What do Imelda Marcos, Queen Elizabeth II, the Shah of Iran, Hong Kong’s British governor, and Yugoslavian dictator Josip Broz Tito have in common? It’s a Rolls-Royce Phantom 5 car.
The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) recently showed a video of historic cars used by our country’s former commanders-in-chief. It temporarily houses the most complete collection of presidential limousines in a private warehouse in Pampanga before the vehicles are transferred to their new home at the Quezon City Circle, where a brand new Presidential Car Museum will rise.
Here are just some of the historic cars that once held the plate number one:
1. President Manuel L. Quezon’s 1937 Chrysler Airflow.
It was one of the first full-sized car to use streamlining design to make it less susceptible to air resistance. The Airflow limousine used by Quezon was three meters wide, five feet tall and could seat six people. It was restored to running condition during the 400th anniversary of Baler (his hometown) and Quezon’s 131st birthday on August 19, 2009. The total cost to restore the presidential car amounted to PHP 1.6 million.
2. President Jose P. Laurel’s Packard 180 limousine
Laurel’s Packard was a standard 1941 model. The most interesting part of the car was its engine. Instead of using a traditional V8 engine, Packard arranged the cylinders in an inline manner, which explains the long and imposing hood.
3. President Manuel Roxas’ 1940 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75 limousine
Roxas served as the first president since the Philippines gained its independence after World War II. He rides a Cadillac Fleetwood 75 limousine which was specially imported just for his inauguration on July 4, 1946, which also marked our independence from America. The Fleetwood 75 is powered by a 5.6-Liter V8 powerplant which can produce 135 horsepower. This car has a wheelbase of 3.58 meters.
4. President Ramon Magsaysay’s 1945 Cadillac Fisher Fleetwood Series 75
Ramon Magsaysay famously drove a Willys Jeep, when he was Secretary of Defense. Once he became President, Magsaysay was comfortably seated in the backseat of a 1955 Cadillac Series 75-23. Measuring over six meters long and two meters wide, the Presidential Cadillac was as big as they come. Like the previous limousines, it came with a seven seat configuration but did not come with a partition window. It was powerful too with a 5.4 liter V8 engine with an output of over 250 horsepower. It was rather advanced for its time with its four speed automatic transmission.
5. President Ferdinand Marcos’ Mercedes-Benz 600 limousine
Marcos served as the country’s president for 21 years, from 1965 to 1986. During this two decade rule, he was reported to have used numerous presidential cars. But one of the standouts was the Mercedes Benz 600 limousine (Marcos owns four 600s including a Landaulet), which was the first bullet proof vehicle used by the Philippines’ head of state. Its highly customizable and very imposing. Its long-wheelbase variant is almost 21 feet long and can weigh about 4 tons. From 1963 to 1981, Mercedes produced only 2,677 600s.
