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Toyota goes to war
Autos Camayd in Holguin was among early Toyota dealers in the western hemisphere. I've saved my favourite for last. The Asian entry in our three-continent collection is a Toyota Land Cruiser FJ25V...
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Triple Plymouths
My son Ren recently spent some time in Cuba. I didn't need to tell him to take plenty of car photos. For the next while I'll show some of the shots he has kindly shared from his trip, starting with...
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Two Buicks and a Mercury
In Havana, a 1956 Buick. Split windshield is easier to produce in Cuba.Buick Special coupe from 1952, with some added Oldsmobile trim. Just right in red and white: Big four-door hardtop is a 1957...
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Little Britain
Considering its perilous state in the 1980s, the British auto industry has experienced a remarkable resurgence. Yes, its marques today are foreign-owned, but as Ronnie Schreiber reports at The Truth...
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A painterly picture
Chrysler products for foreign markets in the 1950s blended Dodge and Plymouth styling. The once bright, now soft shades of this 1954 Dodge or Plymouth sedan – it's a Chrysler export model, so it's...
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Days numbered for Cuba's colourful plates
Possible prototypes of Cuba's new markers. Images: www.kubafotos.com For a decade, Cuba's colour-coded licence plates have been a highly visible part of the island's automotive scene. But this...
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Two at rest, one at work
Chevy in mid-repair is a '52 Styleline; Olds is a '56 Holiday, or maybe a Super 88.Call that a cab! Chevrolet truck from '53 or '53 collects passengers.
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Memo to Mercedes: Miguel needs some help
Miguel Llorente in Cuba. Miguel Llorente, the young adventurer who tracked down a Mercedes-Benz Gullwing and other exotic cars in Cuba, has had a close call in Colombia. Miguel was driving his...
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He met a Čezeta
Photographed by Ren Bostelaar. For more on the Čezeta, see Another Scooter Sighting.
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Slide With The Tide
Where I grew up, grabbing the bumper of a passing car and hitching a ride along a snow-packed street was considered great, if rather risky, sport. Not half as risky, however, as a Havana hobby...
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Another driver detained
In Cuba, prepare to encounter a broad variety of fellow road-users. Elie Raffoul, a 41-year-old from Canada, appears to be the latest visitor to to learn about the potentially severe consequences...
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Innocent as charged
Though a regular visitor to Cuba, Elie Raffoul says he was unaware of the risks of driving on the island. He's certainly aware of them now (see previous post). Canada's Foreign Affairs department...
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U.S. warns of driving risks in Cuba
Two Americans jailed, five others cannot leave island, U.S. government says. It's not just Canadian visitors finding themselves in trouble with Cuban authorities because of traffic accidents on the...
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Chryslers in Cuba
Three more shots from Ren Bostelaar. He does seem drawn to Chrysler products!Sky-themed Dodge is an export model from 1955.This 1954 Chrysler is missing the chrome that would allow us to identify it by...
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Thumping good '56 Rambler
Inboard headlamps are just one of the '56 Rambler's distinctive styling cues. The owner of this 1956 Rambler Custom spends most of his day driving a a more modern Skoda Octavia Combi taxi cab. But...
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Harbour duty
CARISTAS friend Tony Robertson shares this image of an MGA in Havana. On behalf of fans the world over of the graceful roadster produced by the British Motor Corp. from 1955 to 1962, we thank...
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Fiat Spider with a new tin top
Also from Tony Robertson are these shots of a Fiat 1100 TV Spider with hardtop roof that clearly was adapted from some other car. The Fiat looks rather awkward in side view, though no more awkward,...
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The Hershey train
Cuba's Hershey electric train runs between Matanzas and Havana. People advised me not to try it. It will be late or won't show up at all, one Cuban told me. Or it will break down midway through my...
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The Hershey train II
Pantograph assembly: Hershey Cuban Railway started with steam but soon went electric. My taxi driver collects me at 7 a.m. and soon we are at the Hershey Station, a long building with open sides and...
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The Hershey train III
The engineer is more interesting to watch than the scenery. We clatter into motion, swaying from side to side like a tired guajiro. From below, steel wheels thump acknowledgement of the welds in the...
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