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... I've been researching all the dealerships of Havana (and Cuba) for almost three years and have made nine trips there since August, 2016 for the purpose of writing a book on the subject...

34Eight wrote:
The Iberostar Grand Hotel Packard in Havana (La Habana) just opened after dramatic renovations and additions, having laid empty in ruins for at least 20 years. I was there in November and had drinks in the 6th floor bar/restaurant, which I strongly suggest you do when in La Habana. I'll preface this post by saying that I've been researching all the dealerships of Havana (and Cuba) for almost three years and have made nine trips there since August, 2016 for the purpose of writing a book on the subject. (Iberostar Grand Hotel Packard image from Cubaism. com)

I was happy to run across Mart-Emmenes' posts from 2015, as it helps to answer a question I've been pondering for months. J. Ulloa y Cia. was indeed the Packard distributor from around 1921-22 until perhaps the very end at the time of the Revolution. The company began with Chandler and Packard, plus Packard trucks whose original address was 3-5 Prado and later, 53 Paseo de Marti. The Prado and the Paseo Marti are one in the same, and this is one rare instance where the street numbers have changed. By 1958, J. Ulloa y Cia. repped Porsche cars at 53 Paseo Marti and the Packard Distributorship had moved to Avenida 51 in Marianao. Avenida 51 is also known as the Carretera Central de Cuba and was and still is a wealthy enclave with a mix of ambassadors' residences and fine homes.

But let's get back to the Hotel Packard. A 1931 guide book shows a view from the Hotel Sevilla Biltmore of a United Fruit Company ship entering the Havana Channel and Harbor. It shows the Hotel Biscuit, but the same guide book lists the Hotel Packard at 3 Prado (not the Biscuit) and gives its room prices. In a later colorized postcard of the exact same image, it's the Hotel Packard.

I've wondered why the Hotel Packard used the Packard crest in its stationery, and even the classic Packard script and grille shell as its luggage label! Having searched high and low to no avail for a company connection, it must be that J. Ulloa bought the Hotel Biscuit and renamed it Hotel Packard, around 1931-32. It remained the Hotel Packard till some time after the Revolution, became apartments and later fell into rack and ruin.

Since my travel there it's been under renovation and just opened in October, complete with a '47 Clipper on display for the gala celebration, a mascot-car that can be seen in its garage. My friend Lucy Marshall attended its opening night, and the last image is from the 6th floor bar looking out over the infinity pool at La Punta Fuerza and El Castillo del Morro.

The only way to get this type if info is to go to Cuba, find magazine ads, archives and other ephemeral sources, and dig deep into the Web. Relatively few Cubans know their own history because of governmental interference, but that's changing as their Internet access grows. The former hard line that nothing mattered before the Revolution is falling by the wayside, and everywhere you go images of pre-Castro Cuba are proudly, almost defiantly displayed.

It's the most fascinating, untold subject I can think of, and my book will be finished in 2019 in time for the quincentennial -the 500th anniversary- of La Habana.

34Eight wrote:
"Another friend there told me that some (or maybe all) private vehicles became property of the state and had to be rented back or leased from the government when Castro took over. It was a nightmare for some... and a celebration for others. It all took place on New Year's Eve in 1958. By the time the sun arose over the harbor, it was all over and Cuba would never be the same. It took place 60 years ago tonight."

Thanks for the fascinating insight, there was a lot of pilfering by the new regime and horror stories abound. For the June issue of the Buick BUGLE, I interviewed the son of the last Buick Distributor for Cuba, who also had three dealerships in the Havana area. They had a similar story, but how cool that the Plainsman escaped on a ship.

I'd love to know more about the family with the Plainsman...I guess you've tracked down the estate's location and names of all involved. Can't wait to see the book.

Happy New Year!

TG