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34Eight

The "New" and "Old" Hotel Packard, La Habana

Not too shy to talk

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 sold Chandler, Chevrloet, Cleveland and Packard cars, plus Packard and Federal trucks at the 3-5 Prado address 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.

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Posted on: 2018/12/31 3:08

Luck is When Preparation Meets Opportunity

Guscha

Re: The "New" and "Old" Hotel Packard, La Habana

Home away from home

Quote:

... 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...

TG (34Eight), thanks for throwing the spotlight to this lost paradise.

image source: www.islalocal.com
The below shown pic was taken prior to 1959. The caption reads "Automobile Packard delivered best time in the overall placing during the IV Rally Sagua - Havana"
Click to enlarge!

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Posted on: 2018/12/31 5:25

The story of ZIS-110, ZIS-115, ZIL-111 & Chaika GAZ-13 on www.guscha.de

Leeedy

Re: The "New" and "Old" Hotel Packard, La Habana

Home away from home

Quote:

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.

I will post a few images from Hotel Packard in Habana, Cuba. Yes it was (and I presume is) on the Prado. It appears that the hotel now has a whole new and modern wing.

This one is on a postcard from 1951...

I had a relative there when Castro took over and they lost EVERYTHING. Escaped with a suitcase.

Of course this is nothing compared to the Hiltons who lost the beautiful Habana Hilton (now known as "Habana Libre").... or Meyer Lansky who lost the Havana Riviera Hotel & Casino and probably hundreds of millions in cash. Americans lost huge amounts after the takeover. Businesses, banks, property were ruthlessly confiscated.

I have just finished writing a book a few months ago about the Plymouth (Chrysler) Plainsman concept car... which lived in Havana area as of the late 1950s. I met and interviewed the car's owner in the 1970s and he told me that Castro's people just showed up one day at their 5-acre estate and gave them notice it was about to be "liberated" (in other words stolen). They were given 10 days to be gone and Castro's people didn't care where. Of course Castro's people knew (or thought they did) that there was no way to move everything out of the estate and to move the one-of-a-kind car too. But in the middle of the night the owner arranged to smuggle the car packed with the remainder of their worldly belongings onto a Spanish ship and escaped that way. They had to leave a brand-new Plymouth Golden Fury (with the big engine) behind and heaven knows where that car went. Part of the estate was later handed over to the Russians.

More shots...

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.

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Posted on: 2018/12/31 12:07

34Eight

Re: The "New" and "Old" Hotel Packard, La Habana

Not too shy to talk

"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

Posted on: 2018/12/31 12:32

Luck is When Preparation Meets Opportunity

Leeedy

Re: The "New" and "Old" Hotel Packard, La Habana

Home away from home

Quote:

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

You are most welcome. Of course I knew the original Plainsman owner and his family (the remainder branch of which now lives in Southern California). As for the 5-acre estate they had near Havana, it was their second in Cuba. It was known as "Finca Allegria" and was a beautiful property. It had a large swimming pool that was shaped like a piano. I have more recent photos of it in the Plainsman book. It still exists, but part of the estate was split off and given over to the Russians. I am told that many wealthy and powerful people were once regular visitors to Finca Allegria in pre-Castro days. Of these, Meyer Lansky was one... and that was enough to make Castro enraged (he hated Lansky).

RE: Buick Bugle... I've had some of my historical stuff in that publication many years ago and owned a few Buicks in my life. Look back years and you'll find my images of the XP-300 concept taken at its debut in Los Angeles.

RE: the Plainsman book... The book was completed and ready to go as of February, 2018. However, the promised funding for the book failed to show up. So as a consequence, I have not released it and it isn't available yet., There may soon be a Kickstarter program to fund the book to get it on the shelves since I have already invested nearly $10,000 of my own cash and can't roll the presses yet, despite a book that is ready to go to market. It reads like a novel and contains photos and information that no one (even those who think they know about this car) has ever seen before. Contains about 142 pages of facts and figures including my original 1970s interview with the real designer of the full car (contrary to what the internet and auction companies say-it certainly wasn't Virgil Exner). And yes, the color on the cover here is accurate-not that diarrhea butterscotch shade shown all over the internet and on scale models they sell-all of which are done wrong!

I have added a look at the intro page that discusses the entire story of the car in Cuba and its escape from Castro's clutches...

Thanks for the kind words.

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Posted on: 2018/12/31 14:12

BDC

Re: The "New" and "Old" Hotel Packard, La Habana

Home away from home

Recent car show in Havana with some Packards, and 1 of them in front of the Packard hotel.

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Posted on: 2019/1/18 10:37

I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you

Bad company corrupts good character!

Farming: the art of losing money while working 100 hours a week to feed people who think you are trying to kill them