Author Topic: Opportunities in Cuba  (Read 9103 times)

pj

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • Canada, ON, London, Ontario
  • Posts: 559
  • 1965 230SL
    • my home page
Opportunities in Cuba
« on: December 17, 2014, 18:38:53 »
If it turns out that President Obama's initiative to improve relations between Cuba and the U.S.A. really works, do you think we'll see a bunch of rust-free Pagodas come out from various hiding places there?
Peter J
1965 230SL #09474 named Dagny
2018 B250 4matic named Rigel

ejboyd5

  • Associate Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • Southold, NY
  • Posts: 503
Re: Opportunities in Cuba
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2014, 19:02:35 »
Considering that Castro's rise to power occurred before the first Pagoda was produced the chances are quite slim that there are many in Cuba; even less chance that any are rust free.

Cees Klumper

  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, De Luz and Los Angeles
  • Posts: 5524
    • http://SL113.org
Re: Opportunities in Cuba
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2014, 20:37:09 »
... But it would allow Pagoda-ites like me to visit Cuba using a short flight from Key West (which is actually closer to Havanna than it is to Miami) where, currently, I'd have to first fly out to another country like Mexico before then being able to fly on to Cuba. Just sayin'!
Cees Klumper
1969 Mercedes 280 SL automatic
1968 Ford Mustang 302 V8
1961 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Coupe 1600
1962 FIAT 1500S OSCA convertible
1972 Lancia Fulvia Coupe 1.3
1983 Porsche 944 2.5
1990 Ford Bronco II

49er

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, El Dorado Hills
  • Posts: 1412
Re: Opportunities in Cuba
« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2014, 22:03:56 »
I am sure collectors of 50's vintage ford's and chevy's will be on the first flights there, if that day ever comes:-).

john

1969 280SL 003820
Un Restored, All Original, including the paint
Original Owner, Purchased September 18, 1968
4 speed manual, PS. 77217 miles
7280 miles since awoken from her 20+ yr "nap" in 2010

cabrioletturbo

  • Associate Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • Canada, Ontario, Ottawa
  • Posts: 483
Re: Opportunities in Cuba
« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2014, 22:22:10 »
And the last unrestored 300sl sleeping in cuba may finally be restored...
Igor
1965 W113 230SL, Ivory with Black

mdsalemi

  • Pagoda SL Board
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, NC, Davidson
  • Posts: 6688
Re: Opportunities in Cuba
« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2014, 22:36:41 »
I don't know about that, John.

After 50+ years of actual, hard use, with no parts to speak of available, I think most of Cuba's "auto collection" looks like the Wal-Mart auto show...

http://youtu.be/9QgIHzmLIJA
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2022 Ford Escape Hybrid
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid

49er

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, El Dorado Hills
  • Posts: 1412
Re: Opportunities in Cuba
« Reply #6 on: December 17, 2014, 23:25:50 »
I don't know about that, John.

After 50+ years of actual, hard use, with no parts to speak of available, I think most of Cuba's "auto collection" looks like the Wal-Mart auto show...

http://youtu.be/9QgIHzmLIJA


 After see some of these Pagoda "hulks" on our forum lately and the price they fetch, I imagine a Cuban '57 2 door HT Chevy Bel Air or a '56 Ford Vickie would still be worth a few Pesos, Great video BTW

John
1969 280SL 003820
Un Restored, All Original, including the paint
Original Owner, Purchased September 18, 1968
4 speed manual, PS. 77217 miles
7280 miles since awoken from her 20+ yr "nap" in 2010

Flyair

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Warsaw
  • Posts: 1920
Re: Opportunities in Cuba
« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2014, 03:45:17 »
If you wish to have a "Cuban barn find" the most likely outcome will be a car with vintage body and Lada engine...
Stan
1971 280SL
2011 SL550 AMG
2011 GL
2015 GLA

UJJ

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • USA, CA, Grass Valley
  • Posts: 326
Re: Opportunities in Cuba
« Reply #8 on: December 18, 2014, 13:53:10 »
Michael
great video. I love your wit.

Happy Holidays
Urban
Urban Janssen
Grass Valley, CA
1968 280 SL - 4speed manual
173 anthracite grey

cabrioletturbo

  • Associate Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • Canada, Ontario, Ottawa
  • Posts: 483
Re: Opportunities in Cuba
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2014, 02:32:50 »
According to Cuban legislation, vehicles of 50's era are considered national heritage and cannot be exported.  ???
300SL in Cuba: http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/abandoned-mercedes-benz-300-sl-found-in-cuba-2014-12-18
Igor
1965 W113 230SL, Ivory with Black

mdsalemi

  • Pagoda SL Board
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, NC, Davidson
  • Posts: 6688
Re: Opportunities in Cuba
« Reply #10 on: December 19, 2014, 19:42:02 »
https://autos.yahoo.com/news/myth-classic-american-cars-cuba-173048208.html

