Holguin for Ford

These beautiful and beautifully maintained cars are so characteristic of Cuba.

Big character.

Most of them, though, are rather like the story of the Russian knife.

One day a boy is given a beautiful knife by his grandfather. He treasures and uses it for years until the handle finally breaks, but it is such a good knife that the handle is replaced and he uses the knife again until the blade wears out. This is replaced in turn and this carries on throughout his life. On his deathbed he gestures to his wife who bends down to his face to hear his final words. "What do you want, husband?" she asks. "Please, before I die," he whispers, " let me hold one last time the beautiful knife that my grandfather gave me."

Euphemama to taxi driver: Ooooh, all these lovely old cars. It is so nice to see them still running after all these years.

Taximan to Euphemama: Yes they are beautiful, but most of them now have new Japanese engines.

Eupemama: Well that's not very authentic, is it!

Hardly a body panel or pop-rivet actually remains of the original cars. There is a huge industry around manufacturing replacement parts for engines as well as bodywork and suspension. The cars were originally left by departing American businesspeople after the Glorious Revolution, and ownership assumed by their chauffeurs and their decendents.

They are beautiful though