Making a gasket for a 1958 Plymouth Belvedere’s carburetor from an old piece of cardboard is a typical job for an auto mechanic’s apprentice in Cuba, where parts for American cars that were stranded on the island since 1960 are almost impossible to come by. Cuban mechanics have all acquired and perfected unique skills ever since the embargo was implemented by the U.S. in retaliation for Cuba’s nationalization of American-owned oil refineries. Now, talk of the embargo being lifted has buoyed the hopes of many U.S. auto parts companies that sell after-market parts, and U.S. classic car buffs are salivating at the chance to acquire classic Fords, Buicks, Oldsmobiles, and Cadillacs in ready-to-restore condition.
But not so fast…
