Cuba part IV - Yank tanks

Central America Caribbean » Cuba » Oeste » La Habana
January 3rd 2017

Published: April 18th 2017

Cadillac, Ford, Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, Dodge and DeSoto Yank Tank is a nickname for large American cars made in the 1950-ies and 60-ies. For anyone who likes those cars visiting Cuba must be like coming to heaven because there are many such cars in use there. One of the things we knew about Cuba before we set off on this trip was that many of the cars they drive are American cars from ... Read Full Entry

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Ake Dahllof and Emma Holmbro

Ake Och Emma

We are Emma Holmbro and Ake Dahllof. We live in Stockholm, Sweden. We have travelled more or less regularly since the mid 1990-ies and it seems like the more we travel the more difficult it is to decide where to go next. Not because we are running out of places to visit but because we find more places we want to go to faster than we manage to travel to them. Some of the things from our travel bucket list we have ticked off since we started this blog in 2006 are Angel Falls in Ven... full info

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Ford Customline

According to Wikipedia the Ford Customline was produced for model years 1952 to 1956. That makes this car more than 60 years old

Ford 1955

"And once upon a pair of wheels Hit the road and I'm gone ah What's my number I wonder how your engine feels"/ Baby driver Readers have identified this as a Ford probably from 1955

Chevrolet

"Done hit that freeway at sunset. Now the big city lights are at hand. Hallelujah, hallelujah, Ride my Chevrolet"/ Chevrolet. A reader has narrowed it down to be from 1950-52

Plymouth

"The machine of a dream, such a clean machine With the pistons a pumpin’, and the hubcaps all gleam When I’m holding your wheel All I hear is your gear"/ I'm in love with my car. A reader has identified this as a Plymouth

Oldsmobile 1955

"And in the lonely cool before dawn You hear their engines roaring on" /Thunder Road Readers have identified this as an Oldsmobile from 1955

Chevrolet

"I'm gettin bugged driving up and down the same old strip I gotta finda new place where the kids are hip"/ I Get Around. A reader has identified this as a Chevrolet

DeSoto

Another DeSoto. We think that some of these cars featured in this blog might be interesting for collectors

Oldsmobile or Buick?

The large number of 50-ies era American cars makes Cuba resemble a time capsule. One reader has identified this as an Oldsmobile from 1954. Another as a Buick from 1953

Buick 1957

We sometimes felt like we had been warped back in time to United States in the year 1958 or like we were starring in a remake of American Graffiti. A reader has identified this as being a Buick from 1957

Unknown make

How can those old cars still look so good? The explanation is probably that the national hobby in Cuba is to keep the American cars running.

Ford

"Well, long tall Sally, she's built for speed She got everything that Uncle John needs"/ Long Tall Sally. A reader has identified this as a Ford from 1949-1951, possibly making it the oldest car featured in this blog entry

Unknown make

"On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light"/ Hotel California

Unknown make

"Ridin' along in my automobile My baby beside me at the wheel I stole a kiss at the turn of a mile My curiosity runnin' wild Cruisin' and playin' the radio With no particular place to go"/ No Particular Place to go

Chevrolet

"Parking by the lake And there was not another car in sight And I never had a girl Looking any better than you did"/ Paradise by the Dashboard Light. A reader has narrowed it down to be from 1953-54

Unknown make (probably not a Cadillac)

"I love you for your pink Cadillac Crushed velvet seats Riding in the back Oozing down the street"/ Pink Cadillac

Probably a Ford

We are not sure but we think this is a Ford

Chevrolet Biscayne 1958

"On the road again Just can't wait to get on the road again"/ On The Road Again. A reader has identified it as being from 1958

Dodge Coronet 1959

"And the Magic Rat drove his sleek machine Over the Jersey state line Barefoot girl sitting on the hood of a Dodge" /Jungleland. A reader has identified it as being from 1959

Oldsmobile

"Get your motor runnin' Head out on the highway Looking for adventure"/ Born To Be Wild. A reader has identified this as an Oldsmobile from 1953 or 54

Chevrolet

"Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry"/ America Pie. A reader has identified this as being from 1950-52

Chevrolet 1957

"I want to feel sunlight on my face I see the dust cloud disappear Without a trace I want to take shelter from the poison rain Where the streets have no name"/ Where the Streets have no Name. A reader has identified this as being from 1957

18th April 2017

Dancing Dave
David Hooper

Yank tanks
Had to say "Ahhh" many times looking at the fabulous collection of Yank tanks in this blog Ake. Not that I can contribute to naming any but reminds me of Shell cards as a kid...cards we used to collect and swap of themes such as trains, birds, butterflies, shells...and cars. Brilliant!!!

18th April 2017

Ake Och Emma
Ake Dahllof and Emma Holmbro

Many Ahhh- and wow-moments
We had many ahhh- and wow-moments when we were in Cuba. Note that almost all the photos are of parked vehicles. There were many more great looking cars that were driven around. /Ake

18th April 2017

Daniel
non-member comment

Cars...
Well, when I see all those wonderful pics you've posted, it's almost like I start to think that the makers of the movie "Cars" first visited Havana...

18th April 2017

Ake Och Emma
Ake Dahllof and Emma Holmbro

Movie cars
I guess it's not impossible. Or maybe they watched the movie American Graffiti. It's a really good movie and they drive cars the whole time. /Ake

18th April 2017

Cuba part IV - Yank tanks

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