Cuba’s classic cars: How much longer will travelers have to see them?

CNN Staff

1 minute read

Updated 1:56 PM EDT, Mon June 29, 2015

Our iReport assignment on "Cuba's vintage cars" resulted in dozens of submissions from around the world. One<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1074325"> iReporter</a>, Wolfgang Theofel, visited Cuba in February 2013 and photographed many classic cars.

Vintage cars in Cuba —

Our iReport assignment on "Cuba's vintage cars" resulted in dozens of submissions from around the world. One iReporter, Wolfgang Theofel, visited Cuba in February 2013 and photographed many classic cars.

Courtesy Wolfgang Theofel

In 2013, the Cuban government eased restrictions on buying a car in the country, which means these old beauties may have a limited shelf life.

Vintage cars in Cuba —

In 2013, the Cuban government eased restrictions on buying a car in the country, which means these old beauties may have a limited shelf life.

Courtesy Wolfgang Theofel

The old law, in place since 1959, banned car imports, which helped preserve existing cars -- 1950s Fords, Pontiacs, Chevys -- that are disused relics elsewhere.

Vintage cars in Cuba —

The old law, in place since 1959, banned car imports, which helped preserve existing cars -- 1950s Fords, Pontiacs, Chevys -- that are disused relics elsewhere.

Courtesy Wolfgang Theofel

The old law also banned the import of parts, which meant repairs and replacements often had ingenious and creative qualities.

Vintage cars in Cuba —

The old law also banned the import of parts, which meant repairs and replacements often had ingenious and creative qualities.

Courtesy Wolfgang Theofel

That made the cars beloved not just of their owners but of tourists too, many of whom visit Cuba to see theses prized transports.

Vintage cars in Cuba —

That made the cars beloved not just of their owners but of tourists too, many of whom visit Cuba to see theses prized transports.

Courtesy Wolfgang Theofel

The new law does away with the permits, which were being forged and sold on the black market, and allows cars to be bought in from overseas.

Vintage cars in Cuba —

The new law does away with the permits, which were being forged and sold on the black market, and allows cars to be bought in from overseas.

Courtesy Wolfgang Theofel

Some fear this will lead to the beginning of the end of these vehicular stalwarts as they're replaced by modern, more reliable models.

Vintage cars in Cuba —

Some fear this will lead to the beginning of the end of these vehicular stalwarts as they're replaced by modern, more reliable models.

Courtesy Wolfgang Theofel

But prices of newly allowed cars are prohibitively expensive for most locals, in the hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars. The average wage in Cuba is around $20 a month.

Vintage cars in Cuba —

But prices of newly allowed cars are prohibitively expensive for most locals, in the hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars. The average wage in Cuba is around $20 a month.

Courtesy Wolfgang Theofel

That suggests the reported 60,000 old cars remaining from the 1950s may still have some life in them yet.

Vintage cars in Cuba —

That suggests the reported 60,000 old cars remaining from the 1950s may still have some life in them yet.

Courtesy Wolfgang Theofel

This car was captured by German iReporter<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1074105"> Alexander Schimmeck</a> in December 2008 outside Cuba's car museum in old Havana.

Vintage cars of Cuba, an endangered sight? —

This car was captured by German iReporter Alexander Schimmeck in December 2008 outside Cuba's car museum in old Havana.

Courtesy Alexander Schimmeck

Peter Bale took this picture of a beautiful Chevrolet with lethal looking fins in Havana, Cuba, while on holiday in 2008.

Vintage cars of Cuba, an endangered sight? —

Peter Bale took this picture of a beautiful Chevrolet with lethal looking fins in Havana, Cuba, while on holiday in 2008.

Peter Bale/CNN

British tourist <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1075401">Lukas Hermann</a> visited Havana in 2013 and got to drive some classics himself. "It's easy," he said. "You pay the owner to let you drive for a while or you rent the car for hours or a whole day."

Vintage cars of Cuba, an endangered sight? —

British tourist Lukas Hermann visited Havana in 2013 and got to drive some classics himself. "It's easy," he said. "You pay the owner to let you drive for a while or you rent the car for hours or a whole day."

Courtesy Lukas Hermann

<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1075500">Paul Miller</a> visited Cuba with a group of amateur photographers in 2012. "It became a game as to who could capture the best car in the best location. We kept honing our skills to line up a nice background and wait for a car to drive by. "

Vintage cars of Cuba, an endangered sight? —

Paul Miller visited Cuba with a group of amateur photographers in 2012. "It became a game as to who could capture the best car in the best location. We kept honing our skills to line up a nice background and wait for a car to drive by. "

Courtesy Paul Miller

<a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1075316">John Cade</a> of London, Ontario, vacationed in Havana in 2013 for a week and said the vintage cars were worth the trip alone.

Vintage cars of Cuba, an endangered sight? —

John Cade of London, Ontario, vacationed in Havana in 2013 for a week and said the vintage cars were worth the trip alone.

Courtesy John Cade

Vintage cars of Cuba, an endangered sight?

Story highlights

The Cuban government enacted a law in late 2013 that made buying a new car easier

Some fear the demise of Cuba's famous classic American car culture is imminent

Thawing relations with the United States could mean more changes for Cuba's car culture

CNN —

With U.S. President Barack Obama announcing a historic overhaul in relations between the United States and Cuba, the largest island in the Caribbean stands on the precipice of dramatic change.

One casualty of change could be the classic American cars – many still in everyday use – that have long been a point of interest for international visitors.

In late 2013, Cuba eased restrictions on car imports and acquisitions in the country, doing away with a law that made icons of its old American Pontiacs and Chevys.

Though newer cars remain prohibitively expensive for most locals, the easing of the law and thawing relations with the United States could spell the beginning of the end for these vehicular stalwarts.

Earlier this year we asked iReporters to submit images of the country’s beautiful vintage U.S. cars – some of the best can be seen in the gallery above.