They’re called “truck-o-nauts,” and they piloted ships made of car parts to get here. Many Cubans fleeing their homeland for a better life in America use whatever devices they can to float to Miami’s shores. The Maroone Chevrolet dealership recognizes this fact and salutes those who made the dangerous journey with a restored 1951 Chevy park in front of its lot.
The bright green automobile is getting quite the double take from passersby. As the Miami Herald reports, an identical truck was used in 2003 to bring 12 Cuban refugees to the U.S. While the original vehicle did not make it ashore (its passengers were rescued by the Coast Guard), the truck remains a legend in the Cuban community, serving as a symbol for hope and determination.
The restoration was a labor of love for Luis Grass, the 41-year-old who fled Cuba twice in amphibious vehicles. ''My dream was to build a replica of the truck that was used in the first attempt, to keep it as a museum piece. And here it is, six years after the voyage, it's incredible,'' he tell the Herald.
Grass works as a mechanic at Maroone Chevrolet. When he told his employer about his passion, the dealership supported the $100,000 project.
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You can see the unique tribute at Southwest Eighth Street in Miami.
