Phil Hill (#8, 4.1 Ferrari) is about to pass C. Perdisa (#26, 3-liter Maserati) along the Malecon. Photo: Bernard Cahier, courtesy Road & Track
Fabulous Fifties

The Infamous 1958 Cuba GP

Avatar photo

Sexual debauchery, a regime’s imminent downfall and a kidnapping fit for a gentleman were some of the highlights of the 1958 Grand Prix of Cuba for sports cars. Racing during the fifties was noted for some remarkable events. The horrific 1955 Le Mans when almost 100 spectators lost their lives comes to mind. And how about Juan Manuel Fangio’s magnificent drive at the 1957 Nürburgring when he defeated the best in Formula One with an outdated car, winning his fifth World Championship? But maybe this one takes the cake.

The race itself only lasted six laps. Some of the best drivers of the day were on hand. Among the entrants was the Cuban dictator’s chauffeur! Huge crowds watched during the two days of practice and qualifying. The day before the green flag dropped, Fangio was kidnapped! Prize and appearance money was paid with cash in paper sacks. These are only a few of the bizarre goings on.

Related
Members only$29 / year

Keep going. This is where it gets good.

Sports Car Digest Membership is for people who'd rather spend an hour with one chassis number than skim ten headlines. The rest of this story — and every other one like it — is a few seconds away.

  • 5,000+ members-only stories

    Concours, auctions, race history, driven classics and the full archive.

  • No ads. None.

    The whole site reads like a magazine, on every device.

  • The market, every week

    Auction results and classic-car values from the people who were there.

  • 30% off the shop

    Every Sports Car Digest shirt and piece of merch, all year.

Join Sports Car Digest — Keep Reading

$29 a year. Cancel anytime, no hoops.
Already a member? Sign in

BY CAR PEOPLE, NOT A NAMELESS MEDIA COMPANY. Your membership keeps a small independent team of historians, photojournalists and racing drivers doing this.

Join — Keep Reading $29/yr