CubaPLUS Magazine

Yes, it's correct. Some foreign travelers think that Havana and many Cuban roads are a gigantic living and rolling museum of old cars, many restored as new and in use, and they find that fascinating, very original and nice. Something like a seal that characterizes us within the cultural and tourist values.

It is known that I speak of the useful and almost eternal "almendrones", a kind of character in our streets. But there is an Automobile Museum, the official or true one, I would say, installed in an old mansion from the end of the 19th century, in the Historic Center of the capital, also very interesting, especially for lovers of local curiosities, in addition to unique cars or cars with history.

Very close to the Plaza de Armas, the Automobile Museum of Old Havana has two exhibition halls where old and interesting cars are shown, some by the person who was their owner, others for the technology with which they are equipped, new at the time of release, or because they were temporarily used by a historical personality.

There are no more than 40 pieces in this special Museum, but it is worth visiting. There's the 1930 Cadillac V16; a remarkable advance in the universal history of cars. Also the Ford T 1918, of equal importance in its time and something unique as the 1930 Baby Lincoln.

In addition, the 1930 FIAT owned by Flor Loynaz and the 1959 Oldsmobile used by Commander Camilo Cienfuegos. The car of the unique and popular singer Benny Moré. The installation space opens the exhibition with the first horse-drawn cars, passing through those brought at the beginning of the last century, as well as other old cars from the fire department, a collection of tractors and steam engines.

Finally, there is the first bus that rolled through Cuba, about 30 passenger vehicles, two rigid trucks, a funeral car, seven motorcycles, a traffic light and three fuel pumps, also old. The oldest in the collection is from 1905 and the most modern from 1989. Most of it comes from American industry. In addition, there are pieces from Italy, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom.