Cuba's Iconic Antique Cars Sit Idle as US Energy Blockade Deepens Fuel Crisis

Cuba's famed 'almendrones,' the vintage American cars that serve as vital shared taxis, are increasingly sitting idle due to a deepening fuel crisis. Cuban officials attribute the shortages, which have gripped the island since January, to a US energy blockade. This situation tests the island's ingenuity and endurance, qualities embodied by these iconic gas-guzzling antique cars.

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I signed up in February ... I’m still somewhere around number 2,800.

Many Cubans are waiting for fuel through a government reservation app, which has become a symbol of the shortages it was designed to manage. Diriel Valdez, a 27-year-old auto body shop owner, is restoring a 1951 Chevrolet Deluxe but faces an uncertain wait for fuel. He signed up in February and is still ranked around 2,800th for a mere 20 liters (5.3 gallons) of gasoline.

The name 'almendrón' comes from the Spanish word for almond, referencing the rounded shape of the large American sedans imported before Cuba's 1959 revolution. For decades, sanctions and shortages forced Cuban mechanics to become masters of improvisation, swapping engines, rebuilding bodies, and sourcing parts from wherever possible. These cars are passed down through generations, representing a significant part of Cuban heritage.

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These cars are passed down from generation to generation. I had one that belonged to my great-grandfather. It went from him to my grandfather, then to my father, and then to me.

The country produces only about 40% of the fuel it consumes and relies heavily on imports. Since January, the Trump administration has tightened sanctions, further complicating fuel acquisition. Just one Russian tanker has delivered oil since then. The fuel shortage also affects livelihoods, with people hesitant to undertake major repairs on cars they cannot fuel.

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People don’t want to do major repairs anymore. A lot of them have their cars