A trip to Cuba is like going back in time, at least as far as cars are concerned. Many of the cars seen on the streets are pre-1959 American models. The Cuban Revolution in 1959, putting Castro in power, caused the US to embargo Cuba, cutting off all shipments to that country. Since 1959, the only cars imported were from Europe, Japan and Russia, but only by the government. 95% of Cubans are prohibited from buying a car. But families who had a car before the Revolution were allowed to keep it, and many of those cars are still in daily use. Cuban mechanics, true geniuses, are able to keep them going even though they cannot import parts.
