Gallery: 10 Old-School Cuban Cars

Image via Complex Original

Cuba has long been recognized as a place to visit if you're into classic American and European cars. Due to longstanding governmental restrictions on the buying and selling of cars, residents don't junk their old ones and buy replacements every few years. Instead, they fix up their pre-1959 classics, take exquisite care of them, and pass them down to family members for generations.

In October 2011, some restrictions were lifted. Cuban citizens leaving the country permanently are now allowed to sell their vehicles. Also, if an owner obtains government permission and pays a 100 percent import tariff, that owner can now bring a late-model car into the country. While we don't think this will make all the classics disappear, we hope you'll enjoy looking at some of them while you can.

[Photo by jennicatpink/Flickr]

10. 1950 Plymouth Special Deluxe

Country Of Manufacture: U.S.
Original Msrp: $1,644
Makes Us Want To: Pull over and play baseball
Complex Says: Maybe it's the lush green grass surrounding this lush green Plymouth. We suddenly want to run in the sun.

[Photo by Barnaby Dorfman/Flickr.]

9. Peugeot 403

Country Of Manufacture: France
Original Msrp: $2,175
Makes Us Want To: Sip mojito after mojito
Complex Says: This Italian-designed French classic stands out by simply not having tail fins or a wild design.

[Photo by somebody_/Flickr]

8. Pontiac Pathfinder Four-Door Sedan

Country Of Manufacture: Canada 
Makes Us Want To: Find the best medianoche we can after a night on the town
Complex Says: There are lots of Pontiacs on the island. Most of them aren't Canada-only models like this one, though.

[Photo by SteveR/Flickr]

7. Volkswagen Beetle

Country Of Manufacture: Germany
Original Msrp: $1,495
Makes Us Want To: Go to the beach
Complex Says: Old Beetles aren't just an occasional occurrence in Cuba. Classic VWs are a way of life for some.

[Photo by Emmanuel Huybrechts/Flickr]

6. 1947 Cadillac Series 61

Country Of Manufacture: U.S.
Original Msrp: Two-door: $2,200; Four-door: $2,324
Makes Us Want To: Listen to a hot jazz band while sipping cool drinks
Complex Says: Just one look at that grill takes us back to a time before we were born. Who says time machines don't exist?

[Photo by Barnaby Dorfman/Flickr]

5. Morris Minor

Country Of Manufacture: U.K.
Original Msrp: Less than $1,600
Makes Us Want To: Learn to be ace Cuban mechanics who can keep classics in such good shape with a simple snap of the fingers
Complex Says: This is the daddy of the classic Mini, which started life as the Morris Mini-Minor. Then Morris decided it was mature enough to stand on its own, and it started calling it Mini.

[Photo by ahisgett/Flickr]

4. Ford Fairlane Crown Victoria

Country Of Manufacture: U.S.
Original Msrp: $2,434
Makes Us Want To: Drink delicious, rum-based tropical beverages
Complex Says: Classic taxis like this Crown Victoria are everywhere. That makes it easier to kick back, relax, and have a cold drink.

[Photo by JodaStephen/Flickr]

3. Austin A30

Country Of Manufacture: U.K.
Original Msrp: $835
Makes Us Want To: Drive with the family to get a delicious Cuban sandwich
Complex Says: That bronze metallic paint job really livens up this old A30. We dig it.

[Photo by twicepix/Flickr]

2. Buick Super Riviera Taxi

Country Of Manufacture: U.S.
Original Msrp: $3,536
Makes Us Want To: Go out dancing all night, then take a ride until the sun comes up
Complex Says: We might be offended if this taxi passed us by. We want to ride in it.

[Photo by Barnaby Dorfman/Flickr]

1. Opel Kapitan

Country Of Manufacture: Germany
Makes Us Want To: Smoke a fine cigar and salute
Complex Says: This Kapitan looks like it's on fire with the sunset. Or the balmy tropical climate.

[Photo by puyol5/Flickr]