Overview

Visiting car mechanics, tracking down records in dusty archives, and talking with car-crazy Cubans of all types, Schweid juxtaposes historic moments (Fidel Castro riding to the Bay of Pigs in an Oldsmobile) with the quotidian (a weary mother's two-cent bus ride home after a long day) and composes a rich, engaging picture of the Cuban people and their history. The narrative is complemented by fifty-two historic black-and-white photographs and eight color photographs by contemporary Cuban photographer Adalberto Roque.

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Reviews

Brilliantly written, informed by firsthand insights, and illustrated with a remarkable collection of photographs of cars from the early 1900s to the present, this essay gets top recommendations for a truly remarkable read. <br> -- Choice

Enormously readable . . . a refreshingly original take on [Cuba]. . . . A sweaty and often frenetic journey into what makes the island tick. . . . Schweid is one of those insatiably curious travelers who mixes with everyone he meets. His descriptions of how Cubans have lovingly preserved--and cannibalized--the vintage old American models that long ago disappeared from U.S. streets, provide entertaining interludes that break up the story.--St. Petersburg Times This rambling, well-researched, well-written study of mechanical transportation on, as JFK so aptly put it, 'that imprisoned island, ' is full of interesting facts concerning Cuba's lack of economic development and its continuing love affair with pre-1959 American automobiles.--Southern Pines Pilot Brilliantly written, informed by firsthand insights, and illustrated with a remarkable collection of photographs of cars from the early 1900s to the present, this essay gets top recommendations for a truly remarkable read.--Choice A delectable read. . . . Schweid carefully and masterfully weaves the myriad stories comprising Cuba's patrimony amidst a gritty and well-balanced look at the history of automobile culture on the island. Presented in a pleasant, reader-friendly format, Schweid's book is reminiscent of that one fantastic history professor that every lucky arts student encounters: it teaches much while the audience actually enjoys the journey.--Caribbean Studies Ever wonder about the classic cars you see in any TV show or movie about Cuba? Check out Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile.--USA Today [Schweid] demonstrate[s] his keen understanding of Cuban culture with this unusual book. . . . The photos . . . add supplemental force to Schweid's knowledgeable text.--Publishers Weekly A sturdy history and a lyrical song of love for the cars of yesteryear. The result: a treat for motorheads and geopolitics buffs alike.--Kirkus Reviews [Schweid] weaves a crisp, intricate tale of Cuba's generations-long, symbiotic relationship with (mostly) American cars, despite lifetimes of political upheaval, repression, and economic hardship. . . . Richly illustrated with scores of current and archival photos, this is a satisfying read about a troubled nation and how cars, intentionally and otherwise, shaped its destiny.--Hemmings Classic Car Schweid creates a picture of a widely diverse culture by retelling the stories of mechanics, musicians, artists, carpenters and others, all of them big fans of old American cars.--Creative Loafing (Charlotte, NC) In Che's Chevrolet, Fildel's Oldsmobile: On the Road in Cuba, Richard Schweid thoroughly researches the Cuban relationship with the automobile. . . . Through these scenes, readers get a sense of the contrast of past and present-day Cuba, its colorful people and their love for cars.--Metrotimes

Enormously readable . . . a refreshingly original take on [Cuba]. . . . A sweaty and often frenetic journey into what makes the island tick. . . . Schweid is one of those insatiably curious travelers who mixes with everyone he meets. His descriptions of how Cubans have lovingly preserved--and cannibalized--the vintage old American models that long ago disappeared from U.S. streets, provide entertaining interludes that break up the story.--St. Petersburg Times <p/>

Enormously readable . . . a refreshingly original take on [Cuba]. . . . A sweaty and often frenetic journey into what makes the island tick. . . . Schweid is one of those insatiably curious travelers who mixes with everyone he meets. His descriptions of how Cubans have lovingly preserved--and cannibalized--the vintage old American models that long ago disappeared from U.S. streets, provide entertaining interludes that break up the story.--St. Petersburg Times Brilliantly written, informed by firsthand insights, and illustrated with a remarkable collection of photographs of cars from the early 1900s to the present, this essay gets top recommendations for a truly remarkable read.--Choice Ever wonder about the classic cars you see in any TV show or movie about Cuba? Check out Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile.--USA Today A sturdy history and a lyrical song of love for the cars of yesteryear. The result: a treat for motorheads and geopolitics buffs alike.--Kirkus Reviews Schweid creates a picture of a widely diverse culture by retelling the stories of mechanics, musicians, artists, carpenters and others, all of them big fans of old American cars.--Creative Loafing (Charlotte, NC) In Che's Chevrolet, Fildel's Oldsmobile: On the Road in Cuba, Richard Schweid thoroughly researches the Cuban relationship with the automobile. . . . Through these scenes, readers get a sense of the contrast of past and present-day Cuba, its colorful people and their love for cars.--Metrotimes This rambling, well-researched, well-written study of mechanical transportation on, as JFK so aptly put it, 'that imprisoned island, ' is full of interesting facts concerning Cuba's lack of economic development and its continuing love affair with pre-1959 American automobiles.--Southern Pines Pilot A delectable read. . . . Schweid carefully and masterfully weaves the myriad stories comprising Cuba's patrimony amidst a gritty and well-balanced look at the history of automobile culture on the island. Presented in a pleasant, reader-friendly format, Schweid's book is reminiscent of that one fantastic history professor that every lucky arts student encounters: it teaches much while the audience actually enjoys the journey.--Caribbean Studies [Schweid] demonstrate[s] his keen understanding of Cuban culture with this unusual book. . . . The photos . . . add supplemental force to Schweid's knowledgeable text.--Publishers Weekly [Schweid] weaves a crisp, intricate tale of Cuba's generations-long, symbiotic relationship with (mostly) American cars, despite lifetimes of political upheaval, repression, and economic hardship. . . . Richly illustrated with scores of current and archival photos, this is a satisfying read about a troubled nation and how cars, intentionally and otherwise, shaped its destiny.--Hemmings Classic Car

