1949 Plymouth DeLuxe 4-door Sedan

"Its distinctive styling goes far beyond just pleasing the eye. Here's design that flows naturally from advanced engineering  . . .  to fit form and function  . . .  to offer a great New Plymouth that, inside and out, is better in every way!"

Aside from the nice patina, this Plymouth DeLuxe from Havana still looks pretty much like when delivered 65 years ago. The classic car scene in the US would certainly call this car a "survivor": all trim is in its place and there's no sign of the fancy tuning attempts that you can witness on so many other vintage Cuban cars. Well, looks can be deceiving, but we like to believe that underneath the patina there is a well-kept original car waiting.

Like all other Chrysler divisions, Plymouth presented its first all-new postwar design in early 1949. When these cars were devised in the mid-40s, World War II had just come to end and civil car production resumed. With no supply over the last few years, customers were buying literally anything on wheels. Rather than good looks, practicability and reliability were the major buying reasons. In these disciplines, the new 1949 Plymouth certainly delivered spot-on. The cars were well-built, comfortable and offered ample interior space. But, as Plymouth soon should discover badly, in 1949, the automotive world had already changed.

Now, the own car increasingly began to become a personal statement, and buyers were looking for styling and brand image in their new automobiles. More than anyone else, GM hit the sweet spot, as all of its divisions were churning out stylish automotive sculptures. "Chrome and glamour" was the name of the new game, and these days, Harley Earl and his designers clearly were setting the trends in car styling.  Surprisingly enough, customers did accept little compromises. Tight headroom for the rear passengers? No problem, sir! Instrument gauges difficult to read? But it looks so marvelous, buddy!

In this climate, the "Keller Boxes", as Chrysler's offerings soon were dubbed, had a hard time. They sure were high-quality cars, but the aura of progress was severely missing. Even a 1949 Ford looked more modern in comparison. Many customers bought elsewhere, and Plymouth could sell only half as many cars as with the outdated 1948 lineup. It should take six more years before Chrysler would finally catch up and take the lead in American car styling.

1949 Lincoln Cosmopolitan Sport Sedan

"The Lincoln Cosmopolitan Sport Sedan for 6 big people is luxury itself. Long and low–to–the–road  . . .  with a broad, breath-taking silhouette that forecasts the room-to-spare interior."

Very few of those Cubans who were in the game for a representative car in the early 50s, would have chosen the Lincoln Cosmopolitan. With its subtle and elegant lines, the Cosmopolitan was a car for the old money, and as such perhaps a bit too understated for the taste of Cuba's prospering show-off society. At the end of the day, a car was still a high achievement here, and the ones who could afford such a luxurious automobile, certainly liked to flaunt their acquisitions. For that purpose, there were flashier cars available: Cadillac or Packard, with similar prestige, offered fancier looking models. Even from Lincoln you could buy the more eye-catching Lincoln Sport Sedan for less money. This, we think, explains why you hardly ever meet one of the majestic Lincoln Cosmopolitan on cuban roads.

It remains a mystery why Lincoln, of all things, called the Cosmopolitan a Sport Sedan. Although the car was adequately motorized, it was anything but agile, and hampered by its vast dimensions and heavy weight. It clearly was made for the straight, rather than the twisty road. We think, the name Sport Sedan should imply a youthfulness that wasn't there, neither in the styling nor in the purpose of this Lincoln, and thus, it was a complete marketing nonsense.

1957 Fiat 1200 TV Spider

"One of those rare cars that you appreciate more as each minute goes by . . .", concluded a period road test about the Fiat 1200 TV Spider.

Notwithstanding the dominance of mass products from Detroit, Cuba's roads always had their share of exotic cars. Especially in and around Havana, you'll find a surprising number of small sports cars from Europe. These cars clearly were the "boy's toys", purchased as the second or third car, and driven purely for fun, rather than necessity.

Among these sports cars, one tiny Fiat model seems to have enjoyed a certain popularity, as you can witness here and there (thanks, Caristas). In 1953, Fabio Luigi Rapi, design director of Fiat's "Carozzerie Speciali" department, began working on a small roadster that should become the Fiat 1100 TV Trasformabile, presented in 1955. On our battered example, there's not much left of it, but the design of the Fiat was noticeably influenced by American design trends of the time, such as a panoramic windshield or the vertical chrome strip on the rear fenders that resembled a Cadillac styling theme. Even swiveling seats to facilitate entry and egress were installed. Years later, they should appear on American cars, too. Just the proportions of the Fiat and its forward-leaning stance were a bit too odd: even by European standards, this thing was too tiny to look elegant. In the flesh, it truly looks like a toy, rather than a serious sportscar.

Our pictured Fiat 1200 TV Spider was built in 1957. Visually, there were only minor modifications to the predecessor, but under the hood, a new 1221ccm engine now delivered more torque than the anemic engine of the Fiat 1100 TV. This revision also featured a ribbon speedometer, instead of circular instruments. It wasn't a very sporty addition, but certainly in tune with the time's taste.

Among collectors outside Cuba, the tiny Fiat Trasformabile today commands prices that by far exceed its size. Rather than its questionable beauty, it's certainly the rarity that attracts the car enthusiasts worldwide: altogether, only 3,393 were built between 1955 and 1959.