Miami Herald: “Barely a travel article about Cuba is published without a mention of the vintage 1950s Chevrolets, Fords, Plymouths and Buicks that add so much color and tourist appeal to the island. But few Americans have thought of the old gas-guzzlers as a business opportunity. Rick Shnitzler, founder of TailLight Diplomacy (TLD), says Cuban owners of antique autos would represent a good market for U.S. spare parts, both originals and reproductions, if U.S. firms were free to do business with Cuba.”
via Latino Forum.
rdv on June 25th, 2004 at 6:41 am
I think the author of the article and Rick Schnitzler, one of the people quoted, are missing a huge point. The average Cuban is more worried about what and how they put food on the table than whether or not to restore their cars. The average income of a family of four where two members work is roughly 400 pesos per month while the average expenses are 1000 pesos.
Most of these cars are still running around due to pure ingenuity and need. Cubans have had to resort to creating their own replacement parts, altering vehicles to run on alcohol due to lack of gasoline and even chopping up parts of trucks to be pulled by horse and oxen.
“Using 2004 retail prices, Shnitzler calculates Cuba’s market for U.S. restoration parts at $47 million to $81 million.” Where exactly would this money come from?
Rick Shnitzler on July 5th, 2004 at 4:55 pm
There is more than (4) years already invested in TailLight Diplomacy, the Cuba car cultural exchange. Much more than can be conveyed in three short paragraphs derived from UPI.
The questions raised are 100% valid.
I can provide some of the answers. And for the rest I can frame our assumptions.
Steve Anderson on December 27th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
It’s not about selling them parts guys, its about making these cars available to U.S. collectors & restorers.
jack on December 30th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
lol - looks like rdv is the one who missed the point.