Vintage Ferraris in Cuba? | FerrariChat

Vintage Ferraris in Cuba?

Discussion in 'Vintage (thru 365 GTC4)' started by mseals, Dec 3, 2011.

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  1. mseals

    mseals Two Time F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa Owner

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    Just curious, a question for the brain trust...

    Are there any known vintage Ferraris in Cuba? Seems to me, with the money, lifestyle, etc., of the late fifties, before Castro, and the suddenness of the power shift, that if there were in vintage Ferraris there, that it's likely the would still be there.

    Mike
     
    mseals, Dec 3, 2011
    #1
  2. Crawler

    Crawler F1 Veteran

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    If there are, by this time they probably all have Russian tractor engines. ;) Seriously though, I think that Julio might be best qualified to answer that one.
     
    Crawler, Dec 3, 2011
    #2
  3. Jack-the-lad

    Jack-the-lad Seven Time F1 World Champ Owner Silver Subscribed

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    Good question. Years ago there were rumors (ultimately unfounded, I think) that a Porsche Carrera Speedster was hidden in a cave somewhere on the Cuban coast, but I've never heard any talk, rumor or otherwise, about old Ferraris on the island.
     
    Jack-the-lad, Dec 3, 2011
    #3
  4. 375+

    375+ F1 World Champ Silver Subscribed

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    Didn't Colin Crabbe snag the interesting cars there many years ago?
     
    375+, Dec 3, 2011
    #4
  5. solofast

    solofast Formula 3

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    The father of an old college buddy of mine was minister of Transportation under Batista.

    They had to leave in a hurry and left most everything... If I remember the story correctly he left behind a Gullwing....
     
    solofast, Dec 3, 2011
    #5
  6. toto70_0

    toto70_0 F1 Rookie

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    I have heared that the Gullwing is already out of Cuba, a sort of.
    The story that was told is that a person took all numbered parts of the car and the piece of the chassis with the number in it and that a new car was built arround these numbers and that the rest of the car is still in Cuba.
    Do not know if it is true, but sounds good.
     
    toto70_0, Dec 4, 2011
    #6
  7. The Red Baron

    The Red Baron Formula 3

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    Yes he got the chassis for 0690MDTR out of Cuba on one visit.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    The Red Baron, Dec 4, 2011
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  8. Julio Batista

    Julio Batista Formula 3

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    All my father's cars (5 Ferraris, 1 Maserati, and the Gullwing which he sold to Armando Cifuentes) are out of the country (two of them are in my garage).

    I am in close contact with a Spaniard that travels to Cuba once a year on car buying expeditions. There is very little left, and the few remaining cars are all uninteresting, in atrocious condition and very incomplete. I am not saying there isn't something hidden somewhere, but I doubt it.

    Cubans are not stupid. Most of the valuable stuff was confiscated and sold a long time ago.

    Julio

    P.S: Just in case: Batista is a common name in Cuba. My father was not related to the dictator.
     
    Last edited: Dec 5, 2011
    Julio Batista, Dec 5, 2011
    #8
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  9. tazz99

    tazz99 F1 Rookie Rossa Subscribed

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    I had the opportunity to visit Havana earlier this year and was looking forward to seeing some cool old cars. Unfortunatly most of the Fifties vintage american iron I saw on the street were highly modified 4 doors of various makes which had long ago been reengined with Soviet Block powerplants of various types.

    I asked some of the locals and was told that most of the collectable cars had been exported already, the majority to Canada.

    In addition to the old US cars there was an intersting assortment of older Ladas which appeared to be rebadged Fiats.

    Also of interest was the vast number of newish Hyundai and Kia models.
     
    tazz99, Dec 5, 2011
    #9
  10. trkevin

    trkevin Formula Junior

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    I did a tour on Cuba earlier this year. In Havana I saw a Porsche 356 (outside, bad condition) and a BMW Isetta driving on the road.

