the story with this truck is that the original was made in 6 hours. I seriously doubt the welding could be accomplished in 6 hours, or the design and parts list.
It spent 31 hours going 8 mph at sea before the US Coast Guard intercepted it
A Chevrolet dealer in Miami decided to create a replica to honor the incredible crossing made, as they happened to hire one of the guys from Cuba that helped make it... and when he didn't make it all the way to America with it, he didn't give up, and made the voyage in a 59 Buick that he similarly converted to float and power a propeller.
A similar truck was donated to the cause, and about $100,000 was spent to create an accurate replica. It spent some time at Maroone Chevrolet of Miami before being put on display at the Orlando Auto Museum.
the driveshaft is connected to the propeller directly
http://fortune.com/2015/09/10/cuban-migrants-us/
https://www.motorious.com/articles/news/348745/the-cuban-mobile-is-one-of-the-most-ambitious-trucks-in-history
https://www.motorious.com/articles
http://www.floatingcubans.com/
Only in America would someone spend 100 grand to replicate something that was essentially made out of hastily assembled jury rigged scrap and salvaged materials.
ReplyDeleteThey were both made by the same guy, I presume, as they mention in the video that the Cuban detailer in the dealership came on that truck/boat, and returned on the buick, and they built that replica at the dealership. So, same builder? I think so.
Deletehttp://vectorville.blogspot.com/2019/01/home-brew.html
ReplyDeleteI believe this shows a photo of the replica as well as the original truck "at sea". There are subtle differences in the two.
Yes, they do, and by god thank you for reminding me to look at your blog! It's been way to damn long since I was kicking back and enjoying looking through what you post! Respect to you sir!
DeleteThanks for your kind words, Jesse
Deleteoh phooey, you earned them
DeleteI seem to recall photos from several years ago of another one, created from an early 50s Buick. While in the military back in the early 1970s I spent a little time in Key West and recall seeing some of the fishing boats folks used to escape Cuba across Blood Alley. Sometimes they would be found empty and shot up, poor devils. I saw one made of huge inner tubes and rope.
ReplyDeleteMy question would be, what happened to the 1959 Buick?
ReplyDeleteSank it
DeleteNeedlessly. That should have gone into a Florida history museum somewhere. I've often wondered where its final resting place on the ocean bottom might be...
Delete