Classic cars languishing in CUBA.

[Fasglas]

The more I learn of the alleged "finds" roaming the Cuban countryside, the more I think there will be a LOT of disappointment. Interesting badging, pic #9.

A few Sterling examples.

The 18 most gorgeous classic cars we saw on the streets of Havana (http://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/enthusiasts/the-18-most-gorgeous-classic-cars-we-saw-on-the-streets-of-havana/ss-AAcG4zl?ocid=DELLDHP#image=1)

[mrvette]

'53 vette S#1 WILL be found in Cuba....just wait....where in hell ELSE can it be????

:cert:

[MrPeabody]

There may be a few well-preserved ones here and there, but for the most part, those cars are thrashed and basically worthless. Wouldn't be worth shipping here.

[JRD77VET]

:iagree: They had to make do with what they had on hand. I'm sure they were quite creative in their repairs.

[mrvette]

There may be a few well-preserved ones here and there, but for the most part, those cars are thrashed and basically worthless. Wouldn't be worth shipping here.

Yes for the most part, but then there are the REST of them......interestng to see what comes up.....

[stingraymyway]

There may be a few well-preserved ones here and there, but for the most part, those cars are thrashed and basically worthless. Wouldn't be worth shipping here.

:iagree:
Most of them have Honda or Toyoda engines in them.

[ApexOversteer]

'53 vette S#1 WILL be found in Cuba....just wait....where in hell ELSE can it be????

:cert:

Ground up into tiny bits... like Chevy says it was... :D

[ApexOversteer]

Anything of value automotive-wise that would have come out of Cuba already did, years ago.

People act like just because the USA wasn't talking to Cuba the whole world wasn't... when in fact, they were.

The important vintage Mercedes Benz cars that could be found were found... in the 70's... the early Ferraris and Masteratis in the 80's...

The good stuff is long gone.

[Kerrmudgeon]

My brother had a guy drive him around havana in a 55 pontiac.....powered by a Perkins diesel! :willy:

[mrvette]

Ground up into tiny bits... like Chevy says it was... :D

Never heard that, sears??? when did GM/Chebby say that???


:sadangel::shots:

[Fasglas]

Ground up into tiny bits... like Chevy says it was... :D

:iagree:

The Corvette Story: 1953 Corvette (http://web-cars.com/corvette/1953-Corvette.php)

http://web-cars.com/images/vette_img/1953-corvette-manufactured_a_s.jpg

The first Corvette reaches the end of the assembly line on June 30, 1953. The entire 1953 production took place in the back of a customer delivery garage in Flint Michigan. The first two were engineering test cars and according to official records, were destroyed. Of the first 300 Corvettes, approximately 225 are known to exist today.

[ApexOversteer]

Never heard that, sears??? when did GM/Chebby say that???


:sadangel::shots:


When the cars started coming off the assembly line, GM took a photo.


http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb164/ApexOversteer/Gen%20II/1953-corvette-manufactured-thecorvettesociety.com_.jpg

That is 001, 002 and 003 on the end of the line. The gentleman standing next to the driver's door with the dark tie is Joe Pike.

Joe Pike was National Promotion executive for Chevrolet, and part of his job was to oversee the testing of the Corvettes, to document and create a marketing plan, basically figure out how to sell them. For example, it was Joe's idea to offer some of the first few cars to Hollywood stars, like John Wayne.

He said that #001 and #002 went into rigorous testing and after testing was completed, the cars were ordered by the top brass to be destroyed, because the company couldn't have the liability of anyone driving these abused cars on the street. To GM they were just used up and legally toxic, so they were destroyed.


My source on this is Vol.1, Issue #1 of Corvette: The Sensuous American, which featured a short article on #001 and #002 and their whereabouts. As I understand it Joe had told the same story at various shows like Bloomington and Carlisle.

[The Cripp]

I understand there's quite a few Edsels running around down there as well.