A blue Mercedes-Benz once owned by former Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou is set to change hands after a Greek entrepreneur living in the Netherlands agreed to buy the car, calling it a tribute to a pivotal figure in the country’s political history.
Pagonis Dantsios, a restaurant owner of Greek origin with roots in the Evros region, discovered the online listing for the 1981 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE just days ago.
Driven by nostalgia and political admiration, he quickly contacted the seller to initiate the purchase.
“I haven’t signed anything yet, but I plan to be in Athens in the next few days to pick it up and bring it to my village,” Mr. Dantsios told iefimerida.gr. He added that the car has already undergone servicing and tire replacement, with only paperwork related to ownership transfer and license plates remaining.
For Mr. Dantsios, the car is more than a vintage German limousine; it represents a personal and political connection to Mr. Papandreou, the founder of the Pasok party and a central figure in modern Greek history.
“We’re just a bit more than devoted fans of Andreas Papandreou. Pasok until the end,” he said, explaining his desire to keep the vehicle in Greek hands.
A longtime supporter of the socialist party, Mr. Dantsios said he attended every major rally since 1981 and consistently backed Mr. Papandreou in elections.
Although he never met the former prime minister personally, Mr. Dantsios said his admiration remained strong despite living abroad for decades.
Recently, a group of Pasok officials visited Mr. Dantsios at his home in northern Greece and presented him with a new party flag to replace his old one.
The informal handover included party figures Dimitris Mantzos, Heraklis Droulias, and Kostas Bakalakis.
Mr. Dantsios publicly thanked them in a social media post, calling their visit meaningful and a reaffirmation of shared values among Greeks abroad.
The Mercedes-Benz 280 SE was used by Mr. Papandreou during his time in office before being transferred to the Presidency of the Republic. After years of state use, the car was eventually auctioned off by Greece’s public asset management agency. It later came into the possession of a private owner who listed it for sale at €16,500.
The listing included documents verifying its status as an official government vehicle during Mr. Papandreou’s tenure.
The car has reportedly logged around 192,000 kilometers and features a 2.7-liter gasoline engine producing 185 horsepower, paired with an automatic transmission.
While its age and mileage might deter a typical buyer, for Mr. Dantsios, its historic symbolism is paramount.
He is expected to finalize the purchase and take possession of the car within the coming week, concluding a deal he says is not just about acquiring a collector’s item but honoring a man who, in his view, “helped Greece and the Greek people.”
By Vasilis Goulas