Classic Cars of Cuba
15 Month Calendar
1952 Chevrolet in Vinales - the tobacco growing area of Cuba
NOVEMBER 2014 30
October 2014 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
27
28
29
30
31
26
Labour Day
1953 Chevrolet parked outside an open air butcher shop in Cojimar - North West Cuba
DECEMBER 2014
November 2014 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
7
THURSDAY
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
30
1
3
4
5
6
9
10
11
12
13
16
17
18
19
23
24
25
26
2
1
Marlborough Anniversary
7
8
14
15
20
21
22
27
28
29
Canterbury Anniversary
This Big Red Convertible had to be included in my Top 10 collection, for the memory of the 'ride'. One hot April evening, with eight other energetic young tourists, squeezed in tighter than sardines in a can, I cruised like a teenager, through the streets of Vinales, to the blaring noise of The Barbie Song. A tiny NZ flag waving at me from the dash. Memories such as this stay alive and hilarious forever. The speed, noise and laughter - exhilarating!! Enroute to the Finca la Chiquitica Organic Farm - an astonishingly immaculate acreage, set within a jaw dropping vista. A young farmer explained the efficient workings of their organic permaculture farm, where children and tourists are regularly educated on the farming philosophies of this citrus grove with vegetables, bananas and animals all thriving- healthy and abundant. As the sun set, we dined by candlelight, to the sound of a live 4 piece Cuban Jazz band. The tender lamb, pork and fresh vegetable dishes had to be one of the most delicious meals I have ever experienced. Mr Casanova and the Ford returned to collect us and he wasn't even a Taxi, just a young man eager to make some cash from a noisy bunch of tourists.
1958 Ford Goldflash 2 door Convertible
JANUARY 2015
December 2014 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
4
5
6
7
1
2
3
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
26
27
28
29
30
Westland Anniversary Chatham Islands Anniversary
25
Christmas Day
School Term 4 Ends
Boxing Day
1946 Ford V8 2 door convertible roaming the streets of Havana - the Capital City of Cuba
February 2015
January 2015 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
FRIDAY 1
SATURDAY
New Year’s Day
Day After New Year’s Day
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
19
20
21
22
23
24
26
27
28
29
30
31
18
25
Wellington Anniversary
Auckland Anniversary School Term 1 Begins
1953 Chevy 2 door Coupe parked outside ‘The Castle’ in Cojimar, a seaside town near Havana, famous for inspiring the famous American author Ernest Hemingway in his novel ‘The Old Man and the Sea’
March 2015
February 2015 SUNDAY
MONDAY 1
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
FRIDAY
2
3
4
5
8
9
10
11
15
16
17
22
23
24
Nelson Anniversary
1
SATURDAY 6
7
12
13
14
18
19
20
21
25
26
27
28
Waitangi Day
A line-up of 1950’s American Classic cars in the streets of Viega, the old part of Havana city
April 2015
March 2015 SUNDAY
MONDAY 1
8
15
22
29
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
1
2
3
4
8
9
10
11
5
6
7
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
10
11
12
13
14
16
17
18
19
20
21
23
24
25
26
27
28
30
31
Taranaki Anniversary
Otago Anniversary
1954 Plymouth in Havana
May 2015 31
April 2015 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY 1
8
9
4
5
6
7
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
FRIDAY 2
2
SATURDAY
School Term 1 Ends
Good Friday
3
4
Daylight Saving Ends
Easter Monday
Southland Anniversary
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
20
21
22
23
24
27
28
29
30
5
19
26
6
3
1
School Term 2 Begins
ANZAC Day Observed
25
ANZAC Day
1946 Oldsmobile with a ‘54 Cadillac in background
June 2015
May 2015 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
7
THURSDAY
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
FRIDAY
31
1
SATURDAY 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1950 Plymouth beside a street vendor in Havana
July 2015
June 2015 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
1
2
3
4
8
9
10
11
5
6
7
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Queen’s Birthday
1951 Chevrolet Convertible with a 1955 Pontiac in front of the house where the iconic Che Guevara once lived
August 2015
July 2015 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
30
31
2
3
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
FRIDAY
1
1
SATURDAY 3
4
School Term 2 Ends
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
20
21
22
23
24
25
27
28
29
30
31
19
26
School Term 3 Begins
Early 50’s Chevrolet parked in front of a garage in Vinales
September 2015
August 2015 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
1
2
3
4
5
8
9
10
11
12
6
7
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
1948 Chevy outside ‘The Castle’ in Cojimar
October 2015 1
September 2015 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
28
29
30
27
Daylight Saving Starts
South Canterbury Anniversary
School Term 3 Ends
1954 V8 Dodge 2 door Coupe (quite rare)
November 2015
October 2015 SUNDAY
MONDAY
4
11
18
25
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
2
3
5
6
7
8
9
10
12
13
14
15
16
17
19
20
21
22
23
24
26
27
28
29
30
31
School Term 4 Begins
Labour Day
Hawke’s Bay Anniversary
Three Taxis cruising the ‘Prado’ in Havana; 1956 Dodge, 1946 Ford and an early ‘50’s Plymouth (perhaps)
December 2015
November 2015 SUNDAY
MONDAY 1
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
3
4
5
8
9
10
11
12
15
16
17
18
22
23
24
25
29
30
Chatham Islands Anniversary Westland Anniversary
