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A limousine once owned by Nicaraguan dictator Luis Somoza Debayle hits the online auction block

A slice of Central American history

At LotPro.com, we try to stay away from any topic that might raise the evil specter of a debate on politics or religion. But when this tidbit blew in over the wire service, we just couldn’t help ourselves – the only consolation being that it does have something to do with automotive history, albeit a repressive and violent one.

To try and make a long and dreadful story a short one, the eldest of the Somozas (there were three that ruled Nicaragua), Anastasio Somoza Garcia (known as “Tacho”) began his rise to power in 1933, just as the U.S. Marines evacuated the country, when he was appointed director of the Nicaraguan National Guard.

Following the assassination of his nearest rival and the forced resignation of the elected president, Somoza the eldest staged an election in which he was declared the winner and, on January 1, 1937, he was inaugurated president.

"Tacho" Somoza ruled Nicaragua for 19 years, amassing a fortune (estimated at $60 million) and surviving periodic coups until he was fatally shot in September of 1956.

Following his untimely demise, his sons took over the family business. Luis Somoza Debayle became the “interim” president, while Anastasio “Tachito” Somoza took over the leadership of the Nicaraguan National Guard. Although Luis stepped down from the presidency in 1963, Tachito’s stranglehold on the leadership of the National Guard ensured that the family’s interests would be protected until he, himself, became president in 1967, shortly after Luis died of a massive heart attack at the age of 45 (the least-violent fate of any of the Somozas).

Anastasio “Tachito” Somoza managed to lead Nicaragua for the next twelve years while serving two terms as president and serving as commander of the Guard until his government was overthrown in 1979. The former leader fled to Miami and later found refuge in Paraguay where he met an unfortunate end on September 17th of 1980 as he was being chauffeured about the city of Asunción and came upon a commando team that first machine-gunned and then fired an RPG-7 anti-tank grenade at his white 1979 Mercedes-Benz limousine (note picture at the top).

1957 Mercedes 300D

Amid all this chaotic history and in addition to amassing millions (as well as being the point of this whole article), it also appears (big surprise) that the Somozas found the time to treat themselves to some of the finer things in life, not the least of which was a 1957 custom-built blue Mercedes 300D limousine.

How this particular Mercedes managed to avoid the aforementioned rocket attack will be discussed later. But first, according to Motoring Investments, this is how it was acquired:

From an official Daimler-Benz letter in our possession it appears that Luis Somoza officially ordered this Mercedes on September 14, 1957.  Mr. Somoza communicated to Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft that this limousine was to have special equipment.  Chassis number 7500143 was built with a high torque fuel-injected engine, double acting telescopic coil springs, refrigeration, radio-telephone, military siren and blue lamp.  Mr. Somoza stated that since the automobile was of pillarless design, his intended use did not require armor-plating.  On March 2, 1958, the auto was shipped to Nicaragua on the S.S. Hein Hoyer owned by Hanseatic Vaase Line.

The Christmas present

Motoring Investment’s story continues:

Twenty years later, on December 14, 1977, A. Somoza (Anastasio) wrote an official letter from Casa Presidencial, Hacienda El Retiro to Senor Julio Cesar Gallardo expressing the family’s appreciation for his service and telling him he would be given his brother Luis' car that had been in the family for so long.

On December 23, 1977, A. Somoza and Gallardo signed a Bill of Sale for un cordoba C$1.00. The document stated that the vehicle was a blue 1958 Mercedes Benz limousine 300d with chassis number 7500143.

In the Carta de Vente, Gallardo agreed to restore the car in minute detail as assessed by Senor Carlos Jose Mendoza of the Mercedes-Benz agency in Managua.  Gallardo agreed that the car was to be considered as a museum piece and a national treasure.  Gallardo promised that it would never leave its homeland of Nicaragua.

Restoration

It appears that Gallardo was as good as his word, at least in terms of the vehicle’s restoration, for in August of 1978 he won first place in the Club de Vehiculos Clasicos de Nicaragua for Concurso de Elegancia.

As for keeping the vehicle in Nicaragua, when the Sandinistas came to power in 1979, they pushed through a decree that any and all current and former family property that had belonged to the Somozas would henceforth be confiscated. Following the decree, the same Mr. Mendoza that had “assessed” the Mercedes delivered it to port and it was exported to its new owner in California.

But this saga, as it turns out, continues.

One Mercedes, no rocket launchers

For those of you so inclined, now is your chance to own a piece if Nicaraguan history. Beginning on August 7, 2009, the 1957 Mercedes limousine will be auctioned off on eBay as item #180384545649.

All images courtesy of MotoringInvestments.com (with the exception of Anastazio “Tachito’s” last ride)