Havana: The Heaven and Hell of Classic Cars
Reflections of the 1950s
Crumbling hotels, Cuban cigars, and classic cars. These are many of the first things that come to mind when one will first begin to conjure up images of the sprawling city of Havana. This Gomorrah of American sin received heavy investments in the earlier half of the 20th century to be home to swanky casinos, top class entertainment, and elegant mansions. What was not foreseen was that the greed had reached a tipping point inciting a Marxist revolution in the country.
Since Fidel’s rise to power, all that was left of this American colony slowly turned to ruin. The gilded halls of luxurious resorts have faded and rust has built up on the once colorful muscle cars which roared down the Havana streets. History has created many myths which surround Cuba like a storm. Images of dictatorships and famine circle around this island country. While the United States typically has a tendency to portray countries with opposing political views as monsters, how much truth is there to this tropical dystopia we have often been informed about on the news?
You can read more about Cuba’s classic cars here!
An American’s Playground
Despite years of being isolated by the United States, Americans have continued to have a fascination with all things Cuban. Cigars are looked at as being as good as gold in the States, with people’s eyes glowing up at the mere mention of this highly coveted tobacco. Just as famous as the tree trunk sized cigars are the many classic cars which still call Havana’s streets their own.
More so than any other country in the world, the United States is a car culture. With various shows and exhibitions around the country, enthusiasts will always jump at the chance to parade their refurbished vintage cars and ogle at other classic relics. It is no wonder that the American’s attention would always gravitate to Havana, a city that hasn’t changed much after the expulsion of the former regime and United States opportunists. While in the US classic cars are seldom seen on the road, rumors of an island haven where these vintage beasts for over 6 decades have continued to drive up and down colonial streets tickles the American’s imagination.
Jump-starting Tourism
Aligning with much of his political platform and slogans, Obama brought a fresh air of hope to this Caribbean island nation. With enthusiasm and wide open eyes, Cubans looked forward to closer ties with their northern brothers as well as change at home. Unfortunately, many of these hopes were crushed with a more hardline policy which came along with the handing over of power to Trump.
While change is not coming as fast to the island as one would have hoped, many classic cars are being pulled out from the weeds and paraded along the promenade for tourists. For the longest time, these gas guzzlers were not seen as being economically feasible for the average Cuban. It was only with the gradual rise in tourism that these kings of the road started to be rebuilt to show their former glory.
Why does Cuba have so many classic cars? Read more here!
Getting Around Havana
As common as old cars are around Havana, they are not always a Cuban’s first choice for getting around town. Most car owners would probably prefer a new, more economical vehicle, but nearly all of the modern cars on the road are owned by the crooked political elite. For locals, the only chance they would get to ride in a vintage car would be in a shared taxi or modified four-door transformed into a makeshift bus thus doubling the amount of passengers and money the driver can make.
For the average Cuban, most people will have to rely on a bicycle, pedicab, bus, or more commonly, by foot to get around. The reality for many of the drivers is that even in their heyday, these classic convertibles didn’t come cheap. One can only assume that families that drive these candy-colored vintage relics once came from money. Today, they have to rely on driving around tourists starting at 20 cuc a person.
You can read more about car tours here!
The Changing Face of Cuba
The wheels of change are slowly turning in Cuba. Despite taking a few steps back with the current American administration, Cubans are still hopeful for a brighter future. Small privately owned cafes and bed & breakfasts have begun to pop up all over the country, providing locals with more economic freedom. Before modernization and globalization arrives on the shores of Cuba, Havana still stands as the pinnacle of old 1950s charm. For decades the United State’s strict policies have only continued to mystify the allure of Havana’s cigars and romantic convertibles, thus bringing more Americans to Cuba than preventing them from visiting the Marxist republic. Over time the classic cars will be abandoned for more economical choices. For now, you will have to grab the chance to step back in time and gawk at these neon colored kings of the road.
