Bulgarian Communist Leaders Retro Cars Shown in Ex Palace

The Soviet-made Chayka, used by Communist functionaries, and still owned in significant numbers by the Bulgarian State, has a high collector value. Photo by carsbase.com

Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, wants to have all State-used retro vehicles on display at the former royal palace Krichim.

The vehicles are now housed and cared for by the National Security Services, NSO.

It emerged in mid-July that Djankov is taking over the management of the former royal palace, which is to be turned into an art center.

At the beginning of June, the Bulgarian Supreme Court of Cassations (VKS) confirmed the rulings of two previous courts rejecting the claim of Bulgaria's former Tsar and Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg and his sister Maria-Louisa in the dispute over ownership of Krichim.

The palace is now slated to become a center for spiritual and arts advancement, managed by the Finance Ministry, and open for everyone.

Besides the hunting lodge, the palace, near the second largest city of Plovdiv, is known for its magnificent park. Mexican turkeys, pheasants, South American ostriches, rock partridges, grouse, and guinea fowl are all bred there.

Djankov plans to gather at the palace artists and archaeologists for plenaries and seminars.

The retro vehicles, especially those used by State functionaries during the times of the Communist regime, are of very high value for collectors.

The Bulgarian Standard daily reminds that three years ago, the State gained about BGN 0.5 M from the sale of the Soviet "Chayka" (Seagull) models, with some collectors purchasing several cars.

Some remarkable antiques, however, still remain in the NSO garage. One of them is a Cadillac, imported from the US in 1956, which is still running. The others include and Mercedes Pullman Landaulet, which can be listed at auctions with a starting price of EUR 0.5 M, 20 "Chaykas," the private jeeps of Communist leader, Todor Zhivkov, and some newer armored vehicles.

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