Amazing Photos That Prove Cuba Is 'Jurassic Park For Cars'
If you've ever traveled to Cuba than chances are you've noticed the staggering amount of classic cars still driving around the streets of the country today. Thanks to a U.S. trade embargo beginning in 1958, the country has seemingly become one giant rolling car museum. As the people of Cuba were cut off from purchasing new vehicles from America, they were forced to fix the cars they had and keep them running for decades. Recently Piotr Degler, a 30-year-old automotive photographer from Spain, spent a month traveling around the country capturing beautiful images of working cars, vehicles under repair and even those decaying in the jungle. The images have already been turned into a calendar and are also being published as a stunning coffee table book called Carros de Cuba. Here are 12 of the most amazing images from this series:
Porsche 356
This seemingly immaculate Porsche 356 sits under a carport of a residence in Cuba.
Havana
In the Cuban capital of Havana, it's common to see a parade of colors rolling down the street in the form of pristine, well-maintained classic cars such as this one.
Mercedes
A Dusty shell of an old Mercedes sits on blocks, covered by junk and debris in a Cuban garage.
BMW Isetta
This little blue box, a BMW Isetta was another one if the Spanish photographer's rare finds during his travels around the country.
Rain Won't Stop Us
Unlike the classic cars in America (which owners would cringe at the thought of getting wet in the rain) the classic cars of Cuba serve the role of daily ride, making them 'all weather' vehicles rather than precious antiques.
Green Machine
Degler's book will be filled with 200 images of classic Cuban cars in various states, such as this green relic which sits awaiting repair outside of some homes.
Hispano-Suiza
A luxury find, Hispano-Suiza was a Spanish automotive company best known for making luxury vehicles and aviation engines pre-World War II.
Daily Drivers
An old man uses his classic wheels as a taxi to shuttle people around the Cuban capital.
Not Always Pristine
Not all of the classic cars in Cuba are shiny and pristine. This blue beast shows the patchwork and DIY repairs that it takes to keep a classic car on the road for so long.
Jurassic Park For Cars
Degler dubbed Cuba the 'Jurassic Park For Cars' as a result of Fidel Castro banning American imports in 1959.
Will It Last?
In 2009 President Barack Obama eased the travel ban allowing Cuban-Americans to travel to Cuba freely. With travel restrictions eased further in 2015, many are asking if the historic preservations of this country will last as U.S. tourism increases.
Mercedes 300SL Gullwing
Considered the most staggering find of the entire trip, Piotr Degler found this $1,000,000 Mercedes 300SL rotting away under some banana trees. Known as the 'Gullwing' the 300SL was the first iteration of the SL class and was considered the fastest production car of its day.