Cuba's classics gear up for 1st contest

HAVANA - Cuba's sun-splashed streets are open-air museums of brightly painted vintage automobiles, thanks to the time and elbow grease that their owners have invested in their prize vehicles.

Now, the first classic car contest aims to recognize their efforts by shining a spotlight on this uniquely Cuban pastime.

More than 100 vintage cars, most dating from the 1950s, will go on display on Havana's streets on Dec 15 as part of the contest jointly organized by Iberostar, a leading Spanish hotel chain that operates in 17 resorts in Cuba, and a local classic car club (Amigos de Fangio) that gathers some 300 owners of vehicles made from 1919 to 1960.