Elvis Presley's Cars: Exploring The King's Legendary Car Collection

Elvis Presley was a dedicated car collector and loved buying new cars for himself and his family and friends. While his affinity for Cadillacs is well documented in pop culture, the King of Rock and Roll owned a wide variety of makes and models throughout his life. Elvis Presley's car collection includes everything from sports cars to limousines (many of which are on display in the Presley Motors Automobile Museum, while others reside at the likes of the Volo Museum in Illinois).

The King's love of combustion-powered machines wasn't reserved for cars, either; he also owned several Harley-Davidson motorcycles and a variety of automotive toys. The Elvis Presley Car Museum collection includes go-karts, dune buggies, motorized three-wheelers, a John Deere tractor, and even a pedal car.

So in honor of Elvis' birthday this week (he was born on January 8, 1935), let's take a drive down memory lane and explore the legendary collection of Elvis Presley's cars.

1942 Lincoln Zephyr

The Lincoln Zephyr was produced from 1936 to 1942 and was characterized by its 110-horsepower, 4.4-liter V12 that made it stand out against its competitors' eight-cylinder engines. When production ceased during World War II, the Zephyr name was dropped and never returned (despite rumors it might), but the Zephyr model laid the foundations for what would eventually become the Lincoln Continental.

Little is known about Elvis's Zephyr, his very first car, with most information only telling us it was a 1942 model given to him as a birthday gift by his father, Vernon. One thing is certain, though - the Zephyr kickstarted his lifelong love of everything with wheels and an engine.

1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Panel Wagon

The oldest vehicle in Elvis' car collection was a battered, old Chevy truck, kept away from his other cars, which he used to sneak out of Graceland in disguise whenever he wanted to experience "normal" life outside the trappings of fame. At its heart was a 3.5-liter inline-six and a three-speed manual transmission, which was introduced in 1946.

1954 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 Special

Everyone knows of the famous pink Cadillac owned by Elvis, but he actually owned two. Elvis bought the original famous pink Cadillac (pink and white, to be precise), a 1954 Fleetwood 60 Special, in 1955; the Cadillac's power came from a 5.4-liter V8 that produced 230 hp. After about three months of being used as transport for Elvis and his band, the Blue Moon Boys, disaster struck for the Cadillac. On June 5, 1955, its brake lining caught fire, completely destroying the vehicle at the side of the road between Hope and Texarkana, Arkansas.

1955 Cadillac Fleetwood 60

The demise of the original Fleetwood 60 meant another trip to the Cadillac dealership. Exactly a month later, on July 5, 1955, Elvis purchased another Fleetwood 60 to replace his beloved car. The replacement came with a 20-hp power boost which took it to 250 hp compared to the '54 model's 230, despite having the same engine. It was originally painted blue with a black roof, but he had it repainted in pink (Elvis Rose), retaining its black roof. The latter was changed to white in 1956 when Elvis had the car reupholstered and the bodywork touched up.

Elvis gave the car to his mother, Gladys Presley, as a gift even though she couldn't drive and had never had a license. The car can now be seen by visitors to the auto museum at Graceland.

1955 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Limousine

Powered by a 250-hp, 5.4-liter V8, this Fleetwood 75 Limousine carried up to eight passengers and is rumored to have been used by Elvis' band for touring with instruments strapped to the roof. Elvis had a habit of having cars repainted to fit his color preferences, and this Cadillac is no exception: having rolled out the factory in light blue, it was painted black after he purchased it.

1956 Messerschmitt KR200

The bizarre, three-wheeled Messerschmitt KR200 is a German microcar (from the category commonly referred to as "bubble cars," the original BMW Isetta being the most famous example). The KR200 was powered by a diminutive 191cc, two-stroke single-cylinder engine with a power output of just 9.9 hp mounted in the rear of the car, but could still reach an impressive 56 mph thanks to its light frame. Passenger space was limited, with room for two occupants sat one behind each other.

The KR200 is somewhat out of place in the Presley collection, and it is not fully clear how Elvis acquired it, but it is widely thought that Elvis bought this car on an impulsive shopping spree in the mid-50s.

1965 Lincoln Premiere

The Lincoln Premiere was a mid-level sedan first introduced in 1956, powered by a 300-hp, 6.0-liter V8. Elvis owned a mauve '56 Premiere for only a few weeks before trading it in for a Continental Mark II (more on that later).

1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II

After his '56 Lincoln Premiere got covered in lipstick kisses and messages by fans while parked outside a concert in Miami, Elvis traded the car in instead of having it washed, opting to get a Lincoln Continental Mark II instead.

