A new book by Bermuda author and publisher Dale Butler makes the island of Cuba look like classic car paradise.

'Havana City Classic Cars' is the latest book to be released by Mr. Butler's Atlantic Publishing House.

While most of his books, such as 'Wooden Houses of Bermuda', have focused on Bermudian history, biography and culture, this one breaks geographical boundaries.

"It is a photo book done with a Cuban photographer, Diosdado Lago Martinez, who had no chance of being published otherwise, given the finances that exist in Cuba," said Mr. Butler. "I was doing a book of my own, and he was absolutely shocked when I told him I had done 50 books."

Mr. Butler met Mr. Martinez in early 2009, when he accompanied jazz band 'Bermuda's Unit' to Cuba to compete in the 25th annual Havana International Jazz Festival, as Minister of Social Rehabilitation and Culture.

Mr. Martinez is an engineer in his 50s.

"He is a very nice guy, and he has become a close friend of mine," said Mr. Butler.

Mr. Martinez shared with Mr. Butler his passion for vintage cars, and his desire to do a book about them. There are a lot of vintage cars in Cuba, because generally ordinary people cannot afford to buy more modern versions.

"Cuba is flooded with classic cars," said Mr. Butler. "Everyone is predicting there will be a change when aging Cuban leader Fidel Castro goes. One of the first things that will disappear will probably be these cars.

"When I first saw these cars, I was flabbergasted that they would be in such good condition. That you could get in them as a taxi. Some of these vintage convertibles had wooden floors. The cars are from the early 1950s.

"More modern cars are coming in, but if you have one of those cars you are reluctant to give it up, because they are now worth money. The government will not allow you to sell them overseas. They have become heirlooms."

Mr. Butler said he and Mr. Martinez once drove for miles searching for classic cars.

"In the end we only chose ten or 15 cars out of the thousand we photographed," said Mr. Butler.

He said he'd never particularly been a fan of vintage cars until he got to Cuba.

"I like the convertibles," he said. "They definitely stand out in my mind. I also liked the Cadillac Eldorado 1951. I got a ride in the Plymouth 1950 that is in the book."

Photographing cars in some locations in Cuba, however, turned out to be problematic.

"I was photographing in the airport grounds, and the Cubans are very suspicious of everything," said Mr. Butler. "So they automatically thought it was espionage and I had to flash my ministerial card at the time."

The cars are depicted in the book in colour against a black and white backdrop.

Mr. Butler said only a handful of books have been written about Cuba's vintage cars, and the last one was done entirely in black and white.

To publish the book, Mr. Butler and Mr. Martinez first obtained permission from the Cuban government.

"The government expected us to take two years to get the book out and we took three months instead," said Mr. Butler. "We got permission, because I didn't want to break any rules at all."

Mr. Butler said his friend Mr. Martinez was overwhelmed when he finally saw the book in print.

"His greatest dream was to get into print," said Mr. Butler. "He couldn't believe I could get it out so quickly and in such good order. He is delighted. He didn't perceive it would happen at all."

Mr. Butler said since he first visited Cuba with 'Bermuda's Unit' he has visited the country many times.

"I liked the architecture to begin with," he said. "Now, I have a lot of friends down there. I like the richness of the culture, and the music, of course."

He said Cuba was even an inspiration to him as Minister of Social Rehabilitation before he gave up the post last year.

"They have numerous cultural centres," he said. "There is ballet galore. Every time I go down there, I see a performance by their national ballet. It usually costs the equivalent of about $10.

"I have learned a lot from them. The Bermuda Historical Heartbeats series of historical and cultural lectures came from my involvement in Cuba."

But Mr. Butler said he is trying to get out of the book business, at least in terms of writing the books.

"I am trying to help other people," he said. "I hope to soon bring out a book about Filipinos in Bermuda. It is about 400 pages. It is beautiful. I couldn't get it out for Christmas, because I didn't have the money to do it."

More recently, Mr. Butler has been working on documentaries and his documentary about Bermuda's homeless 'Out Among The Ins' has proved very popular.

"A lot of churches in Bermuda want me to show the film," he said.

The book is available at local bookstores including True Reflections, Bermuda Bookstore and at Brown & Company.

"So far, the reception has been very good," said Mr Butler. "I did a booksigning at Brown & Company that went extremely well."