The 18 most gorgeous classic cars we saw on the streets of Havana

Perhaps the strongest reminder of the hardened US-Cuban relationship is the 60,000 retrofitted metal relics clunking around the streets of the stagnant island nation.

Havana's stunning 1950s-era "coches Americanos" - or "máquinas" -are often referred to as the "Galápagos of the car industry" since they have been meticulously preserved by their owners during the 55-year-long trade embargo.

Branded in Cuba's surreal time-warp image, these cars provide crucial income for locals while servicing the island's tourists. Here are a few of the most beautiful vintage cars we saw on our recent trip to Havana. You can read more about Business Insider's week in Cuba here.