I’ll never forget the first car my dad ever owned. It wasn’t some sleek sports car or a burly American muscle machine. No, it was a right-hand drive Prince Skyline 1500, previously owned by the Filipina actress Elizabeth Ramsey. Back then right-hand drive cars were allowed on Philippine streets.
That Skyline was my first glimpse into the world of automobiles. I remember being fascinated by the column shifter and the “hanging type” air-conditioner, which was quite the novelty back then. It was in that car that my love for all things automotive was sparked, a passion that’s never faded. My dad’s cars came to adjust to changing needs.
There was a Mark 1 Ford Cortina which my brother inherited, a Minica Van bought during the 1996 Oil Crisis, a Ford Telstar which as a part of a debt settlement to him, and his last car was a Nissan Sentra which was a gift from my sister.
For Father’s Day I asked friends if they had stories to share too. Here is a selection of storied (more online) and it was clear, there were many things we shared about our father’s cars.
My friend Botchi Santos told me about his dad’s Box Type Lancer, and how proud he felt being dropped off at school in it.
“My Dad’s first car I remember was a boxtype Lancer And we lived in Fairview where it was so far from everything back in the 80s. When my Dad didn’t need to leave so early, he would drop me off in school And I felt an immense sense of pride being dropped off at school by my Dad in his Box Type,” Botchi narrates.
“It only happened a few times, but it was more than enough for it to leave a very striking memory in my mind,” he muses.
I could relate to Botchi’s sentiment. There’s something special about the bond formed between a child and their parent’s car. It’s a shared space, a witness to countless conversations and silent rides filled with unspoken understanding.
My college classmate Conrad Cariño shared memories of family road trips in his dad’s Mitsubishi Minica, a car so reliable it could even handle the steep slopes of Kennon Road.
“My Papa’s first car was a Mitsubishi Minica with a 300cc air-cooled engine. It was a small and surprisingly reliable. I remember my Papa driving it to Baguio during some Holy Week breaks, and it delivered. It beat some of the V8-powered American-made cars that struggled in climbing Kennon Road. We five family members then, as my youngest siblings were not born yet,” Conrad vividly describes.
Eventually, the Minica had to give way to a bigger car–a Ford Taunus–when two more kids were added to their family.
“I think that was the early 1980s, that I got to drive the Minica often. I did not inherit it, but I drove it a lot. Papa hardly had time to devote to maintaining two cars, the Minica gave in and had to be sold,” he said. He regretted not taking good care of “my Papa’s first car, but then, the fond memories me and my family had with the Minica will never fade away,” he joyfully adds.
Award winning motoring scribe Tessa Salazar of the Philippine Daily Inquirer shared her story with me.
“My Dad has only personally owned just one vehicle: A Mazda E2000 Power Van. He had been driving it up to the time he reached the age of 80. Now at 85, my dad still wants to drive around the subdivision but he has been advised by his docs to lay off on the wheel while he’s regaining his limb strength. He recently underwent angioplasty and pacemaker procedures. He can only do limited walking and stationary bike exercise. The Power Van is still with us but a lot of repairs are in order. My dad won’t let go of his Power Van even if there had been some tempting offers. I was able to drive that van several times and passengers love the ride,” Tessa relates.
Manila Times Sunday Business IT editor Jing Garcia has a very interesting trivia.
“My dad’s personal car was a 1969 Datsun 1600 (Bluebird)–it was a dark green 4-door sedan. He used it until the mid-80s. I learned to drive in that car. He was a member of the Manila Police Force and when he was using his private car and needed to do this police duties he had a magnetic “wang wang a la Starsky’n Hutch,” Jing cheerily narrates.
I heard stories of inherited Toyota Coronas, Isuzu Fuegos used for family adventures, and even a glimpse into the world of rare cars with Mike Potenciano’s tale of his dad’s Jaguar XK 150.
“The car I remember was my Dad’s Jaguar XK 150–which was going under restoration. I never got to ride it but it was always parked inside the company garage. This beautiful car was there to greet me every time i go to the shop and my Dad wouldn’t want us to touch it until he had all the parts ready. I should have restored it while we can without him knowing,” race car driver and motoring talk show host Mike Potenciano says.
All these stories, combined with my own experiences, have shaped my view of cars.
They’re not just a means of transportation to me; they’re a reflection of who we are, where we’ve been, and the journeys we’ve taken together. And for that, I’ll always be grateful for the cars my dad drove.
Louella Sarmiento, a millennial doctor and physical rehabilitation therapist shared her dad’s first car.
“I remember my dad’s first car to be an Isuzu Fuego. It was a pick-up and I remember that we rode in the back open air with my siblings and eldest cousin and I wasn’t even sure if it was legal but it was fun. It had aircon but when we drove through the roads in Pulilan my dad won’t turn it on if we were riding in the back. My dad had that car for a long time until Typhoon Ondoy took it away from us,” she comments.
Each story was a reminder that our fathers and their cars are more than just machines; they’re vessels for memories, symbols of family, and sometimes, even a link to the past.
These stories, combined with my own experiences, have taught me that cars are more than just steel and rubber. They’re time capsules of memories, symbols of family, and reflections of our personal journeys. And for that, I’ll always be grateful for the cars my dad drove, and the stories they continue to tell.
