A car once owned by former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff did not attract any bidders at auction yesterday, but was later bought for the €20,000 starting price by an unidentified doctor.

The 1962 Mercedes Benz 190D saloon was expected to go for much more due to its link with Mr Mintoff.

However, no one bid on the car, to the surprise of the auctioneer Pierre Grech Pillow from Obelisk Auctions Gallery. Three years ago a personal desk belonging to former Prime Minister George Borg Olivier fetched five times the starting bid.

Some people turned up for yesterday’s auction out of curiosity, including Duminku Gafà, the son of Mr Mintoff’s driver for 30 years, Pawlu. Mr Mintoff owned the Mercedes back in the 1960s when he was still Leader of the Opposition.

Restorer Kevin Paul Bajada was not aware of the car’s history when he bought it in 2005. The vehicle was not in a good state, and was even used to carry small agricultural machinery.

Through his research, Mr Bajada discovered that the vehicle changed hands once, when Dom Mintoff sold it.

Items related to prominent figures in recent political history stir excitement from time to time.

In September of this year, an Austin Princess used by former prime ministers George Borg Olivier and Dom Mintoff was handed over to Heritage Malta by the Malta Police Force.