A piece of Greek political history is set to return home, as a Greek expatriate living in the Netherlands has arranged to purchase a vintage Mercedes-Benz once owned by former Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou.
The buyer, Pagonis Dantsios—a restaurant owner with roots in the Evros region—discovered the 1981 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE listed online just days ago. Motivated by deep political admiration and personal nostalgia, Dantsios contacted the seller immediately and plans to complete the transaction in Athens within the coming days.
“I haven’t signed the final papers yet, but I’m planning to travel to Athens soon to collect it and bring it to my village,” Dantsios told iefimerida.gr. He noted that the car has already undergone servicing and tire replacement, with only the ownership transfer and registration paperwork remaining.
To Dantsios, this is no ordinary luxury vehicle. The car symbolizes his unwavering loyalty to Papandreou and the PASOK political party, which he has supported since its rise in the 1980s.
“We are more than just fans of Andreas Papandreou. It’s PASOK until the end,” he said, emphasizing his desire to preserve the car as a national and political heirloom within Greek hands.
Although he never met Papandreou personally, Dantsios attended every major PASOK rally since 1981 and has remained a vocal supporter, even while living abroad for decades. His loyalty recently drew the attention of party members, including Dimitris Mantzos, Heraklis Droulias, and Kostas Bakalakis, who visited his home in northern Greece to present him with a new party flag—replacing his decades-old original.
He later thanked the party publicly via social media, calling the gesture a reaffirmation of shared values among the Greek diaspora.
The Mercedes-Benz 280 SE, a classic blue model, was originally used by Papandreou during his time as Prime Minister before being transferred to the Presidency of the Republic. It was eventually decommissioned and auctioned by Greece’s public asset management agency. The vehicle, which has approximately 192,000 kilometers on the odometer, features a 2.7-liter gasoline engine producing 185 horsepower, paired with an automatic transmission.
Despite its age and mileage, Dantsios views the car as a valuable historical artifact, not just a collector’s item.
Priced at €16,500, the listing included documentation verifying the vehicle’s official government use during Papandreou’s leadership. For Dantsios, however, its true worth lies in its symbolic power.
“This is more than just a car,” he said. “It’s a tribute to a man who helped Greece and the Greek people.”
He is expected to finalize the purchase within the week.
Source: iefimerida.gr