2
3
4
5
8
9
10
11
12
6
7
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
FRIDAY
2
Marlborough Anniversary
1
SATURDAY 6
7
13
14
19
20
21
26
27
28
Canterbury Anniversary
1958 Oldsmobile awaiting the Bride for a typical large Cuban Wedding
January 2016
December 2015 SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
5
6
7
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
SATURDAY
1
2
3
4
5
11
12
18
19
7
8
9
10
13
14
15
16
17
20
21
22
23
24
28
29
30
31
Boxing Day Observed
2
4
FRIDAY
6
27
1 3
School Term 4 Ends
25
Christmas Day
26
Boxing Day
Hola ! I do hope you have been inspired by the scenes and cars featured in this calendar. Forgive me for any errors made in attempting to name them. I have employed extremely passionate car enthusiasts to assist in this ‘cos unless a car had ‘Pontiac’ spread right across the front of it, I was a whole lot of ignorance, I’m afraid. Unfortunately, sometimes it is difficult to tell a ‘53 from a ‘54 because of ‘foreign’ additions and modifications. I will leave the final verdict to you to rewrite the sub-titles, if needed. If you get a thrill from the ‘rumble’ of a good Chevy, and memories come flooding back of ‘the good old days’, when a feed of fish and chips could be bought for a shilling – then maybe Cuba is the place for you? It is a country not without confusion and controversy, but you learn to shake your head and carry on. As a sole traveller, a woman past her prime, lugging a large camera day and night throughout the crowded streets of Havana (the capital) – I never felt unsafe. People were friendly, despite my lack of Spanish, communication was easy, in the form of a smile, with hand gestures and hugs never going astray. They were that kind of people. To explain a little of the background of this somewhat complicated country let me give you a short insight into the history. In the late 1950’s the underdog, sick of the constant struggle to live, rose up to overcome the few fat cats, who ruled the country. This is when the iconic and cult -like figure of Che Guevara rose to fame, as he led the people into a Civil War, the result of which saw him killed and Fidel Castro take over Cuban leadership. Communism ensued with Russia adopting control, realising their new gained strategic position (Cuba is situated a mere 90 miles from the Florida coast of the United States). The early 1960’s became a nail biting time as Kruschev and John F Kennedy embarked on a Cold War. The result being the Cuban Missile crisis. Russia placed missiles and nuclear weapons on the cliff face above the city of Havana -(the remnants still remain as a fearsome reminder) – straight towards the USA! This obviously riled America and on October 19, 1960, the United States issued a trade embargo against Cuba. One of the embargoes’ many negative effects being that new cars stopped rolling into the island nation. And, until 2014 these stringent trade restrictions have remained, making life very difficult for the ordinary Cuban. Believe it or not, no new parts have been shipped to Cuba to service their vehicles, since the early 1960’s, and they currently run on the sole ingenuity and philosophy that sees every man becoming a backyard mechanic. Cars become generational, from grandfather to father, to son and if she’s lucky the 4th generation daughter may get her hands on a reasonably rumpty and rusty 1953 Chevy! Thus developed the ingenious art of keeping vehicles road worthy (or in many cases unroadworthy, but still functioning, albeit with a puff of smoke and a roar). The Cuban government also cracked down on the purchase of
cars, only those that were already on the island at the time of the embargo could be freely traded and sold amongst its citizens. All others who wished to buy a car had to secure special permission. There are about 60,000 classic American cars in Cuba now, which gives the streets a unique atmosphere of being ‘stuck in a time warp’. Cars have become a mish-mash of different parts, swapping grills, emblems and hubcaps until it is difficult to tell a ’54 Chevy from a ’59! However with the leader President Raoul Castro (Fidel’s brother), wanting to encourage private enterprise and lifting many of the bans that have been in place for decades, owners of classic cars may not be so motivated to maintain their vehicles..preferring to get with the ‘real’ world and trade up to a Hyundai. Oh, if they only knew how truly lucky they are. There is not even a McDonalds or fast food chain anywhere ….HEAVEN!! Although many of Cuba’s vintage cars are just plain dangerous (almost none have seat belts), oil-belching, smoky pollutants held together with duct tape and prayers. …. the atmosphere, because of this... the consequent and constant roar of motors up and down the streets, is heaven also! Many vehicles, especially those in the taxi service, have been converted to accept replacement engines, usually Soviet diesel engines. Fortunately, this is a modification that gives a car a new lease on life. The practical limits of engine longevity, scarcity of replacement parts, and the high cost of fuel in post Cold War (roughly $1.14 U.S. a litre 2014), has made the Cuban somewhat entrepreneurial, every 2nd vehicle seems to be a ‘taxi’, legally or not! Beginning in January 2014, the Cuban government began lifting the sanctions, allowing people to freely buy cars if they wished. While the United States continues to ban automobile exports to Cuba, (but change is imminent)- manufacturers in other countries, such as