A young Cuban went viral on Facebook by celebrating her 15th birthday aboard a red convertible Ford Fairlane from the late 1950s, cruising the streets of Havana in her turquoise gala dress with her hair flowing in the wind.
The video, which lasts just 14 seconds, was published by the user "Elperro Balto" with the title "15-Year-Old. This is How He Celebrates His 15" and gathered more than 34,500 views, 551 likes and 11 comments on the platform.
In the images, the "Fairlane" emblem can be seen on the body of the car, a bright red convertible from 1957-1959 with chrome details, moving with its top fully down through streets of dilapidated architecture, with utility poles heavy with cables and blue water tanks on the rooftops—an unmistakable scene of Havana.
The scene encapsulates one of the most deeply rooted traditions of Cuban culture: the quinceañera's parade in a classic car.
The so-called "almendrones" —Fords, Chevrolets, Cadillacs, Buicks, and Oldsmobiles from the 40s and 50s that remained on the island after the embargo— are often rented for weddings, quinceañeras, and tourist tours, and are considered a true "rolling museum" that reflects Cuban ingenuity in keeping them running despite the shortage of spare parts.
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