It’s Not Easy To Look This Good
Cuba’s Incredible Car Culture
You see pristine fuchsia and aqua classic cars cruising along the Melacon, the strip that runs along Havana’s coast, and it seems like you’ve stepped back in time.
But how have the ’57 Chevrolets lasted for over half a century? When these same models have faded out and been replaced by modern versions around the world why have they lasted in Cuba?
Talking with taxi drivers, mechanics and salesmen, we found that the answer lies in Cubans’ fierce pride that is nothing is unfixable or wasted.
As a response to difficulty accessing replacement parts and newer models, Cuban mechanics found ways to make do with what they had. They invented and pulled parts from other engines, molding the classic vehicles into resilient beauties that have lasted through the ages.
What’s equally fascinating is that this dedication to the classics began in the fifties when Cuba was the leading importer of American cars. In 1957, Chevrolet chose to release their new model before an adoring crowd in Havana, and more than 40,000 people came to see the car unveiled for the very first time.
Looking back, it seems fitting that the Chevrolet was debuted in Cuba where the legacy of the cars would thrive.
Today, in a changing economy, vehicles move more freely in Cuba and the people are maximizing their pastel cars to fuel another thread of creativity in the economy of transportation.
We’re left wondering how the cars will continue to dazzle us beyond their sleek shine and good looks. Check out this episode of Startup Cuba to see how Cubans are maximizing the classics in their evolving economy.
