MonoHavana - An open-air automobile museum

29 days ago

Good morning, #Monomad friends

Welcome to my #Monomad Challenge

Anyone who has been to Cuba has certainly been impressed by the parking lot. As a result of the Cuban Revolution, Castro lifted an embargo on the US, which made it impossible to import American cars and mechanical parts. For this very reason, it is now more than common to see real museum pieces, dating back to before the embargo, circulating on the streets of Havana at the cost of repairs made with parts from other cars, or repaired parts. These photographs were taken in 2010, months before the Cuban government legalized the purchase and sale of used cars dating from after 1959.
In December 2013, the Cuban government opened up the possibility for Cubans to buy new cars from state-owned dealerships, and in 2020 the measure was extended to make it possible to sell or trade in convertible currency (source).

What struck me most about Havana more than 10 years ago was the variety of materials and vehicles used, many of them with little or no safety conditions.