THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN CARS WERE BROUGHT TO CUBA UP UNTIL 1960, THE YEAR THAT THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT DECLARED A TRADE IMBARGO THAT STOPPED ALL IMPORTS. THIS WAS THE YEAR AFTER FIDEL CASTRO HAD TAKEN POWER IN THE JANUARY, 1959 REVOLUTION THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACTED AMERICAN COMPANIES OPERATING IN THE NEW SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF CUBA. FROM THAT TIME ON, THE INNOVATIVE CUBANS FOUND WAYS TO KEEP THEIR PRIZED AMERICAN CARS IN OPERATION, EVEN THOUGH THEY COULD NO LONGER IMPORT PARTS FROM THE UNITED STATES. THE MAJORITY OF THESE CARS HAVE BEEN REPOWERED WITH DIESEL ENGINES, EITHER FROM RUSSIA OR JAPAN.