Cuba ends ban on new cars

[cookie]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...-on-vintage-cars/story-e6frg6so-1226151165567

 

[Tomasso]

Lord knows the impact on the paperclip and chewing gum industries......

 

[Yeps]

How sad. This will probably bring the era of amazing cars in Cuba to an end.

 

[Atterbury Dodd]

If I can get into Cuba I am going for a trip...


[video=youtube_share;F4tjkKpMhcU]http://youtu.be/F4tjkKpMhcU[/video]

 

[Tomasso]

Cuba allows entry to citizens of all countries.

 

[HadleyH]

It's sad.... Cuba seemed so vintage because of those cars! sad sad day

 

[AtomicEraTom]

Whenever I think of Cuba, I think of all those great vintage cars rolling about. I understand they do have trouble keeping them running and in Cuba, it's very hard to find parts for repair. Still, sad to know that these street scenes are going to see change.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

After watching this, I just have to say wow. I knew there were a lot of pre-embargo American cars running around there, but just wow. To see them actually out and about is really something. I could set up a lawn chair and watch those cars drive by all day long.

If I can get into Cuba I am going for a trip...


[video=youtube_share;F4tjkKpMhcU]http://youtu.be/F4tjkKpMhcU[/video]

 

[Shangas]

The Era of the Yank Tank has come to an end...

 

[Mario]

It's sad.... Cuba seemed so vintage because of those cars! sad sad day

Of course it's sad in way, but then it's so easily said from the outside looking inside...

 

[Atterbury Dodd]

I wonder if many of the Cuban cars will be sold to buyers from the United States? I think there will be vintage cars there for quite a while, because the tourists like to see them and ride in them. But I think the percentage will go down dramatically in the next few years all the same.

 

[Edward]

How sad. This will probably bring the era of amazing cars in Cuba to an end.

That was my first thought....

Of course it's sad in way, but then it's so easily said from the outside looking inside...

... and this was my second. Probably not incomparable to our grandparents' generation, most of whom I reckon think we're nuts for preferring the old, less convenient options available to them back n the day.

I wonder if many of the Cuban cars will be sold to buyers from the United States? I think there will be vintage cars there for quite a while, because the tourists like to see them and ride in them. But I think the percentage will go down dramatically in the next few years all the same.

What I would expect to see happen would be something similar to the fate of the Trabant in East Berlin. Once everywhere, they disappeared rapidly when other options came available, before developing a cult fashion status of their own, and settling in a certain level of presence. You can now book guided Trabant-convoy tours of Berlin.

 

[C-dot]

Of course it's sad in way, but then it's so easily said from the outside looking inside...

Exactly. Here, vintage cars are a sought after novelty, but when you're unable to own a nice, new car, it sort of reverses.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

I don't think the Cuban cars can come to the US because of the Embargo, or am I wrong?

I do suppose they could be sold to Canada and brought to the US that way.

I wonder if many of the Cuban cars will be sold to buyers from the United States? I think there will be vintage cars there for quite a while, because the tourists like to see them and ride in them. But I think the percentage will go down dramatically in the next few years all the same.

 

[Tomasso]

Most of these cars are not in very good shape and wouldn't bring much on the US collector market.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

It's sad.... Cuba seemed so vintage because of those cars! sad sad day

As others here have implied, it means that vintage car dealers worldwide will now have an easier time of going to Cuba, buying up those old cars, exporting and restoring them, and making money.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Most of these cars are not in very good shape and wouldn't bring much on the US collector market.

Most, yes ... but I'll bet there are still some beauties in there somewhere. Cars that had belonged to Batista's people: wealthy plantation and factory owners, politicians, generals, etc.

 

[Tomasso]

It means that vintage car dealers worldwide will now have an easier time of going to Cuba, buying up those old cars, exporting and restoring them, and making money.

That plan doesn't actually work for most vintage models these days. In the early 90s yes, but no more.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

That plan doesn't actually work for most vintage models these days. In the early 90s yes, but no more.

Oh, that's too bad! I didn't realize it wasn't still being done. When I lived in Chile, Americans went down to Argentina and found a Bugatti (or some such car) in a Patagonian shed. They were combing every out-of-the-way corner of South America for valuable vintage cars back then. Even found a couple in Chile.

 

[Edward]

At least over here, you have to be careful these days about what you chose to restore vintage. At the peak of the market value, you could spend more on a car, but now it could be possible (especially if you're not one of the hobbyists who does all the work themselves) to spend far more restoring a car than would buy an already very tidy example. It's a shame in a way, as it means a lot of very restorable (in practical terms) cars then end up destined to be broken up for spares. There are bound to be more than a few gems there, though, if not quite the sort of trailer-queens that will never see more than a few feet of showground "road" under their own steam again.