk Car Brisbane services have on our own community.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fascinating read about 'The Inevitable Cars of Cuba'! Cuba has always been a unique destination, and its vintage car scene is truly one-of-a-kind. These classic cars tell a story of resilience and resourcefulness, as they've been lovingly maintained and kept on the road for decades. It's remarkable how cars can have such different stories and significance in various parts of the world. Whether it's the timeless classics of Cuba or the modern solutions like Cash for Cars in Ipswich, each tells a unique tale of how we interact with our vehicles and the impact they have on our lives.
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