Great Old Cars From Cuba (vehicles, best, selling, engines)

[CarolinaWoman]

If Cuba actually opened up and we started free trade with them ... they could get rich selling classic cars to the USA.

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[happynoodleboycey]

Indeed, they've got some wonderful old cars over there. It's the same in Africa too. My dad used to live in Zimbabwe and he says that when he was there there were loads of old cars on the roads that you just don't see in the west any more. I think it's mainly to do with the extremely hot, dry weather. Lots of old cars were put out of action in the west because of rust but in countries where rain is not a problem and money is tight they just keep driving them until they start falling apart.

[ferretkona]

Originally Posted by CarolinaWoman

If Cuba actually opened up and we started free trade with them ...

Actually it is us, we have a trade embargo on them.

[mikeyyc]

The cars are mostly shells. Mechanically they very rarely resemble what they were nearly 50 years ago.

Best example, I was in a pristine 56 Olds Rocket 88, converted to a Hino diesel.

They run because of the ingenuity of the people that own them, and that they are made from great steel.

They're good from afar, but far from good, and wouldn't hold a lot of collector value.

[Dd714]

Collectors look for "survivors", not rat traps held together by chicken wire. A shell of a antique car with lack of rust will bring some value, but really the big money comes from original engines, number's matching, etc. As someone said, after these many years, they probably have been modified with junkyard surplus checkoslovakian engines or something.

It's very expensive and difficult to import a car as well.

[gymbuff]

^^You guys are absolutely right. A relative who came from Cuba a few months ago told me about all the "inventions" people do to their cars just to keep them running. Kerosene contraptions, Moskovitch and/or Lada engine swaps, you name it. Cosmetically though they might very well be original. I know for a fact many of them still have plates from the 50's and earlier.

[AlfredB1979]

Watch for rust.

Quite a few have probably been rolled into the water and tried to make a trip across the Florida Strait...

[WestCobb]

There might still be a market there for body parts that can be used for remodel projects of other vehicles with original engines.

[Wilson513]

There is more classic car value at the Podunk Kansas Elks Club Car Show than in all of Cuba.