France’s Peugeot, and the Russian Ladas, have no such restrictions. Unfortunately, the Cuban government has instituted staggering mark-ups on the prices of these vehicles, to the point where a new car ranges from US$91,000 to $262,000. A huge shock and disappointment for anyone excited at the prospect of new car ownership. The average Cuban earns only about $25 CC a month, putting such expenditure so far out of reach as to be unimaginable. As a consequence I think the current, delightful situation shall remain for a few years yet. I have fallen in love with the country and intend returning there as soon as life commitments allow – it is that appealing. So, fellow car lovers – Cuba is a ‘must do’...put it on your bucket list but don’t hold out too long, cos Time does not wait for Anyone!!! Unfortunately!!! Adios, Liz Cadogan
2016 Calendar January S
M
T
W
February T
31
F
S
1
2
S
MARCH
M
T
W
T
F
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
S
M
APRIL
T
W
T
F
S
1
2
3
4
5
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
14
15
16
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18
19
20
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
28
29
27
28
29
30
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
May
June
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
M
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
5
6
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
12
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
T
W
T
F
S
S
1
2
3
4
31
7
8
9
10
11
3
4
5
6
13
14
16
17
18
19
10
11
12
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
17
18
27
28
29
30
24
25
September S
M
T
W
July M
October
T
F
S
S
M
1
2
3
30
31
T
W
T
W
August T
F
S
1
2
7
8
9
13
14
15
19
20
21
26
27
28
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
1
2
3
4
5
6
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8
9
10
11
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13
16
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
22
23
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
29
30
28
29
30
31
T
F
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1
2
3
November T
F
S
S
M
1
December
T
W
T
F
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1
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4
5
S
M
T
W
4
5
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Caption
Classic Cars of Cuba
Hola !
RRP $24.99
Cover Photo: A couple of classic cars rumbling through the streets of Havana
I do hope you have been inspired by the scenes and cars featured in this calendar. Forgive me for any errors made in attempting to name them. I have employed extremely passionate car enthusiasts to assist in this ‘cos unless a car had ‘Pontiac’ spread right across the front of it, I was a whole lot of ignorance, I’m afraid. Unfortunately, sometimes it is difficult to tell a ‘53 from a ‘54 because of ‘foreign’ additions and modifications. I will leave the final verdict to you to rewrite the sub-titles, if needed. If you get a thrill from the ‘rumble’ of a good Chevy, and memories come flooding back of ‘the good old days’, when a feed of fish and chips could be bought for a shilling – then maybe Cuba is the place for you? It is a country not without confusion and controversy, but you learn to shake your head and carry on. As a sole traveller, a woman past her prime, lugging a large camera day and night throughout the crowded streets of Havana (the capital) – I never felt unsafe. People were friendly, despite my lack of Spanish, communication was easy, in the form of a smile, with hand gestures and hugs never going astray. They were that kind of people. To explain a little of the background of this somewhat complicated country let me give you a short insight into the history. In the late 1950’s the underdog, sick of the constant struggle to live, rose up to overcome the few fat cats, who ruled the country. This is when the iconic and cult -like figure of Che Guevara rose to fame, as he led the people into a Civil War, the result of which saw him killed and Fidel Castro take over Cuban leadership. Communism ensued with Russia adopting control, realising their new gained strategic position (Cuba is situated a mere 90 miles from the Florida coast of the United States). The early 1960’s became a nail biting time as Kruschev and John F Kennedy embarked on a Cold War. The result being the Cuban Missile crisis. Russia placed missiles and nuclear weapons on the cliff face above the city of Havana -(the remnants still remain as a fearsome reminder) – straight towards the USA! This obviously riled America and on October 19, 1960, the United States issued a trade embargo against Cuba. One of the embargoes’ many negative effects being that new cars stopped rolling into the island nation. And, until 2014 these stringent trade restrictions have remained, making life very difficult for the ordinary Cuban. Believe it or not, no new parts have been shipped to Cuba to service their vehicles, since the early 1960’s, and they currently run on the sole ingenuity and philosophy that sees every man becoming a backyard mechanic. Cars become generational, from grandfather to father, to son and if she’s lucky the 4th generation daughter may get her hands on a reasonably rumpty and rusty 1953 Chevy! Thus developed the ingenious art of keeping vehicles road worthy (or in many cases unroadworthy, but still functioning, albeit with a puff of smoke
Photography by Liz Cadogan © www.lizcadoganphotos.co.nz www.facebook.com/lizcadoganphotos lizcadogan@xtra.co.nz