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As President Barack Obama makes his historic visit Cuba, it is likely to see that all American travelers to Cuba quickly notice the old American cars When I came out of the airport Jose Marti in Havana this January, I felt like if I had been transported back to my youth in the 1950s Indiana a red and white 1956 Chevrolet sparkled in the parking lot, flanked by a two-tone Buick in 1954 and 1954 Plymouth blue.
But it even better when finally I spotted a version of the first car I ever owned property used 1949 Ford was mine was painted black, but it was bright blue Cuban innovation, not an original color.
The owners of these iconic beauties have made a virtue of necessity New American cars were prohibited under the trade embargo the United States since 1960. In fact, until a relaxation of the rules in 2013, Cubans were forbidden to buy cars manufactured abroad and the most wealthy Cubans can afford new cars According to my unscientific survey of the streets of Havana, buyers seem to go for Korean brands Hyundai and Kia.
President Obama met with Cuban President Raul Castro in Havana.
The President Obama made his first state visit to Cuba on Monday when he met and shook hands with President Raul Castro in Havana visit of the Obama brand.
However brilliant they may look from the outside, all the American classics are in original condition when we took a taxi picture above in a 1955 Dodge painted pink - not an original color - I detect that the engine didn t growl like a 1950 V-8 should I asked the driver if the car still had its original engine Oh no, he says proudly it has a diesel Mercedes.
Such substitutions were necessary because the embargo prohibits US automotive replacement parts and new vehicles that also led to a lot of imagination reengineering such as changing springs made for train cars in automotive sources replacement, who has not ensure the smoothest ride.
You will find the most beautifully maintained 1950s cars waiting outside the airport and the hotel taxis as they meet the crowd of more and more tourists versions Battered but repairable also serve as taxis - one the main forms of transportation for Cubans, who have little public transportation choices.
The old American classics aren t the only cars on the road Cuban Russian Lada models and Skodas of Czechoslovakia also came to the country in decades, when the Soviet Union was its main economic support Not well to begin with, they haven t aged well, either.
European Clunkers are represented, too, as a taxi outside a late night show by the Buena Vista Social Club, we took the only choice, a 1955 ramshackle Fiat He needed three attempts to start, had holes in the ground covered by cardboard and exhaust blown-out but our cheerful young driver was so proud of his quality speakers booming salsa that we could not help but enjoy the bumpy ride to the hotel.
At present, the 1950 dreammobiles came to be seen as a symbol of Cuba today they won t soon replaced by brilliant American models Although President Obama may have continued to normalize relations at its visit to Cuba, a Republican majority in Congress is unlikely to lift the time of the trade embargo soon and travel companies are in no hurry to see these popular tourist magnets disappear from the streets of Havana.
If you are a bit old car hoping that some of these Cuban classics will soon show for sale, don t get too excited Continued embargo prevents Americans to purchase a Beyond that, experts say all the ingenious spare parts keep these cars to qualify as true collectibles.
On the other hand, maybe some buyers might want to bid on them as souvenirs I interviewed an old Cuban exile on another matter when he embarks on a lyrical description of the Dodge 1954, he left behind him if he had lived to see the opportunity and had enough money, I'm sure he would have been willing to bid on an old Cuban Dodge - and the chance to relive his youth.
View all articles by Jerry Edgerton on CBS MoneyWatch Jerry Edgerton, author of Car Shopping Made Easy covered the pace of the car since Detroit companies dominated the US market The former columnist for Money magazine and matching Washington Business Week, Edgerton specializes in finding the best deals on wheels and offering advice to your last car.
Wayback Machine Classic Car Cuba CBS News, classic, cars, Cuba, President Raul Castro.