Enormously readable . . . a refreshingly original take on [Cuba]. . . . A sweaty and often frenetic journey into what makes the island tick. . . . Schweid is one of those insatiably curious travelers who mixes with everyone he meets. His descriptions of [Schweid] weaves a crisp, intricate tale of Cuba's generations-long, symbiotic relationship with (mostly) American cars, despite lifetimes of political upheaval, repression, and economic hardship. . . . Richly illustrated with scores of current and archi In Che's Chevrolet, Fildel's Oldsmobile: On the Road in Cuba, Richard Schweid thoroughly researches the Cuban relationship with the automobile. . . . Through these scenes, readers get a sense of the contrast of past and present-day Cuba, its color A delectable read. . . . Schweid carefully and masterfully weaves the myriad stories comprising Cuba's patrimony amidst a gritty and well-balanced look at the history of automobile culture on the island. Presented in a pleasant, reader-friendly format, S This rambling, well-researched, well-written study of mechanical transportation on, as JFK so aptly put it, 'that imprisoned island, ' is full of interesting facts concerning Cuba's lack of economic development and its continuing love affair with pre-1959 Enormously readable . . . a refreshingly original take on [Cuba]. . . . A sweaty and often frenetic journey into what makes the island tick. . . . Schweid is one of those insatiably curious travelers who mixes with everyone he meets. His descriptions of how Cubans have lovingly preserved--and cannibalized--the vintage old American models that long ago disappeared from U.S. streets, provide entertaining interludes that break up the story.--St. Petersburg Times This rambling, well-researched, well-written study of mechanical transportation on, as JFK so aptly put it, 'that imprisoned island, ' is full of interesting facts concerning Cuba's lack of economic development and its continuing love affair with pre-1959 American automobiles.--Southern Pines Pilot Brilliantly written, informed by firsthand insights, and illustrated with a remarkable collection of photographs of cars from the early 1900s to the present, this essay gets top recommendations for a truly remarkable read.--Choice A delectable read. . . . Schweid carefully and masterfully weaves the myriad stories comprising Cuba's patrimony amidst a gritty and well-balanced look at the history of automobile culture on the island. Presented in a pleasant, reader-friendly format, Schweid's book is reminiscent of that one fantastic history professor that every lucky arts student encounters: it teaches much while the audience actually enjoys the journey.--Caribbean Studies Ever wonder about the classic cars you see in any TV show or movie about Cuba? Check out Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile.--USA Today [Schweid] demonstrate[s] his keen understanding of Cuban culture with this unusual book. . . . The photos . . . add supplemental force to Schweid's knowledgeable text.--Publishers Weekly A sturdy history and a lyrical song of love for the cars of yesteryear. The result: a treat for motorheads and geopolitics buffs alike.--Kirkus Reviews [Schweid] weaves a crisp, intricate tale of Cuba's generations-long, symbiotic relationship with (mostly) American cars, despite lifetimes of political upheaval, repression, and economic hardship. . . . Richly illustrated with scores of current and archival photos, this is a satisfying read about a troubled nation and how cars, intentionally and otherwise, shaped its destiny.--Hemmings Classic Car Schweid creates a picture of a widely diverse culture by retelling the stories of mechanics, musicians, artists, carpenters and others, all of them big fans of old American cars.--Creative Loafing (Charlotte, NC) In Che's Chevrolet, Fildel's Oldsmobile: On the Road in Cuba, Richard Schweid thoroughly researches the Cuban relationship with the automobile. . . . Through these scenes, readers get a sense of the contrast of past and present-day Cuba, its colorful people and their love for cars.--Metrotimes In Che's Chevrolet, Fildel's Oldsmobile: On the Road in Cuba, Richard Schweid thoroughly researches the Cuban relationship with the automobile. . . . Through these scenes, readers get a sense of the contrast of past and present-day Cuba, its colorful people and their love for cars.-- Metrotimes Ever wonder about the classic cars you see in any TV show or movie about Cuba? Check out Che's Chevrolet, Fidel's Oldsmobile. -- USA Today [Schweid] demonstrate[s] his keen understanding of Cuban culture with this unusual book. . . . The photos . . . add supplemental force to Schweid's knowledgeable text. -- Publishers Weekly A sturdy history and a lyrical song of love for the cars of yesteryear. The result: a treat for motorheads and geopolitics buffs alike. -- Kirkus Reviews Schweid creates a picture of a widely diverse culture by retelling the stories of mechanics, musicians, artists, carpenters and others, all of them big fans of old American cars. -- Creative Loafing (Charlotte, NC) Brilliantly written, informed by firsthand insights, and illustrated with a remarkable collection of photographs of cars from the early 1900s to the present, this essay gets top recommendations for a truly remarkable read. -- Choice

This rambling, well-researched, well-written study of mechanical transportation on, as JFK so aptly put it, 'that imprisoned island, ' is full of interesting facts concerning Cuba's lack of economic development and its continuing love affair with pre-1959 American automobiles. -- Southern Pines Pilot

Author Information

Richard Schweid was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and now lives in Barcelona, Spain, where he is a founder and senior editor of the city magazine Barcelona Metropolitan. His previous books include Consider the Eel and The Cockroach Papers: A Compendium of History and Lore, and he recently served as production manager for the Academy Award-nominated film Balseros, a documentary feature about Cuban refugees.

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