|
In the 1950’s many classic American cars flooded in
the Cuban streets. Built in limited quantities and
very expensive the cars were synonym of wealth and
social status in the country.
Cuba rated itself in a good position in Latin
America having 76% of literacy rate and third best
income per capita. In these times, monoculture like
sugar cane brought in foreign currency in the Cuban
economy together with the tourism sector booming as
well as the investment and interest of the American
in the country. Cadillac, Chevrolet or Chevy and
Ford represented a nation that enjoyed a high
standard of living. Indeed, families were happy and
proud to go out on Sundays to picnics and the youth
to show off in their shining cars. However, this
situation changed in 1959 with the end of Batista
era and the establishment of a socialist Cuba by
Fidel Castro.
The trade embargo imposed by the American prevented
the imports of the spare parts of the classic cars.
Haven’t it not been the genius of the Cuban
engineers, mechanics and artisans together all the
cars would have ended in the dumping zone in down
town Cuba. Today, the classic cars are still on the
Cuban roads shining and in bright colours being used
as taxies or for special occasions like weddings in
secular Cuba. Walking on Cuban streets is like
stepping in the ‘Salon de l’Automobile’ in the big
European or America cities with the exception that
the cars are not in the hands of collectors but in
those of workers in their earning a living. |
