Elvis Presley’s Car Collection was Out of this World
Share your thoughts about how a sensational pop star the world loved was a car enthusiast and an addict to Cadillacs.
By Joseph White
Published Oct 15, 2024
Table of Contents
- 1942 Lincoln Zephyr
- 1960 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Limousine
- 1962 Ford Thunderbird
- 1975 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4
- 1973 Stutz Blackhawk III
- Honorable Mentions
Elvis Presley's Car Museum, located at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee is the resting place for some of the cars like the 1962 Ford Thunderbird, Pink Cadillac, and Rolls Royce Silver Cloud. During his lifetime, Elvis bought and sold over 200 cars. However, at the time of his death, Elvis Presley’s car collection had less than 10 cars in it.
5. 1942 Lincoln Zephyr
Elvis' garage had a 1952 Lincoln Zephyr, a continuation of the Zephyr model line that had been introduced in 1936. Reportedly, the 1942 Zephyr was the first car Elvis ever owned. It was partly a gift from his father Vernon Presley on his 18th birthday. Since they didn't pay for the car entirely.
1942 Lincoln Zephyr | Specs |
---|---|
Price | $ 2,764 (Original Price) |
Powertrain | 4.8 V12 |
Horsepower | 130 hp |
Torque | 220 lb-ft |
Transmission | 3-speed manual |
0-60 MPH | N/A |
Top Speed | over 90 MPH |
According to Tapatalk, Elvis Presley and his friend, Luther Nall found an old 1942 Lincoln Zephyr coupe in a junkyard. It was green in color and the seller was asking for 50 Dollars. Since Elvis only had 30 Dollars, the remaining deficit of 20 was filled by his parents. That said, the exact specs of the cars are not known.
4. 1960 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Limousine
The 1960 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Limousine was one of the favorite cars in Elvis Presley's car collection. The famous Cadillac is currently on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. Furthermore, this 1960 Cadillac Fleetwood model in Elvis's garage is also called Solid Gold car or Golden Cadillac because of its 24-karat gold accents, as reported by Montecristo magazine.
1960 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Limousine | Specs |
---|---|
Price | $165,000 |
Powertrain | 6.4L V8 |
Horsepower | 325 hp |
Torque | 430 lb-ft |
Transmission | 4-speed automatic |
0-60 MPH | N/A |
Top Speed | N/A |
Elvis liked to customize his cars and the 1960 Cadillac was not an exception. He gave around $65,000 to North Hollywood’s Baris Kustom City for many changes including special paint made out of fish scales and crushed diamonds. Apparently, 40 layers of this famous “Diamond Dust Pearl" were applied to the car. Furthermore, the cabin featured a fur-themed interior along with a TV, sound system, and many other amenities. The car also had a special rear opera window for privacy, as reported by the Volvo Cars Museum.
3. 1962 Ford Thunderbird
It was Ernie Barrasso, Elvis Presley's childhood neighbor friend who convinced him to buy the Ford Thunderbird which was limited to only 200 units in the US. However, Elvis wasn't interested in the car until he saw its brochure. He then rushed to Barrasso's dealership and bought the car.
1962 Ford Thunderbird | Specs |
---|---|
Price | $6,284 |
Powertrain | 6.4L V8 |
Horsepower | 300 hp |
Torque | 427 lb.-ft |
Transmission | 3-speed Automatic |
0-60 MPH | 8.6 seconds |
Top Speed | 138 MPH |
Presley's Thunderbird came with a Cherry Red exterior and a black interior. Furthermore, one of the features that really caught the “How Great Thou Art” singer was the wire wheel covers. Later when covers were wearing out, Elvis wanted to replace them but new ones were not available since the company that made them had gone out of business. Presley called the former President of Ford, Edsel Ford, and asked for help but it was of no help. Edsel suggested if Elvis wanted, he could return the car and get his money back.
2. 1975 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4
Elvis Presley used to call his 1975 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 “black mamba”, according to Ginger Alden. He bought the black Ferrari as a second-hand car and paid around $20,583 in October 1976 which is over $125,000 in 2024 after adjusting the inflation. The car is currently on display at Graceland in Elvis Presley's Memphis Car Museum.
1975 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 | Specs |
---|---|
Price | $24,000 |
Powertrain | 3.0L, V8 |
Horsepower | 205 hp |
Torque | 195 lb.-ft |
Transmission | 5-speed Manual |
0-60 MPH | 6.4 seconds |
Top Speed | 146 MPH |
The Ferrari has a 3.0L naturally aspirated V8 engine and comes with a 5-speed manual transmission. The power output is 205 hp while the torque is 195 lb.-ft. The GT4 takes only 6.4 seconds to reach a speed of 60 MPH from a stop and the engine roars at a top speed of 146 MPH.
1. 1973 Stutz Blackhawk III
The Stutz was an iconic American brand and given the singer’s love and patriotism for his country, it is no wonder that he had multiple cars from them. The Blackhawk III was probably the best among them and came with Pontiac’s V8 engine.
The luxury car had a GM TH400 transmission that was pretty swift and the design was made to steal attention on the road. The original price of the vehicle was around $26,500 but Elvis got it for just below $30,000 meaning he went for some upgrades.
