They don't make 'em like they used to

By Tony Leisner
This item appears on page 47 of the July 2016 issue.

This month’s winner is TONY LEISNER of Tarpon Springs, FL:

While visiting Havana in January 2016, my wife and I hired driver/guide Alain Galvez (alain.galvez@nauta.cu) for a personalized tour in his 1957 Buick convertible. 

The car was not one of the pristine restorations you see in Cuba, but Alain was very proud that the original V8 engine was still purring (OK, it was sort of a roar) and that the car had belonged to his father. Most of the 1950s cars there now have Russian or Chinese diesel engines and emit clouds of smoke. 

Getting in the car, I noticed a few things missing, such as door handles and roll-up windows. Notably, however, the automatic transmission lever was still on the steering column.