All hail the Tri-Fives

Two-tone 1955 Chevy is finished in white and a shade I'd call georgeous green.
     While just about any brand of American car from the 1950s can be found serving as a private taxi in Cuba, Chevrolet is the most popular choice by far.
   Easy to figure out why. Chevrolet, the bread-and-butter line of General Motors, had a strong grip on the Cuban market in the pre-Castro decade, and in the years since, its sturdy mechanicals and the ready availability of replacement parts (even to Cubans, relatively speaking) have only increased its representation in the Cuban fleet.
   Of those Chevy taxis, a favoured choice is any model from the famous Tri-Five period of 1955 through 1957, viewed by many as the epitome of styling and performance in that era. Delving still farther, the '56 seems the most popular Tri-Five entry, followed by the '55 and then the '57.
  Some of these Chevrolets, usually found in tourist spots, are convertibles that would be greatly prized by collectors. More often, though, they are more prosaic four-door sedans that would carry less value in the classics market.
  Still, they're great to see, great to ride in. You come across one, make sure to give the owner a thumb's up – even a high five!

The '57 is the least-seen Tri-Five Chevy in Cuba. Too bad.

Anodized rear fender panel is a hallmark of the '57 Chevy Bel Air.


You may have noticed this sweet '56 peeking out from a photo in an earlier post.

Likewise, this honest '55. Four-door or not, I'd love to own it. 

Drivers and guides chat while a bull-barred '55 awaits its next fare. 



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