HAVANA (AP) – Dairo Tio cruises the streets of Havana in a gleaming black 1954 Buick with polished chrome highlights and the diesel motor from an electric plant bolted beneath the hood. When the brakes failed in his Frankenstein of a taxi cab, Tio couldnt work for 15 days as he waited for a machinist to hand-carve the necessary screws. The half-century-old embargo on most U.S. exports has turned Cubans into some of the most inventive mechanics in the world, technicians capable of engineering feats long lost to the modern world of electronic ignitions and computerized engine calibration. For years, Cuba restricted car ownership almost entirely to prominent bureaucrats, high achievers in their fields, and professionals who completed government service abroad. That limit was dropped last year but replaced by markups that drove prices as high as $262,000 for a Peugeot listed for about $53,000 outside Cuba. That leaves classic cars as still one of the only options for Cubans needing private transportation for themselves or a business, although prices around $20,000 for old cars mean buyers on the island often need help for the purchase from relatives abroad. Its pretty complicated, said Tio, 27. The government wont sell you glass for these old cars. They wont sell replacement parts for these old cars. Everything is made by hand. A few years ago, the only way Tio could get new tires for his car was to rely on the generosity of a relative who brought some back from Venezuela. Necessity drives invention when it comes to maintaining the thousands of classic cars that fill Cubas cities and countryside, many used for daily needs and commutes, others transporting curious tourists. When the material doesnt exist, one has to invent it, said a mechanic who agreed to reveal some of his secrets on the condition that he not be identified because he feared possible repercussions. Suspension systems are among the most complicated to repair, simply because there are no parts available. But he noted that unused trains have similar springs that support a lot of weight, making them ideal for classic cars. Such haphazard methods are not ideal in terms of safety: Putting powerful engines in cars with old bodywork and no seatbelts or airbags increases the risk of dangerous accidents. https://youtube/watch?v=0ynSm1Ngfn8
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 19:05:05 +0000
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