You want a 195X Chevy? They made something like 4.5 million of the "tri-fives". They'll never be rare. They'll always be available and one doesn't need to go to Cuba to find one!
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2022 Ford Escape Hybrid
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid

KevinC

  • Guest
Re: Opportunities in Cuba
« Reply #11 on: December 19, 2014, 23:02:27 »
Plus those in Cuba would be held together with bubblegum and painted with tar. I agree with Michael...Cuba is not the place to hunt for a vintage car. Californie is the place you ought to be.

mdsalemi

  • Pagoda SL Board
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, NC, Davidson
  • Posts: 6688
Re: Opportunities in Cuba
« Reply #12 on: December 20, 2014, 15:36:11 »
Plus those in Cuba would be held together with bubblegum...

Methinks bubble gum was even in short supply...
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2022 Ford Escape Hybrid
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid

pj

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • Canada, ON, London, Ontario
  • Posts: 559
  • 1965 230SL
    • my home page
Re: Opportunities in Cuba
« Reply #13 on: December 20, 2014, 16:48:45 »
Well, I guess I was looking for an excuse to go to Cuba. You guys have set me straight.  :-\
Peter J
1965 230SL #09474 named Dagny
2018 B250 4matic named Rigel

mdsalemi

  • Pagoda SL Board
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, NC, Davidson
  • Posts: 6688
Re: Opportunities in Cuba
« Reply #14 on: December 20, 2014, 18:28:36 »
Peter, you have a Canadian passport? You can get flights from Toronto. It's us Americans that couldn't [legally] go. Nobody hates Canadians.
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2022 Ford Escape Hybrid
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid

Raymond

  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, FL, JACKSONVILLE
  • Posts: 1197
    • GemstoneMediaInc.com
Re: Opportunities in Cuba
« Reply #15 on: December 21, 2014, 00:10:53 »
Two years ago at the Amelia Concours, the curator of the Cuban National Automobile Museum was in attendance.  (It took the intervention of Congressman Campbell, a car collector in California, to get him here.)   I interviewed him.  He said there is a strong love of cars and there are families who make a second car a family hobby.  Of course, some of the museum's collection looks like barn finds but the interest is there and the population expresses their creativity in the ways they keep these things running. 
Ray
'68 280SL 5-spd "California" Coupe

RonB

  • Full Member
  • Senior
  • ***
  • USA, MN, Cottage Grove
  • Posts: 172
Re: Opportunities in Cuba
« Reply #16 on: December 29, 2014, 03:56:31 »
I wonder how much " BONDO" on those National Heritage vehicles?
Previously FULL Member twice with over 500 post

71 280SL - SOLD on BAT
97 E420      SOLD
85 300D      SOLD
85 R107 380SL
07 Volvo S60

mdsalemi

  • Pagoda SL Board
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, NC, Davidson
  • Posts: 6688
Re: Opportunities in Cuba
« Reply #17 on: December 29, 2014, 12:54:32 »
I wonder how much " BONDO" on those National Heritage vehicles?

Just a guess, Ron--but probably less than hand-hammered galvanized sheet metal or other sheet metal including scrap. I would think Bondo and or other polyester or epoxy fillers would be either unavailable or quite costly if they were.
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2022 Ford Escape Hybrid
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid

Bonnyboy

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • Canada, BC, North Vancouver
  • Posts: 891
  • 1969 280sl Euro 4sp LSD
Re: Opportunities in Cuba
« Reply #18 on: December 30, 2014, 00:38:09 »
a car friend went to Cuba last spring and checked into exporting a couple cars while he was there and he said that the problem he ran into was that nobody he talked to had actual ownership of the car. Somehow they just ran them and never got ownership along the way.   Lots are 4 door vehicles so really not exciting here. The 55 chev he was really interested in looked good on the outside but once he got to looking at it closely, realized that there was not much of the original car underneath.  He said that there was wonderful welding done to make parts from one car fit another and even side to side there were different parts fabbed to keep the car rolling.  He said that as long as your were prepared to replace everything you would be ok. Definately not worth it when you can buy projects closer for less money that haven't been butchered.   Local Craigslist - a 52 Ford Pickup / almost running for $1,200, 1940 Buick Super 8 - mostly there - $1,500 56 Buick Special running - $3,000, 57 landrover 107 P/U - running and insured with a parts car - $4,000,   etc.


Ian
69 280SL
65 F-100
73 CB750K
75 MGB
78 FLH
82 CB750SC
94 FLHTCU
08 NPS50

66andBlue

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Solana Beach
  • Posts: 4709
Re: Opportunities in Cuba
« Reply #19 on: December 30, 2014, 06:29:34 »
Is this one enough of an "opportunity" ?  ;)
But is the owner still alive and ready to sell?  ???
http://www.emercedesbenz.com/autos/mercedes-benz/classic/mercedes-300sl-found-abandoned-in-cuba/
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)