Yank Tanks

[manoa matt]

Last night I watched an interesting documentary on the 50's and 60's classic cars of Cuba. The documentary detailed how the car owners upkeep the old cars with parts despite the trade embargo. Some of the more fascinating aspects were how one specialist remakes all the chrome/stainless trim by hand. Another guy relined brake pads by hand using raw asbestos. Another remade body panels and welded using the wire from chain link fence. And one guy even makes windshields by hand, and some of those old cars have some pretty mean curves to the glass.

Since Cuba is communist there is no free enterprise and private companies so they can't/don't have big machinery and most everything is made by hand. These guys are real shade tree mechanics, their ingenuity is amazing, and would put the best of us "tinkerers" to shame.

I found the movie on Netflix. I have a roku box that is hooked to the TV. I only watch things on demand from netflix or hulu. If you know a little about Netflix and have ever been to the website some movies you request and they send you a CD, while others are free and you can watch them streaming on your computer or roku box.

The movie is called "Yank Tanks" and is available free as a streaming video. Highly recommended.

It made me wonder about some of the other parts that would be needed such as radiators and internal engine parts.

[htchevyii]

Ya, I watched that on the computer one sleepless night, now I have the Roku. Pretty interesting, but the guy relining the brake shoes with powdered asbestos made my lungs hurt

[kilrwail]

I have been to Cuba twice on vacation and have been fortunate to see hundreds of those cars. There are lots of modern cars on the island from Europe and the Far East, but the pre-1959 American iron is a real tourist attraction. There are many well-preserved survivors that look to be in original condition. Their owners frequently take them to an informal cruise night (afternoon really), on a divided boulevard in front of the old seat of government. There they park them in the centre divider where they can be admired and photographed - with the owner for a few pesetas. Then there are the tanks. They do whatever it takes to keep these things running (as you point out) and the ingenuity is amazing. For some reason I remember one very clearly - it was a dark blue '58 Chev station wagon body mounted to a pick-up truck chassis. It sat about a foot off the ground and had really large wheels and tires! It's too bad you Yanks can't go there - it's a great place to vacation and very safe. There are armed policia everywhere around the beachfront hotels, to protect the tourists. And the food, drink, music, service and beaches are top-notch. I have a lot of pictures but they're all old-tech paper versions.

[baltobernie]

One of the interesting things to me about eastern Canada, Peter, are the numerous adverts for Cuban holidays; billboards, print etc. that reminds me I'm driving there. (That, plus your blinking green traffic signals). Must be dozens of flights daily from Pearson and Trudeau. After all is said and done, is Cuba less expensive than the Antilles, PR, and other warm destinations?

[wikkid]

Thanks for the tip - I've added it to my "Instant Queue" on Netflix.

[kilrwail]

One of the interesting things to me about eastern Canada, Peter, are the numerous adverts for Cuban holidays; billboards, print etc. that reminds me I'm driving there. (That, plus your blinking green traffic signals). Must be dozens of flights daily from Pearson and Trudeau. After all is said and done, is Cuba less expensive than the Antilles, PR, and other warm destinations?

Not only do we have blinking green left turn signals, but we also have left and right green arrows, both before and/or after the steady green! Gotta pay attention, eh?

I've never priced the Lesser Antilles; I've been to Puerto Rico but the company was paying; Nassau was definitely more expensive; and I've been to both the DR and Mexico. I'd say Cuba, DR and Mexico are all similar cost-wise, but personal security is higher in Cuba and I found more a appealing variety of sites and activities - but that's a matter of personal choice. I really enjoy visiting Mexico, but I can't find anyone willing to come with me, due to security issues.

They're all preferable to another winter like this one, that won't end!