The Mark II was an ultra-luxury coupe sold by Ford's Continental Division. Powered by a 285-hp 6.0-liter V8 engine paired with a Turbodrive three-speed automatic transmission, it was only on the market for two years (1956 and 1957), partly due to high production costs.

1956 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz (Convertible)

Elvis flew all the way to Houston, Texas, to buy this Cadillac Eldorado and drove it all the way back to Memphis himself. In 1956 the newly-released two-door convertible version of the Eldorado was dubbed the "Eldorado Biarritz." Power came from a 6.0-liter V8 producing 305 hp, which was more than plenty, but that wasn't the car's most unique aspect. Originally painted white, Elvis' Eldorado got a purple paint job by customizer Jimmy Sanders, and legend says Elvis squashed grapes on the hood of the car to show Sanders his preferred color.

1957 BMW 507

While stationed in Germany, Elvis bought a white BMW 507 that had belonged to (and been raced by) legendary racing driver Hans Stuck; he then had its original engine swapped for a 150-hp V8 and had it repainted red, since his fans were covering the car's white paintwork in lipstick kisses.

Elvis brought the car home to the US when his military service came to an end but sold it soon afterward. Its new owner, radio DJ Tommy Charles, had the car fitted with yet another engine, a Chevy V8. The 507 had three more owners and spent four decades in storage before being re-discovered and restored to its former glory, thanks to the meticulous work of BMW Group Classic.

1960 Rolls Royce Silver Cloud

The Rolls Royce Silver Cloud was the core model of the Rolls Royce range between 1955 and 1966; the second incarnation of the Silver Cloud, produced between 1959 and 1962, was powered by a 6.2-liter V8 engine. Elvis bought his black Silver Cloud in September 1960; it is currently on display at the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum in Graceland.

1960 Cadillac Series 75 Fleetwood Limousine

This 1960 Series 75 Fleetwood Limousine was one of Elvis' favorite cars; powered by a 6.3-liter V8, it was heavily customized (courtesy of legendary customizer George Barris) and is reported to have cost around $100,000. Gadgets included a gold-plated phone, an entertainment console with a record player and tape deck, a shoe buffer, a fridge, and a swivel television set. The exterior was equally over-the-top, with forty coats of diamond dust-infused paint and 24-karat gold trim.

1960 Lincoln Continental Mark V

Lincoln, a division of the Ford Motor Company, had this 1960 Lincoln Continental Mark V customized at Elvis' request after he ordered it while stationed in Germany during his time serving in the Army. The Mark V was powered by a 7.0-liter V8 that produced 315 hp, paired with a three-speed automatic transmission; it came with a number of comfort features that were fairly high-tech for the time, including a rear power privacy glass to keep prying eyes (and photographers) away.

The car has changed hands on a number of occasions, most recently on 26 September 2009, when it sold for $121,000 through RM Sotheby's.

1962 Ford Thunderbird

This particular car was bought after a suggestion by Elvis' neighbor Ernie Barrasso; Elvis bought his 1962 Ford Thunderbird from a Memphis dealer after Barrasso made repeated visits to Graceland to convince him. But it was a short-lived love affair between Elvis and the Thunderbird. Elvis' car was a limited-production version called the Thunderbird Sports Roadster (powered by a 6.4-liter V8 that produced 300 hp), which came with Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels. When the wire wheel covers became damaged, and a replacement could not be found, Presley called Edsel Ford himself, who told Elvis he could get his money back if he returned the Thunderbird.

1963 Rolls Royce Phantom V

When Elvis signed a movie contract with producer Hal Wallis, he decided to celebrate with his favorite kind of purchase: a new car for his collection, specifically a Rolls Royce Phantom powered by a 200-hp, 6.2-liter V8. His new Rolls was originally painted in Midnight Blue, but it was later repainted in silver, allegedly to minimize the appearance of paint chips from Elvis' chickens pecking at their reflections on the shiny car while it was parked on the Graceland estate.

Elvis had the car kitted out with all sorts of high-end accessories, such as a Blaupunkt Koln radio, electric windows, whitewall tires, air conditioning, and even a microphone to record on the go.

This car sold in 2014 via Bonhams, fetching $396,000 at auction.

1967 Lincoln Executive Limousine

This limousine was given to the newlywed Elvis and Priscilla Presley as a wedding present by Elvis' manager Colonel Tom Parker. Based on the Lincoln Continental sedan, the Executive Limousine was the result of an agreement between Ford and Lehmann-Peterson, who handled the coachwork. The car had a lengthened wheelbase and a backward-facing rear bench seat, with a capacity for up to six passengers to travel in total comfort. Power came from a 7.6-liter V8 producing 340 hp.