    Best regards

    Kevin
     
    trkevin, Dec 6, 2011
    #10
  11. Harry-SZ

    Harry-SZ F1 Rookie

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    The (or a) Cuban Gullwing, together with some others cars, was in Classics and sportscars magazine years ago.
     
    Harry-SZ, Dec 7, 2011
    #11
  12. Rbtrader

    Rbtrader Karting Silver Subscribed

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    There is a dusty run down car museum in Old Havana that has a Ferrari that is said to be Fangio's race car. I could not get in to inspect it closely, but I could see that it was in there with a few other quasi-exotics. Apparently just prior to the Cuban Grand Prix in 1958 which was hosted by the then leader President Batista, Fangio was kidnapped by Castro's guerrilla forces. The kidnapping was designed to show up the government and big worldwide attention to their cause.
    Fangio was actually well taken care of by the rebels, and did not feel that he was in danger. He was turned over to the Argentine embassy soon after the race, and Castro's group got the publicity they were seeking. Somehow, as the story goes, Fangio's car never made it off the island and is still in the run down museum in Old Havana.
     
    Rbtrader, Dec 7, 2011
    #12
  13. wbaeumer

    wbaeumer F1 Veteran Consultant

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    eh....Fangio was was sheduled to race a Maserati 450S, chassis #4508, in the `58 Cuba event.

    The previous year he won the race in a Maserati 300S, chassis #3067.
    Fangio never drove a Ferrari befor or after 1956.

    Perhaps the mysterious Ferrari you menioned belonged to Fidel...::))

    Ciao!
    Walter
     
    wbaeumer, Dec 8, 2011
    #13
  14. tongascrew

    tongascrew F1 Rookie

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    Great picture. Got any more??? thanks just one man's opinion tongascrew
     
    tongascrew, Dec 10, 2011
    #14
  15. The Red Baron

    The Red Baron Formula 3

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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    The Red Baron, Dec 11, 2011
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  16. solofast

    solofast Formula 3

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    solofast, Dec 12, 2011
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  17. vroomgt

    vroomgt Formula 3

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    the car in Question is a Citroen based 300S replica apparently used in some film making...
     
    vroomgt, Dec 12, 2011
    #17
  18. biz5300

    biz5300 Formula Junior

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    well, the 300 sl roadster of amadeo barletta is still there i believe, his maserati a6g is sold but still in cuba, there is also an abarth 750 bialbero zagato there and an old hispano in à field.. not salvagable

    nik
     
    biz5300, Dec 17, 2011
    #18
  19. biz5300

    biz5300 Formula Junior

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    well, the 300 sl roadster of amadeo barletta is still there i believe, his maserati a6g is sold but still in cuba, there is also an abarth 750 bialbero zagato there and an old hispano in à field.. not salvagable

    nik
     
    biz5300, Dec 17, 2011
    #19
  20. Peter

    Peter F1 Veteran Owner

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    Peter, Dec 17, 2011
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  21. schwaggen

    schwaggen Karting

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    If memory serves, I believe Mr. Glickenhaus has a unique piece of the above story. Jim?
     
    schwaggen, Dec 18, 2011
    #21
  22. ClassicFerrari

    ClassicFerrari F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa

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    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    ClassicFerrari, Dec 18, 2011
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  23. ClassicFerrari

    ClassicFerrari F1 World Champ Lifetime Rossa

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    ClassicFerrari, Dec 18, 2011
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  24. Champboat/Champcar

    Champboat/Champcar Formula Junior

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    I went to Cuba a few times and never saw a Ferrari or a Gullwing , but i saw some nice Fiats in the dealer in Havana , Also in Santa Clara i saw a old 30`s ford coupe with no windows , but had a license plate so it was being used, probably had a old tractor motor in there , they will take any motor and put in in any car , any running gear for that matter in any body + chassis and drive it on the road , its amazing .
     
    Champboat/Champcar, Dec 24, 2011
    #24

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