CubaPLUS Magazine

Many foreign visitors, when walking the streets of Havana, even if it is not in the Historic Center, are surprised, if someone did not tell them before, by the number of cars or old cars that circulate there and classify the city as a gigantic museum living and rolling old cars, many restored like new and working, something undoubtedly unusual and unique in the world, certainly.

A very typical feature, not only of Havana, but of all towns, we are talking about the useful and almost eternal “almendrones”, a kind of inevitable characters in our streets.

But there is more, because in Cuba there is an Automobile Museum, the official or real one, I would say. It was installed in a long-lived house from the end of the 19th century, in the Historic Center of Havana, very interesting especially for lovers of local curiosities, as well as unique cars or cars with history.

Not far from the symbolic Plaza de Armas, the Old Havana Automobile Museum has two exhibition rooms where old and interesting cars or cars are displayed, some by the person who owned them, others by the technology they are equipped with, novel at the time of release, or because they were used temporarily by a historical personality.

Although nothing grand or ostentatious, this establishment treasures no more than 40 pieces, but it is worth knowing because it exhibits authentic jewels for fans or curious of that twist. There's the 1930 Cadillac V16; that was a notable advance in the universal history of the turn. Also the 1918 Ford T, of equal significance in its time and something unique like the 1930 Baby Lincoln.

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

Finally, the first car that traveled through Cuba, about 30 passenger vehicles, two rigid trucks, a hearse, seven motorcycles, a traffic light and three fuel pumps, also from a long time ago. The oldest treasures beautifully trapped in time is a car from 1905 and the most modern from 1989. Mostly American this unique exhibition includes pieces from Italy, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom.