site.btaNational History Museum Showcases Iconic Vehicles from the National Service for Protection Fleet for its 145th Anniversary

The National History Museum (NHM) is showcasing iconic and classic high-end cars from the National Service for Protection (NSP) fleet to mark the 145th anniversary of the service, the NSP press service said here on Wednesday. NHM will display four rare cars from NSP's historical heritage from September 12 to 15.

Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet

The highlight of the exhibition is the most valuable vintage car in Bulgaria and one of the rarest Mercedes-Benz models in the world – the Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet, NSP said. This is the only one of its kind in Bulgaria.

Only 26 units of the six-door model were produced. The car was used for official purposes, welcoming numerous state and government leaders, including Leonid Brezhnev, Nicolae Ceaușescu, Kim Il-sung, Muammar Gaddafi, and other notable figures from the recent past.

Production began in 1964. A distinctive feature of the limousine is its soft top, which retracts hydraulically to expose the rear section of the car. Only 59 units with a partially open roof were made, of which only 26 had six doors. The car is equipped with a state-of-the-art engine for its time, featuring mechanical fuel injection and suspension that provides unparalleled comfort, NSP noted. It has an 8-cylinder V-engine with a 6,300 cc capacity and 250 horsepower. The car is 6.24 m long, nearly 2 m wide, and 1.5 m high.

GAZ-13 Chaika

The GAZ-13 Chaika is one of the legends of Soviet car manufacturing, NSP said. Production of the model began in 1959 and continued for 22 years, with around 3,200 cars produced. The Soviet Chaika is almost a complete copy of a 1956 Packard model. It features a very modern 8-cylinder V-engine with an aluminium block and heads and a three-speed automatic transmission.

The engine has a capacity of 5500 cc. Its maximum power is 195 horsepower, allowing a top speed of 160 km/h. The car accelerates to 100 km/h in 20 seconds. The car is 5.6 m long, 2 m wide, and 1.62 m high, with a weight of around 2,100 kg.

In Bulgaria, the GAZ-13 was used until 1989 mainly to transport senior party leaders and foreign guests. Today, these cars are highly valued by collectors, NSP added.

GAZ-14 Chaika

The GAZ-14 is a continuation of the GAZ-13 Chaika, featuring modern electronics and luxurious interior solutions for its time, including bear skin upholstery. The car was first presented in 1977 and produced until 1988, when Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's policy of "fighting privileges" halted its production. The technical documentation and production equipment were also destroyed.

Until then, the model was mainly used for official purposes by senior military and party officials in the USSR and other allied states. In the Soviet Union, this rare model was awarded to notable politicians, artists, athletes, and writers. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Pimen, owned one, with an interior personally decorated by fashion designer Pierre Cardin after his visit to Moscow in 1979.

The model served as the official car for Soviet ambassadors abroad, while a convertible version was used for victory parades in Moscow.

In Bulgaria, the car was used in official functions and for escorting foreign guests. Archival footage from the 1970s and 1980s shows the car in almost every escort of visiting foreign leaders to Bulgaria, NSP explained.

ZIL-115

Produced in just over 100 units, the ZIL-4104 (factory index ZIL-115) is one of the rarest high-end cars, which was in production from 1978 to 1983.

The ZIL-115 has all the features of high-end cars of the era – a powerful engine, automatic transmission, a passenger compartment separated from the front by a rising glass partition, a front panel made of Curly birch, a radio system controlled from the passenger compartment, and an air conditioning system in the cabin.

These cars were produced by secret manufacturing teams. Data on some later modifications remain classified to this day. Special features of the model include triple-thickened side windows and specially treated front glass for radiation protection, as well as a dual ignition system and two fuel pumps.

The model is reputed to be the fastest and most prestigious high-end car created by the Soviet auto industry.

NSP said the exhibits are in excellent technical condition, thanks to years of professional maintenance carried out voluntarily and free of charge by NSP staff.

145th anniversary of NSP

The institution of princely bodyguards was introduced in Bulgaria by Prince Alexander I of Battenberg in 1879. The Sofia First Cavalry Squadron was designated for the personal protection and escort of Prince Alexander I, with Russian officer Lieutenant Alexander Mosolov serving as the prince's wing adjutant.

Currently the NSP operates as a specialized militarized state service under the authority of the President of Bulgaria. Its activities contribute to national security by safeguarding individuals, sites, and events as outlined in the NSP Act.

Major General Emil Tonev has led the NSP since 2020.