TIME MACHINES - Cuban Car culture, Dec. 4-11,2023

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30,000 plus classic American cars are roaming Havana's streets, and the streets are like taking a time machine back 60 years. A treasure trove of classic American-made cars from the 1940s and 1950s of Chevrolets, Fords, Pontiacs, Buicks, Dodges, Plymouths, Studebakers, and yes, an Edsel convertible. It’s the best collection of classic American cars in the world. Join me as we look under the hood, into the mirrors, and past the headlights of Cuba’s classic car culture. 

A car in Cuba is the very symbol of independence and creates a strong sense of pride. If you own a car in Cuba, you can work for yourself, earn a good living, and travel on your schedule. Cars are often family heirlooms, passed down from generation to generation. Most of these old warhorses aren't classic American automobiles -- they're mutants. The cars' underpinnings are likely an amalgamation of homemade parts and modified pieces that enable these old cars to run correctly. Many of these classic cars have received four-cylinder transplants to live yet again! Another popular modification is a trunk-mounted propane tank, which enables the vehicle to be powered by a cheaper alternative to gasoline. Since few replacement parts exist, Cubans have turned to ingenuity and innovation by harvesting Peugeots, Ladas, and Volgas (among many others) for their imperfect parts. Still, all of them are uniquely Cuban and powered by their love for cars and the independence it signifies.

Celebrates these venerable vehicles and those who use, fix, and love them. Riding in classic cars throughout the week, we venture through and beyond touristy Havana to visit neighborhood garages and body shops where mechanical wizardry happens daily. We meet with car-owning Cubans from all walks of life to discuss the challenges of owning a vintage car in a struggling economy. Day trips outside of Havana to visit Ernest Hemingway’s country home, and the small fishing village of Cojimar are just two of the highlights of this rich cultural adventure. Time is also set aside each day for photography lessons and for participants to work on a personal car project. Two image reviews with Kip and our Cuban photographers help advance your photographic technique and seeing. From colorful sunrises to late into the balmy Havana evenings, our days are packed full, offering car lovers a trip of a lifetime.