Presidential Car Museum in Quezon City Will Take You Back in Time

Updated as of March 18, 2021

Ever wondered how the former Philippine presidents were like, apart from what the history books told us? Thanks to the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, in collaboration with the Quezon City government–the Presidential Car Museum will take you back in time to learn more about the country’s former presidents, all based on the vehicles they used.

Presidential Car Museum located at Quezon Memorial Circle Elliptical Road, Quezon City 

The architecture of the museum itself was inspired by the Philippine flag, shaped like an equilateral triangle. As for the interior, you’ll notice eight dividers between cars, which signify the eight rays of the sun as seen in the flag.

With about 800 to 1,200 visitors daily, the Presidential Car Museum is usually visited by locals and tourists alike in their 20s to 30s. There are also a lot of students visiting for their field trips.

There are eight dividers between cars, which signify the eight rays of the sun as seen in the Philippine flag.

Aside from the fact that the admission is free, you are also allowed to take pictures inside the museum. However, you have to remove the camera flash.

Also read: Museum Etiquette: Unwritten Rules When Visiting a Museum or Exhibit

Upon entering, Emilio Aguinaldo’s 1924 Packard Single 6 233 Series will amaze you with its wood and vinyl interiors. It used to be one of the top luxury car brands back in the 1920s.

Emilio Aguinaldo’s 1924 Packard Single 6 233 Series

Further, according to the museum’s curator Ryan Tan, Manuel Quezon’s car is undoubtedly the crowd favorite. The 1937 Chrysler Airflow Custom Imperial CW is believed to be the most aerodynamic car back in the days.

Manuel Quezon’s 1937 Chrysler Airflow Custom Imperial CW

Visitors are also interested in Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s 1993 Mercedes-Benz S600 Limousine V140 and Ferdinand Marcos’s 1980 Lincoln Continental Mark VI Signature Series.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s 1993 Mercedes-Benz S600 Limousine V140

Ferdinand Marcos’s fancy limousine has a keyless entry, and a digital gauge cluster with a trip computer indicating “miles to empty” and “estimated time of arrival.”

Ferdinand Marcos’s 1980 Lincoln Continental Mark VI Signature Series

Aside from the 12 presidential cars, the Presidential Car Museum also features four other vehicles of historic value, such as the kalesa of Leon Apacible, one of the authors and signers of the 1899 Constitution in Malolos.

Douglas McArthur’s 1934 Cadillac V16 Transformable Town Car Cabriolet is said to be the vehicle with the most interesting history, as technically it is the first presidential car used by Manuel Quezon in 1935.

These cars were originally located in a private warehouse in Pampanga, and museum-goers can expect more vehicles to be seen in the future.

Here’s the full list of presidential cars you’ll see at the Presidential Car Museum:

• 1924 Packard Single 6 233 Series (Emilio Aguinaldo)
• 1937 Chrysler Airflow Custom Imperial CW (Manuel L. Quezon)
• 1942 Packard Custom Super Eight One-Eighty Limousine (Jose P. Laurel and Sergio Osmeña)
• 1947 Cadillac Series 75 Limousine (Manuel Roxas)
• 1953 Chrysler Crown Imperial Limousine (Elpidio Quirino)
• 1955 Cadillac Series 75-23 (Ramon Magsaysay)
• 1959 Cadillac DeVille (Diosdado Macapagal)
• 1980 Lincoln Continental Mark VI Signature Series (Ferdinand E. Marcos)
• 1986 Mercedes-Benz 500EL (Corazon C. Aquino)
• 1986 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL Guard (Fidel V. Ramos)
• 1993 Mercedes-Benz S600 (Joseph Ejercito Estrada)
• 1993 Mercedes-Benz S600 Limousine V140 (Gloria Macapagal Arroyo)

Other vehicles of historic value:

• 1934 Cadillac V-16 Transformable Town Cabriolet (Douglas MacArthur)
• kalesa (Leon Apacible, one of the authors and signers of the 1899 Constitution in Malolos)
• 1943 Willys Jeep (Ramon Magsaysay when he was Elpidio Quirino’s Secretary of National Defense)
• 1960 Rolls-Royce Phantom V (former First Lady Imelda Marcos)

Visiting museums is always a great way to discover a country’s rich culture. Luckily, there are so many museums in the Philippines, each of which offers unique adventures, history, and IG-worthy spots.

Also read: LIST: Must-visit museums in the Philippines

Important note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all visitors must wear a face mask and face shield before entering the Museum premises. To ensure the safety of the general public, they also require visitors to download the StaySafe.PH app, which is available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Details:

Address: Quezon Memorial Circle Elliptical Road, Quezon City
Contact: 0905-435-3396
Operating Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Tuesday to Sunday) Closed on Mondays
Online booking form: https://bit.ly/3cGK15u
E-mail Address: presidentialcarmuseum@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/PresidentialCarMuseum
Instagram: instagram.com/PresidentialCarMuseum
Tickets: Free admission