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Gov. Cuomo to restore 1932 state car used by Franklin Roosevelt
ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo is resurrecting a 1932 state car used by Franklin Roosevelt when he was New York governor.
The 12-cylinder, standard shift Packard Phaeton with leather interior has been for years sitting as an exhibit on the fourth floor of the state Museum.
But Cuomo — a car enthusiast with a particular fondness for muscle cars — wants to have it restored to running order so it can be used for ceremonial opportunities like the scheduled 2018 opening of the new Tappan Zee Bridge and parades.
"This was a very important car to him," Cuomo, who is believed to have national ambitions of his own, said of FDR. "This is a national treasure. I think I owe it to FDR as an obligation within the society of governors that I look after his baby."
The car is being sent to an expert in Connecticut who restores such vehicles. Cuomo said the idea is to preserve, not restore, the car. That means getting the engine running, making sure the brakes work and changing the tires if needed. But the paint and interior will all remain the same.
"The car is in very good shape," Cuomo said.
With only 40,000 miles on it, he said, "she's hardly broken in."
"There's a lot of life left in her," Cuomo said.
Gov. Cuomo to restore 1932 state car used by Franklin Roosevelt
ALBANY — Gov. Cuomo is resurrecting a 1932 state car used by Franklin Roosevelt when he was New York governor.
The 12-cylinder, standard shift Packard Phaeton with leather interior has been for years sitting as an exhibit on the fourth floor of the state Museum.
But Cuomo — a car enthusiast with a particular fondness for muscle cars — wants to have it restored to running order so it can be used for ceremonial opportunities like the scheduled 2018 opening of the new Tappan Zee Bridge and parades.
"This was a very important car to him," Cuomo, who is believed to have national ambitions of his own, said of FDR. "This is a national treasure. I think I owe it to FDR as an obligation within the society of governors that I look after his baby."
The car is being sent to an expert in Connecticut who restores such vehicles. Cuomo said the idea is to preserve, not restore, the car. That means getting the engine running, making sure the brakes work and changing the tires if needed. But the paint and interior will all remain the same.
"The car is in very good shape," Cuomo said.
With only 40,000 miles on it, he said, "she's hardly broken in."
"There's a lot of life left in her," Cuomo said.
Gov. Cuomo to restore 1932 state car used by Franklin Roosevelt
