Philippine presidential cars now have a museum of their own

The cars that carried our pasts Presidents now have a permanent home. Inaugurated yesterday on Quezon City day was the Museo ng Pampangulong Sasakyan (Presidential Cars Museum)

The museum is a project of the National Historic Commission of the Philippines and is one that has been several years in the making.

The museum was inaugurated on Quezon City day, attended by Quezon City Mayor, Herbert Bautista, and with Guest of Honor, Harry Roque, as well as NHCP Chair, Dr. Rene Escalante, and executive director, Ludovico Badoy. The opening also saw the attendance of the families of the past Presidents.

The 2,000 square meter building is located in the Quezon City Memorial Circle Park. On display are 14 vehicles used by the Presidents and historical figures in the country’s history.

Among the highlights are 1924 Packard Single-6 Touring used by the President after his term, Manuel Roxas’s Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 Limousine, Manuel Quezon’s 1937 Chrysler Airflow Custom Imperial, and a replica of Diosdado Macapagal’s 1959 Cadillac Sedan DeVille.

Among the cars of historical figures are General Douglas MacArthur’s 1934 Cadillac V16 Transformable Town Cabriolet, Ramon Magsaysay’s 1934 Willys MB Jeep, and Imelda Marcos’s 1960 Rolls-Royce Phantom V.

The museum hopes to expand the collection too, hoping to acquire the Presidential car of Carlos P. Garcia, and that of President Benigno Aquino III, soon.

Besides the vehicles on display, the museum also boasts of an interactive projection mapping wall, a meeting room, the curator’s office, as well as a souvenir shop, which sells various items including the special PHLPost commemorative presidential car stamps.

The Presidential Cars Museum is now open to the public. Admission is free.