"Lada" for a migrant

“My father is Cuban, and my mother is Russian. They met in Moscow, where I was born in 1975. When I was four, my father decided to return to his homeland. We settled in the city of Camagüey, father taught economics at a local university. I have Russian and Cuban citizenship, in 2003, I moved to Moscow, and then emigrated to Florida, settled in Hayaliiand in 2010, I opened my own business here. ”

“The first batch of spare parts, which I ordered from Russia, was not in demand. But gradually the Cubans began to learn about my store, and things went uphill. The classic models of "Lada" in the secondary market in Cuba cost from 12 to 20 thousands of dollars, spare parts also sell for four times the markup, so it is cheaper to buy them from me. True, because of the American embargo Export of goods to Cuba is not possible. So I sell spare parts to Cubans, and then they themselves or through acquaintances transport them to the island in an airplane. Yes, people pass in carburetors, drive shafts and even hoods. The only thing that is forbidden to take on board is the engines. ”

“The most common in Cuba are the classic models of“ Lada ”. Names like “pennies” or “fives” did not change to Spanish, they are called by serial number - Lada 2101 or 2105. Also in Cuba, many Muscovites, for convenience of pronunciation, they are called Moskovitch. Soviet cars exported to Cuba were modified: for example, they removed heaters that were not needed in a tropical climate. On the island, air-conditioned frets are very much appreciated - at one time the VAZ produced them in small batches and also sold them to Syria and Venezuela.

- Cuba
- Chile
- Venezuela
- Costa Rica
- Caribbean islands

“Muscovites have the most beautiful engines, so people stop halfway, open the hood and admire them.”

132 887 Soviet cars were exported to Cuba from 1960 to 1990 year (data from the USSR Ministry of Foreign Trade). Until the end of the 1950's, almost exclusively American cars arrived on the island, several tens of thousands of which are still in use. Most of them have only the original body.