Among Cuba's vintage cars, the truly valuable are elusive

Havana

LUIS Abel Bango spent seven years searching for his dream car, a 1957 Chevy Bel Air. He finally found it on Cuba's far western tip, buying it off the original owner for US$7,000. "I went everywhere looking for what I wanted. Out in the provinces, central Cuba. I had to go to the end of the island to find this one," Mr Bango said.

The black-and-white four-door had been kept intact by the original owner, complete with all the chrome bits such as the rocket-like hood ornaments that give a '57 Chevy its style and make it a collectors' favourite. "The whole package was nearly complete," said Mr Bango, although he still needed to take the car apart for a complete diagnosis and a new paint job.