[Healeys] more Cuban Chrome

[Hap Polk]

Avoiding being political, but just stating facts: The US embargo of Cuba has
very little to do with the availability of consumer and car restoration
goods in Cuba. The reason Cubans do not have access to Healey parts is
because 1) Cuba generates very little foreign exchange, and 2) the Cuban
government prevents its citizens from both generating and using foreign
exchange. Cuban citizens don't earn enough to buy and are prohibited from
buying foreign goods direct. The UK, Canada, Australia, and Cuban nationals
living in Mexico, Latin American countries and most others have the ability
to sell foreign made items to Cubans. But the Cubans don't have enough money
to buy and almost no foreign exchange capability and no permission to
import. This is the result of the Cuban government policies, not the US's
mostly ineffectual embargo, we being practically the only country partially
enforcing it.

 

The Cuban Chrome program blames the US embargo for their difficulties. It
also failed to reveal that the Cuban automobile enthusiasts depicted are
among the most economically successful Cubans outside the political class. I
assume these distortions and half-truths were necessary to get Cuban
government permission to film. Most Cubans couldn't even dream of restoring
a car, such as a Healey for fun. The parts prices paid for the green Pontiac
each exceeded the average Cuban's monthly gross wages. 

 

From: Healeys [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of
ATIGHTPROD at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2016 9:25 PM
To: goldengt at cal.net; healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] more Cuban Chrome

 

Wow! How cool is that? Now that's an adventure! Looking forward to the
article.

Steven Kingsbury

BN1 #598

 

In a message dated 3/15/2016 7:37:39 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
<mailto:goldengt at cal.net> goldengt at cal.net writes:

I went to Cuba last week and met with the president of the Cuban Sports Car
Club. He has a nice early BN4. We went to see the BN7 (56 Chevy engine) that
was on the TV show also. The owner of that car was not available to talk to,
though. Too bad his as his English was pretty good on the TV show. Boy what
a challenge those guys have. I wish I could send him all my used stuff. They
could use it. I need to read up on the embargo some more. Maybe there is
some way we can help. The BN4 needs a front shock body. The ear is broken
off. I am working on an article for my local club. I will share it with the
list when I am through.

Ken Freese

65 BJ8



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