This car was sold at auction in 2019 for $165,000.

1970 Mercedes-Benz 600

A precursor to the Mercedes-Maybach S-Class, the 600 was Mercedes' flagship ultra-luxury car throughout the '60s and '70s. When it was first launched in 1963, Mercedes created a new engine (the legendary 6.3-liter M100 V8) to power the 600 since none of the existing engines in its lineup were quite up to the task.

Elvis owned his Mercedes-Benz 600 for two years, eventually giving it to his friend James Leroy Robertson; it came with several luxury features for the era, such as air suspension, power steering, and air conditioning.

1971 De Tomaso Pantera

The De Tomaso Pantera was the first mainstream mid-engined American sports car (not including the limited-run Ford GT, as so few examples were produced). Powered by Ford's 5.8-liter "Cleveland" V8 that produced 330 hp, this 1971 model was one of Elvis' most prized cars. Elvis bought it in 1974 for his girlfriend Linda Thompson, but unfortunately, the car had a tendency to break down a little too often for his liking; in one memorable incident, after the Pantera refused to start while Elvis was having an argument with his girlfriend, he pulled out a gun and shot the car.

1973 Stutz Blackhawk III

After being discontinued in the 1930s, the Stutz name was revived by investment banker James O'Donnell; Stutz was a highly exclusive brand, and anyone who wanted to purchase a Stutz Blackhawk had to speak to Mr. Meyers himself. Elvis and Frank Sinatra both expressed their interest in buying a Stutz at one point, but Sinatra lost that fight. Elvis owned four Blackhawks over the course of his life, including a 1973 Stutz Blackhawk III powered by a 230-hp Pontiac V8 engine. The '73 Stutz eventually became the last car he ever drove; he was photographed driving it through the gates of Graceland just a few hours before his death.

1974 Cadillac Deville Station Wagon

One of the lesser-known cars in Elvis's collection, the Deville station wagon, was painted white with a pink pinstripe on the side and a vinyl top. Power came from a 7.7-liter V8 paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. Having been sold after the singer's death, the Deville's whereabouts were unknown for thirty years before it eventually resurfaced, having been purchased on Craigslist of all places. It is now on display at the Volo Museum in Illinois.

1975 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4

The 308 GT4 was powered by a 2.9-liter V8 engine that produced 240 hp in American tune. Elvis' black 1975 Dino was from the last model year to carry the Dino badge; later versions of the 308 GT4, as well as the 208 GT4 which made its debut the same year, carried the Prancing Horse badge. Elvis' car was bought secondhand in 1976 and is currently on display at the Graceland Car Museum.

1977 Cadillac Seville

Kitted out with a CB radio so that Elvis could communicate to Graceland staff while moving about his large estate, the Seville was slightly smaller than other Cadillacs of the era and came with a unique color scheme: a two-tone burgundy and silver exterior with a white leather interior. This was the last Cadillac Elvis bought for himself and featured a 5.7-liter Oldsmobile V8 with electronic fuel injection and 180 hp.

FAQs
What was Elvis’ most expensive car?
Elvis Presley's BMW 507 is reportedly the most expensive car in his collection due to its rarity (only 252 examples were ever built) and is now worth over $2 million.

What was Elvis' favorite car?
Elvis' favorite car was the Stutz Blackhawk III; he owned four of them over the course of his life, and it was the last car he drove before he died.

How many cars did Elvis buy for his friends and family?
Elvis loved giving cars away just as much as he loved buying them for himself. Over the course of his life, he gifted over 50 cars to friends, family, fans, members of his touring crew and even complete strangers; it is estimated he spent over $400,000. Some notable examples include the pink Cadillac he gave to his mother, Gladys, the Stutz Blackhawk he gave to his Las Vegas doctor, and the Mercedes-Benz 600 he gave to his friend James Leroy Robertson.

What were Elvis Presley's first and last cars?
His first car was a 1942 Lincoln Zephyr he received as a gift from his father; his 1973 Stutz Blackhawk III was the last car he was ever seen driving in public.

Which cars did Elvis buy for Priscilla?
With the Priscilla biopic out in theaters, Elvis and Priscilla Presley's story has been brought back into the pop culture spotlight; Elvis bought Priscilla a 1964 Chevrolet Corvair as a graduation present, and manager Tom Parker gifted the couple a 1967 Lincoln Executive Limousine as a wedding present. Later on, Elvis bought Priscilla a 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL Pagoda.