AUTOS CARS CUSTOM

found on http://caristas.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-gullwing-watch-it-and-weep.html

for a full article on it: http://caristas.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-young-man-and-300sl.html

 awaiting that dream day when it will emerge better than new, this man's trophies are a Hispano-Suiza race car, a Fiat Abarth 750 Zagato "Double Bubble" coupe, even a Chrysler Special by Ghia show car.
   And, of course, that Gullwing,  a Mercedes-Benz 300SL, engine-less, rust creeping up its sides, lies beached amidst debris in a yard near Havana.
   In the photos Miguel took of that very car in Nov 2012, the rust has spread everywhere: door sills, window frames, the roof. Worse, the car bends up at either end, its trademark doors jammed open. Because it was transported and stored poorly, Miguel writes at This European Life, "it's almost broken in half."
and I just learned... there is a car museum in Havana.. the Depósito del Automóvil http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dep%C3%B3sito_del_Autom%C3%B3vil
and inside it are :

1905 Cadillac
 1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom I
1953 MG TD
 1920s Fiat Alfa Romeo roadster
1970s Daimler
1980s Chevy replica of a 1957 Maserati used by Juan Manuel Fangio
 Cadillac V16 1930
 1959 Oldsmobile, owned by Commander Camilo Cienfuegos
 1918 Ford T
1930 Baby Lincoln
funeral carriage
1977 Ducati 900SS owned by Fidel Castro
1915 Mack AC. Chain drive







the personal cars of Fidel and Raul Castro, as well as the Chevrolet Impala of Che Guevara, Mr. Maestre said he would like to secure what is perhaps Cuba's most important car: Ernest Hemingway's Chrysler.

The best online photo gallery is http://www.flickr.com/photos/riveranotario/sets/72157633360600664/with/8683984605/

Eduardo Mesejo Maestre, curator of the Depósito del Automóvil, the country’s official antique car museum arranged Treasury Department permission for Tom Cotter to travel directly to Havana from Miami on cultural exchange visas. Call it spark plug diplomacy.



Depósito del Automóvil is at Oficios No. 13, Habana Vieja, C.P. 10100, La Habana, Cuba. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/automobiles/03cuba.html?_r=0

above are from Herbie Rides Again... the 2nd movie in the series

In 1930, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh felt slighted at the British Rolls Royce company’s refusal to accept an order from him for a new Rolls Royce car.

Reacting to the refusal, the Maharaja ordered new Rolls Royce cars and put them to hauling garbage, dung and filth in Patiala city,  to the chagrin of the all-powerful Rolls Royce-loving Viceroy and the British ruling establishment,  who quickly prevailed upon the Rolls Royce Company to comply with the Maharaja’s wishes.

True story, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhupinder_Singh_of_Patiala

great window system... very good looking design to go with the 2 door body

 

in the above shot the engine looks pretty damn good!

the entire car is handmade oversize, maybe to scale, I don't know. But to get that enormous engine to fit they made the car with a ratio that would work with the engine size

Above, the collection is partly in a roundhouse, I think it's a great way to access a large collection for a driver, I have no idea if the architect was informed that the display factor would be important


The 1914 Rolls Royce that sparked the tour invitation, was brought to the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours


Above, the original Shell gas station that is inside the palace, as the only gas engine vehicles of the time were owned by the Maharajah. Makes sense!

 While visiting India, the author of the website was also interested in seeing the local repair shops to contrast them with what he is familr with in Germany

See or read the entire post about the week in India and tour of the private collection at http://www.classicmotourist.blogspot.de/2013/03/indien.html which I learned about from http://www.carguychronicles.com/2013/04/classic-cars-in-india-rajasthan.html

 1933 Marmon V16 series 144, one of 71



 the Mercedes from the Petersen Museum front reception area


 1938 Rolls Royce Wraith, one of 3