Historic vintage cars now in Quezon shrine

He shall return — and so will his cars.

Two historic cars used by late President Manuel Quezon and World War II hero Gen. Douglas MacArthur will now form part of a memorabilia collection honoring the former wartime leader at his shrine along Elliptical Road in Quezon City.

The National Historical Institute (NHI) officially turned over the vintage cars — a 1937 Chrysler limousine and a 1936 Cadillac Series 90 custom town car — in a simple ceremony at the Quezon City Hall grounds. They are among the most famous vehicles among the vintage car collection of the national government.

The historic vehicles had spent the past few decades on display on Corregidor island, where they formed part of the permanent World War II collection.

Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and majority leader Ariel Inton signed the memorandum of agreement with NHI executive director Ludivico Badoy representing the national government.

"This is the first time in Philippine history that historic vintage cars will be turned over to the care of local government," Badoy told The STAR.

He said the Chrysler airflow limousine, which still sports the official license plate number "1," was the official car used by President Quezon during his stint as the first leader of the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines.

The 1936 Cadillac car, which was custom-built by General Motors for President Quezon, arrived in the country on Nov. 4, 1937. The following year President Quezon gave the car to Gen. MacArthur — whom he had named as the country’s Field Marshal, the only American to hold such a rank — as a gift for helping to train and organize the military branch of the government prior to the Japanese invasion.

As Allied commander in the Philippines during the war, McArthur was said to use the vehicle throughout his tour of duty here, which lasted until he was ordered to leave for Australia in 1942.

The vintage cars meanwhile formed part of the historic collection on Corregidor. The transfer of the vehicles to the custody of Quezon City was made through a request by the city to the NHI which agreed to ship the two cars. Councilor Inton coordinated with the NHI and the Coast Guard to deliver the vehicles.

According to Badoy, other vintage cars used by past Philippine presidents which are on display in various parts of the country will remain under the custody of the NHI as the nation’s cultural and historical agency.

Badoy said the cars, which are temporarily displayed in front of the city hall, will be moved permanently to the Quezon Memorial Shrine as soon as a display platform is constructed.