This Chrysler Crown Imperial limousine was
former Indonesian President Sukarno's 9th
presidential car. It was
ordered by President Bros Tito of Yugoslavia. The car was presented to
President Sukarno on his diplomatic visit to the High Conference of
Non-Block countries back in early 1955. The 
car was used as a
presidential car during Sukarno's reign as president. (There were more
than twenty presidential cars and they still remain, today, in good shape.) When President Sukarno resigned in the late 60's, all of his
presidential cars were stored in palaces all over Indonesia. The new
president did not take note of them and they soon feel into disrepair.
There the car slept for more than two decades, lying lifeless, neglected for
many years. The '54 was kept in the palace garage along with several other cars, packed together and full of dust, dirt and spiders.
Then one day in 1987, the Indonesian
government realized that these cars were a national treasure and
decided to
relinquish these cars to enthusiasts in
the Indonesian Vintage Car Lovers Association (PPMKI) which was founded in 1979.
Auctions were held, exclusive only to PPMKI members (in order to save
the cars), to determine who could take them home. Our family happened to win
the 9th presidential car, and gladly took it home, even though we did not
know anything about the car.
Our new '54 Crown Imperial was showing 3,800 miles on the
dash and currently has only 10,000 miles. 
The car was 
originally painted army green with
a green interior. It came with power steering, power windows, power 'disc'
brakes, air conditioning and radio tape, Powerflite transmission and a 331 hemi 4
bbl. Options, as ordered by President Sukarno, included a flagpole and
special army
green color inside and out. It currently remains mostly original. The green
paint is original, the weathered interior is original and the details remains
as it was, except for tires, battery, fuses, fans, etc which were needed in order to
get it to run. The Imperial is 49 years old, and 
as an
unrestored car
is showing its age;
it is not running at its best, but we love it that way. Known problems are
weathered paint and interior (headliner rot), wrong spring rate, brakes that
lock up, and an engine that overheats. The air conditioning, radio and
some instruments do not work. We are planning to perform a partial
restoration on the car soon, because it
will not last longer if neglected, but most replacements will be
factory original.
