The Ford Barn

mercman from oz · 10-10-2018, 01:28 AM

It is amazing to see what these guys have to do to keep these great old American cars on the roads. Have a look at this Video which is very interesting. Some of the prized Convertibles started out as Sedans with the roof removed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJPqe1baowA

darrell · 10-10-2018, 05:50 AM

all use 4 cyl,diesels.

Ford56 · 10-10-2018, 06:39 AM

I've seen video of this type of Cuba before; always interesting. Thx for posting.

V8COOPMAN · 10-10-2018, 07:34 AM

A couple more you wouldn't expect.....! DD

rotorwrench · 10-11-2018, 12:47 PM

They tend to have to modify stuff out of necessity. Some mods I've seen were less than sanitary but they also tend to do what they can afford as well. A lot of old cobble jobs down there if you really look at them. Better that than nothing at all though. Some of those old cars have been in the same family for several generations.

40 Deluxe · 10-11-2018, 04:55 PM

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Some of them may have shiny paint, but that's as far as it goes. The bodies are mostly Bondo and patch metal from who knows what source. Many have Russian Diesel tractor engines and whatever parts from any source whatsoever have been put to use, out of necessity. It reminds me of similar repairs made to cars in this country during the Depression. People without jobs and few job prospects have a lot of time on their hands, but little else. So they "improvise and overcome" with whatever is at hand or can be scrounged, and away they go! These Cuban cars are nowhere near show quality, nor worth re-importing!

Dobie Gillis · 10-11-2018, 07:47 PM

I'll venture that most owners wouldn't sell anyway. Even if someone paid stupid money the Cuban government would confiscate most or all of it and they'd be out of a car and have nothing to show for it.

darrell · 10-11-2018, 08:13 PM

im surprised that the bodies are as good as they are.most use japanese diesels.funny to look under the hood of say a 54 cad and see a 4 cylinder.it kind of takes away from the whole thing with the original motors gone.they are a lash up affair.

mercman from oz · 10-12-2018, 12:52 AM

Check out the mix of old and new in the street scene. They really love the old American cars. They are part of Cuban Culture.

scicala · 10-12-2018, 10:29 AM

Thanks to Castro, they don't have a lot of choices.

Sal

Herman Munster · 10-12-2018, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dobie Gillis

I'll venture that most owners wouldn't sell anyway. Even if someone paid stupid money the Cuban government would confiscate most or all of it and they'd be out of a car and have nothing to show for it.

You can browse some ads in the Cuban version of their craigslist here: https://www.revolico.com/autos/carros/
You're not kidding about the stupid money being asked. 1 CUC is equal to 1 USD!

I haven't browsed this site for several years. The asking prices have really gone up, at least double since 5 or so years ago.

spdster · 10-18-2018, 05:37 PM

I watched a program that said tracking down legal ownership of the cars in Cuba is very difficult.

darrell · 10-18-2018, 06:35 PM

there is enough of the old cuba left to see what it once was.it must have been something else in its day if you had money that is.not one coat of paint nor one brick placed on another since 1959.except for the resorts which are built with foreign money.only for them the people would starve.i was surprised to see beggars in havana.young people always get by its the older ones you notice they have a look of defeat on their faces.theyve given up.its not a pretty sight.what gets me is people who go down there and ill ask them what they thought of it oh great place friendly people a great time they never left the resort.

10-10-2018, 01:28 AM	#1
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,361	Old American cars in Cuba It is amazing to see what these guys have to do to keep these great old American cars on the roads. Have a look at this Video which is very interesting. Some of the prized Convertibles started out as Sedans with the roof removed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJPqe1baowA

10-10-2018, 05:50 AM	#2
darrell Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: p.e.i. Posts: 1,060	Re: Old American cars in Cuba all use 4 cyl,diesels.

10-10-2018, 06:39 AM	#3
Ford56 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 159	Re: Old American cars in Cuba I've seen video of this type of Cuba before; always interesting. Thx for posting.

10-10-2018, 07:34 AM	#4
V8COOPMAN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON Posts: 11,109	Re: Old American cars in Cuba A couple more you wouldn't expect.....! DD __________________ *Click Links Below* __ ▼ *'35-'36 W/8BA & MECHANICAL FAN* *T5 W/TORQUE TUBE*

10-11-2018, 12:47 PM	#5
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,426	Re: Old American cars in Cuba They tend to have to modify stuff out of necessity. Some mods I've seen were less than sanitary but they also tend to do what they can afford as well. A lot of old cobble jobs down there if you really look at them. Better that than nothing at all though. Some of those old cars have been in the same family for several generations.

10-11-2018, 04:55 PM	#6
40 Deluxe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: now Kuna, Idaho Posts: 3,779	Re: Old American cars in Cuba Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Some of them may have shiny paint, but that's as far as it goes. The bodies are mostly Bondo and patch metal from who knows what source. Many have Russian Diesel tractor engines and whatever parts from any source whatsoever have been put to use, out of necessity. It reminds me of similar repairs made to cars in this country during the Depression. People without jobs and few job prospects have a lot of time on their hands, but little else. So they "improvise and overcome" with whatever is at hand or can be scrounged, and away they go! These Cuban cars are nowhere near show quality, nor worth re-importing!

10-11-2018, 07:47 PM	#7
Dobie Gillis Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Middle TN Posts: 1,060	Re: Old American cars in Cuba I'll venture that most owners wouldn't sell anyway. Even if someone paid stupid money the Cuban government would confiscate most or all of it and they'd be out of a car and have nothing to show for it. __________________ Often wrong but never in doubt.

10-11-2018, 08:13 PM	#8
darrell Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: p.e.i. Posts: 1,060	Re: Old American cars in Cuba im surprised that the bodies are as good as they are.most use japanese diesels.funny to look under the hood of say a 54 cad and see a 4 cylinder.it kind of takes away from the whole thing with the original motors gone.they are a lash up affair.

10-12-2018, 12:52 AM	#9
mercman from oz Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 10,361	Re: Old American cars in Cuba Check out the mix of old and new in the street scene. They really love the old American cars. They are part of Cuban Culture.

10-12-2018, 10:29 AM	#10
scicala Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Detroit suburb, MI Posts: 3,704	Re: Old American cars in Cuba Thanks to Castro, they don't have a lot of choices. Sal

10-18-2018, 05:37 PM	#12
spdster Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Great White North Posts: 20	Re: Old American cars in Cuba I watched a program that said tracking down legal ownership of the cars in Cuba is very difficult.

10-18-2018, 06:35 PM	#13
darrell Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: p.e.i. Posts: 1,060	Re: Old American cars in Cuba there is enough of the old cuba left to see what it once was.it must have been something else in its day if you had money that is.not one coat of paint nor one brick placed on another since 1959.except for the resorts which are built with foreign money.only for them the people would starve.i was surprised to see beggars in havana.young people always get by its the older ones you notice they have a look of defeat on their faces.theyve given up.its not a pretty sight.what gets me is people who go down there and ill ask them what they thought of it oh great place friendly people a great time they never left the resort.