I had expected to see a few American cars from the 1950's - the import of new vehicles ceased after the Castro- led revolution threw out the Americans. I would estimate however that fully 25-30% of the vehicle fleet is from that time. Most of them are not shining examples but they still go.

The well preserved ones are usually working in the tourist trade, the only legal way the locals can obtain hard currency. That is not the same as saying that all old cars being hired out to tourists are licensed for that purpose.

My only expereince in a pre revolution vehicle was in mid 1950's Opel, heading into the hills, Topes de Collantes, above the town of Trinidad. The car had tinted windows and we had instructions to 'get down' when we met other vehicles.

Somewhat unwisely at the end of my stay I 'naively' asked my hosts to get me a taxi to go to the airport, knowing it would probably be unlicensed and therefore cheaper. It was an early 1990's Russian vehicle and halfway to the airport we turned off the main road and then the engine died. I had allowed reasonable time to get to the airport, but was in the process of composing a strongly worded complaint in Spanish, when the driver handed his mate a jerry can - out of gasolinera. Fifteen minutes later the mate loped back into view and we were off again.