At the wheel of the republic: Driving through Portugal's history

The Museum of Transport and Communications in Porto, Portugal, presents a fascinating exhibition that chronicles a century of Portuguese history through the distinguished vehicles used by the nation's Presidents. This display offers a unique glimpse into the evolution of both automotive technology and the political landscape of Portugal.

Born from collaboration between Lisbon's Museum of the Presidency of the Republic (MPR) and Porto's Museum of Transport and Communications, The Engine of the Republic: the Presidents’ Cars showcases a century of Portuguese history. Housed in a specially rehabilitated area of Porto's old customhouse, the exhibition features a key collection of presidential vehicles, marking a significant decentralisation of the MPR's activities. ¹

The museum's 2013 opening followed an extensive process of identifying, sometimes rescuing, inventorying and restoring the collection, bringing together a heritage that had been widely dispersed among private collectors, museums and public bodies.

The exhibition's layout mirrors the significant phases of the Portuguese Republic's history: from the early years of the First Republic (1910–1926), through the long period of the Estado Novo dictatorship (1933–1974), and culminating in the democratic era inaugurated on 25 April 1974.

The first section, “From horse-drawn vehicles to the pioneers”, explores the dawn of automotive history in Portugal, showcasing the transition from animal-drawn coaches to early automobiles. Nineteenth-century coaches, with their varied designs, are featured, notably altered after the republic's establishment by removing the monarchical crown and adding the republican shield.

It should be noted that upon the proclamation of the Portuguese Republic on 5 October 1910, the horse-drawn vehicles belonging to the former Royal House, along with its other properties, were reassigned to the Presidency of the Republic.

In his memoirs, Manuel de Arriaga, the first elected President of the Portuguese Republic (1911–1915) recounted, with some regret, the stark realities of his early presidency: “without a house, without money, without transport […] we had to purchase a car for our own use […]”. ² Sadly, no presidential vehicles from the turbulent First Republic (1910–1926) survived, a period marked by seven presidents and a revolution-born regime that prioritised equality between citizens over the monarchical extravagance it had brought down.

The 1911 Constitution enshrined this principle, abolishing birth privileges. The principle of equality meant the President, like any other citizen, faced restrictions, explaining Arriaga's cited difficulties. The Constitution prohibited presidential use of national palaces for residence or office. To overcome this, Arriaga rented a Lisbon palace personally. This changed in 1912, when a monthly rent system charged to the president was instated by the republican regime, thus circumventing the Constitution and allowing palace use. Belém Palace then became the official residence, a practice continuing today. The rent requirement ended in 1928.

The horse-drawn carriages on display were essential for the First Republic's president's short journeys, but especially for ceremonial events, like inaugurations, where they conveyed the heads of state from Parliament, where they were sworn, to Belém Palace. On such occasions, these vehicles, with their hoods down, allowed the president to engage with the crowds. However, due to the underdeveloped road system, trains remained the primary mode of presidential travel nationwide.

Even in the early 1930s, at the onset of the Estado Novo, some horse-drawn vehicles were occasionally used for ceremonies. This was particularly true when it was considered important for the head of state (or Prime-Minister António de Oliveira Salazar) to be seen by the public in a convertible vehicle.

The exhibit's second section, “The Estado Novo and the Vehicles of State”, highlights the period of imposing automobiles. With increasing presidential use, in addition to travelling around the country, under President Óscar Carmona (1926–1951), and the need to host foreign dignitaries under the presidencies of Francisco Craveiro Lopes (1951–1958) and Américo Tomás (1958–1974), new, lavishing, vehicles were acquired. Estado Novo's protocol required car parades, especially convertibles, through the capital, Lisbon, for state visits, emphasising national prestige.

This section showcases iconic luxury vehicles from the 1940s to the 1960s: a Mercedes 770 W07, also known as Grosser Mercedes or “the car of the Nazis”, acquired for President Carmona; a Packard Super Eight, purchased in 1938; a Rolls Royce Phantom III, bought by the Portuguese state for Queen Elizabeth II's 1957 visit, and later for Presidents Dwight E. Eisenhower (USA) and Juscelino Kubitschek de Oliveira (Brazil); a Rolls Royce Phantom V used by Américo Tomás in different tours across the country; a Pegaso Z102, gifted by General Francisco Franco to Portuguese President Craveiro Lopes in 1953; a Cadillac Sixty Two, acquired in 1964 by the Presidency; and a refined Vanden Plas Princess, purchased in 1967.

Even during Portuguese Democracy, these luxurious vehicles saw continued use: the Rolls Royce Phantom III carried Pope John Paul II during his visit to Portugal in 1982, while the Phantom V did the same for Queen Elizabeth II in 1985 and, more recently, for the King of Spain, Felipe VI, in his 2016 visit to Porto. The Packard Super Eight, sold privately in 1959, had a unique 1988 journey to the Netherlands for the final match of the European Champion Clubs’ Cup between Benfica and PSV Eindhoven. The journey resulted in a loss for the Portuguese side and a breakdown of the car, forcing a towed return.

The exhibition's third section, “The Democratization of Presidential Vehicles”, reveals how presidential automobiles mirrored Portugal's transition to democracy. The 1974 Carnation Revolution, ending the 1933 dictatorship, marked this pivotal moment.

From 1974 to 1976, Portugal saw two non-elected military presidents, António de Spínola (May–September 1974) and Francisco da Costa Gomes (up to July 1976), chosen by the National Salvation Board, which acted as a provisional government. These turbulent years, defined by political and military radicalisations, limited presidential travel. For the few journeys in national territory, Spínola and Costa Gomes used Américo Tomás’ (the last president of the dictatorship) former vehicles, the Mercedes 280 SE and 350 SE, now on display.

Portugal's democratic transition reached a milestone in 1976 with the approval of the Constitution in April 1976 and the election, by direct and universal suffrage (for all citizens over 18 years old) of General António Ramalho Eanes as President of the Republic in July of the same year. Ramalho Eanes would serve two terms (1976–1986), playing a crucial role in normalising Portuguese democratic life and in the return of the military from the streets to the barracks.

Amidst Portugal's challenging economic climate, underscored by the International Monetary Fund's interventions in 1977 and 1983, the Presidency initially relied on existing vehicles. However, as presidential travelling increased, security and comfort became paramount, leading to the purchase of a Citroën CX 2400 Prestige in 1981, during General Eanes’ second term.

In 1986, Portugal transitioned to civilian rule with the election of Mário Soares, breaking a 60-year tradition of military presidents. His innovative Open Presidencies, designed to bring the head of state closer to the people, required new vehicles: a Citroën CX 25 Prestige (1986), a Mercedes 560 SEL (1990) and a Mercedes 600 SEL (1992).

The presidential fleet, which included these vehicles, was further used and modernised under Jorge Sampaio tenure as president (1996–2006) with the addition of an Audi A8 LWB 4.2 TIP, a Mercedes S 600 and a BMW 760 Li. The latter continued to serve as the official vehicle for President Aníbal Cavaco Silva (2006–2016), marking a time when car ownership had become widely accessible in Portugal.

Moving away from the era of ceremonial state cars, these vehicles were designed for comfort, speed and practical security.

Finally, adding to the display, the exhibition showcases a fascinating selection of vehicles that served as the honour escorts of the National Republican Guard and the traffic escorts of the Public Security Police.

Each area features original objects and documents that immerse visitors in significant moments from the last hundred years of Portuguese history, enriching the understanding of the displayed vehicles and the Motor of the Republic.