Page 47 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

American Legacies ❮❮ 45

Hotel Nacional
6 TOP 10 AMERICAN AUTOS
Symbolic of Havana’s deca­
dent pre­revolutionary heyday, this
hotel was built in 1930 in Spanish
Neo­Classical style and was closely
associated with the Mafia. Actor
Marlon Brando and supermodel
Naomi Campbell feature in the
hotel’s celebrity guest list (see p15).
Malecón
7
Havana’s seafront boulevard
was laid out in 1902 by US Army
General Leonard Woods. Now
officially known as Avenida Antonio 1955 Chevrolet Bel-Air
Maceo, it is lined with late 19th­
century buildings and high­rise 1 1955 Chevrolet Bel-Air
hotels (see p14). This was a perfectly proportioned
1950s icon.
Hotel Habana Libre
8 2 1958 Edsel Corsair
Launched in 1958, the Edsel Corsair’s
This national monument
opened in March 1958 as the Havana styling drew more laughs than praise.
Hilton. Built in Modernist style with Production of the flamboyant folly
ended the following year.
630 rooms, it was the largest and
tallest hotel in Latin America. The 3 1959 Cadillac Eldorado
hotel also once served as Fidel Reflecting the pinnacle of exorbitant
Castro’s headquarters (see p77). late-1950s styling, this rocket-like car
was inspired by the space race.
Ernest Hemingway
9 4 1951 Chevrolet Styline
This Chevy was the most commonly
The famous US author first
came to Cuba in 1932 to fish for seen classic car in Cuba.
marlin. He fell in love with the island, 5 1950 Studebaker Champion
and it was here that he wrote For Its unmistakable bullet-nose design
Whom the Bell Tolls. In 1940 he proved to be popular with Cubans.
bought Finca Vigía (see p47) outside 6 1951 Kaiser Traveler
Havana, his home for 20 years. Ahead of its time, this excellent car
had many safety features that the US
Steam Trains
0 govern ment would later mandate.
7 1951 Pontiac Chieftain
Creaking engines and carriages
piled with sugarcane are a common This car had a like ness of a Native
sight in Cuba, which has about 50 American chieftain on its hood, which
working steam trains – more than lit up when the headlights were on.
any other country except China. 8 1953 Buick Super
Most were made in Philadelphia Famed for its “grinning tooth” grill,
in the 1920s. this car had a Dyna flow three-
speed transmission nicknamed
Cuban steam “Dynaslush” on account of its
train slow responsiveness.
9 1951 Hudson Hornet
Its ground-hugging profile and power
made it a winner in stock-car racing.
10 1952 Oldsmobile Super 88
This behemoth had power steering
and a lightweight body that promised
effortless “one finger” parking.

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