One of MCG’s favorite destinations on Facebook is the page Carros Clasicos de Cuba, or for us gringos, Classic Cars of Cuba. Here’s a quick tour. 

Enthusiasts are familiar with the basic story behind Cuba’s unique auto fleet. When Fidel Castro  took power in 1959, new vehicle imports from the western world effectively ended. Ever since, Cuba’s motorists have gotten by on a smattering of communist bloc and South American cars, and by endlessly patching up the island’s inventory of pre-1959 American automobiles.

Evidently, there’s no such thing as a junk car in Cuba, no lost causes. Nearly anything that can be made to roll down the road will be lovingly revived and perpetually repainted, often in bright tropical colors. Sedans are converted into convertibles, cars into trucks and back again, and bodywork and running gear are sustained with whatever components are available. The result is possibly the most distinctive assortment of automobiles on earth.

Beyond that, the cars of Cuba defy explanation. You’ll have to see for yourself. When you’re ready to burn some serious hours on the internet looking at automobiles, head over to the Carros Clasicos de Cuba Facebook page, where you can pore over nearly 15,000 photos. (And while you’re logged in, be sure to join the Mac’s Motor City Garage page if you haven’t already.) In the meantime, here’s a very small sample.