On the highways of Miami, a red Moskvich —one of those Soviet cars that made a mark in Cuba— has become a curiosity that many photograph without knowing the history it holds. Its owner is Marcos Miranda, a Cuban computer engineer residing in the city, who told CiberCuba that the vehicle was “a surprise gift” for his father, in memory of the Moskvich they both had in Camagüey.
“When I found an identical one in 2018, I knew I had to buy it for him,” Miranda recounted. “There are only three in the United States. My father couldn't believe it, and we immediately started restoring it together. Every time we took it out, Cubans in Miami would come over to take pictures or chat. And he, who wasn’t much of a talker, enjoyed his coffee and his little cigar at La Carreta or Versailles, next to the car,” recalled this Cuban who lives in Miami.
The Moskvich became a part of his family life. However, in 2020, Marcos's mother passed away after a long battle with cancer, and shortly after, his father fell ill and died in 2022. “The car was left stored in the garage, filled with memories,” he confessed. “It was very hard for me to see it again, but after a while, I realized it shouldn’t just sit there. It was something we shared and it needed to keep rolling.”
Over the years, the red Moskvich from Miami has been captured on highways and has gone viral on social media, amassing thousands of views and comments. Many wondered who the driver of that Soviet car was. “Some even asked if he was a communist or a Cuban leader,” Miranda told CiberCuba. “But in reality, it’s a gift I gave my father, identical to the one we had in Camagüey.”
As time passed, Miranda decided to bring the car back out of the garage. “I decided that the Miami Moskvich shouldn't keep gathering dust in the garage, and now it has become La Moska Libre, my tribute to the old one,” she said. “My father and I shared some wonderful moments restoring this car and other antiques we've had.” And even though her parents are no longer with her, the Moskvich continues to roll along, with this beautiful story behind it...
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