1936 Ford Phaeton

President Roosevelt enjoyed driving this car whenever he was at Hyde Park. Specially modified to be operated with hand controls, it gave him the freedom to drive despite his disability. The controls were designed and installed by Fred Relyea, a mechanic in Poughkeepsie. After FDR's death, Eleanor Roosevelt used the car until late 1946, when she presented it to the Museum. It had been driven 19,143 miles.

To learn more about FDR's 1936 Ford Phaeton you can visit our Digital Artifact Collection.