They may be close to 40 years of age but are still a smooth ride. They boast comfort, plush seats and spacious interior with revolutionary extras. The government limousines, Soviet-made Chaika vehicles, that used to carry the cream of the Bulgarian political elite as well as diplomatic guests among which Fidel Castro, were offered on auction July 7.

Lined up at the National service guard's garage as obedient servants, the Chaikas respectfully await their new owner. 'Chaika' means a seagull in Bulgarian and Russian.

There are about 3000 limos altogether used in the Socialist bloc up to 1989, Zlati Raykov, head of guard service's garage, told The Sofia Echo. The garage needs to be cleaned up, so new vehicles could be bought with the collected money, he said.

“Imagine, those cars are made at the end of the 1960s and all of them are equipped with air conditioner, have automatic windows and also are automatic, operated by buttons on the dash-board,” Raykov said.

But nowadays, the cars are really a high maintenance because they are not manufactured any longer and spare parts are hard, if not impossible, to find, he said. “The cars are in good condition, but after all, they are old and unpleasant surprises may await around the corner,” Raykov added.

Chaikas are rather collector's delight.

Suggested auction starting price is $18 500 (23 000 leva) and so far interest has been shown by German, Austrian and Russian collectors. On the morning of the auction day, close to 100 candidates had deposited the required 10 percent down payment in order to participate.

But not everyone at the auction is there to bid for the luxury limousines. Valentin Dimov has been attracted by the two military jeeps also displayed in the garage. He said to The Sofia Echo that buying up that kind of vehicles has become a vital part of his business of fixing up “rusty boneshakers” and offering them for re-sale.

“I would love to buy a Chaika, because it is a nice antique piece, and after a while its value will go high up,” Dimov said. “But as of now, it is too expensive for me.”

At the end of the day, all 20 Chaikas offered for sale flew out of the garage's door, Raykov told The Sofia Echo. Each of the limos found a new owner and the most expensive one was sold for close to 32 000 leva. In addition to the Chaikas, another 18 vehicles of the car park have been sold, and the total amount of the auction came to 454 000 leva, Raykov said.

“I could say that our expectations are fully met,” he added.