Stutz Blackhawk III | Specs |
---|---|
Price | $26,500 |
Powertrain | 7.5L, V8 |
Horsepower | 425 hp |
Torque | 420 lb.-ft |
Transmission | 4-speed Automatic |
0-60 MPH | 8.4 seconds |
Top Speed | 130 MPH |
The Stutz has the largest engine in the list with a massive 7.5L naturally aspirated V8. It takes the Blackhawk III to accelerate from 0 to 60 MPH in about 8.4 seconds and has a top speed of 130 MPH. The engine generates 425 hp of horsepower and about 420 lb.-ft of torque.
Honorable Mentions
At the time of his death, Elvis has a meagre number of cars in his garage. Most of the cars from the Elvis Presley car collection had been sold by home on various occasions. Here are some of the cars that he parted with.
10. 1970 Mercedes-Benz 600 Saloon Limousine
Elvis bought not one but two 1970 Mercedes-Benz 600s within a few months after he returned for the ‘Comeback Special’ TV show. Basically, he acquired the cars when he was building his career in the showbiz, according to Bonhams. After Elvis died, the 1970 Mercedes-Benz 600 Saloon Limousine in light blue shade was the original Robertson Motors dealership from where Elvis bought the car. That said, the 1970 600 Saloon has been auctioned by Bonhams for nearly $104,279.
9. 1963 Rolls-Royce Phantom V
The Phantom was bought by him in 1963 after he signed a deal with one of America’s biggest film producers. He was so overwhelmed with Rolls-Royce that he wanted every personal modification available for him inside of it. Starting from a Blaupunkt Köln radio and textphone he went for electric windows, a microphone, and Air Conditioning as well. The original price was $15,655 but with the modifications and at least four paint jobs, there is no certainty on how much money he actually spent on it. That said, Elvis Presley's 1963 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Touring Limousine has been sold by Bonhams auctions for $396,000.
8. 1977 Cadillac Seville
The Cadillac Seville was the last model from Cadillac that Elvis bought. It was 1977 when he found his eyes prying on the luxury sedan in burgundy and silver. Elvis bought his last Cadillac for about $12,479. The car was on display at the National Motor Museum UK. However, in 2024, it has been sold by Mecum auctions for $86,000.
7. 1960 Lincoln Continental Mark V Limousine
Elvis bought the Lincoln Continental Mark V Limousine on 29th February 1960 at a Whitehaven dealership in Tennessee. It was a gift for his ex-fiancee fiancée Ginger Alden. It has been through some auctions and has been on display Elvis Presley Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. One of the latest sellers has been RM Sothbey's which accepted a final bid of $121,000.
6. 1971 DeTomaso Pantera
The DeTomaso Pantera that Elvis bought in 1971 is a popular car among enthusiasts and rock ‘n roll fans. He paid around $2,500 for the car. It is also the car that Elvis shot with his revolver because the Pantera wouldn’t start. “You'll Never Walk Alone” singer first shot at the steering wheel and ended up shattering the windshield. The pop star sold the car in nearly 1976 and since then it has been in possession of various owners. Elvi Presley's 1971 DeTomaso Pantera has also been traded for “precious gems” worth $2 million.
5. 1958 BMW 507
Elvis loved his Cadillacs but a few of the gems in his garage comes from Europe as well. One of which is the 1958 BMW 507 which had been on display at the 2016 Monterey Motorsports Reunion and Pebble Beach Concours. Presley's car was specially restored for the event. It boasts a value of over $2 million. The 507 was a limited production model and only 254 units were made.
4. 1956 Cadillac Eldorado
The Eldorado was one of his first Cadillacs and he bought it in the year 1956. You can call this a gift to himself after his first Billboard No.1 that year. The convertible was originally white but he decided to wrap it in a color of grapes that he was having at that time. However, a year later due to poor reliability, Elvis sold the car. It was acquired by one of his fans from Memphis, Lena Moskovit. In 1976, the purple 1956 Eldorado was auctioned for just $976 due to its poor condition. Currently, the car is on display at Graceland Elvis Automotive Museum in Memphis, Tennessee.
3. 1971 Stutz Blackhawk
Elvis Presley owned a 1971 Stutz Blackhawk, one of the earliest to do so with him owning the production model itself. However, many other iconic figures like Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin also owned the famous Stutz Blackhawk. Besides that, King of Rock and Roll’s 1971 Stutz Blackhawk has been auctioned by Mecum for $297,000 making it one of the top most expensive ex-Elvis cars sold at an auction.
2. 1967 Lincoln Continental Lehmann-Peterson Limousine
Be it the music notes on the guitar strings or some dusty old Lincoln Executive Limousine, Anything Elvis touched soared in value. That being said, the 1967 Lincoln Continental Lehmann-Peterson Limousine was actually a wedding gift to his ex-wife Priscilla Presley. The car is also known as the Presley Family Car and was auctioned in 2019 by Mecum for $165,000.
1. 1956 Messerschmitt KR200
Elvis had an unusual car in his garage, the 1956 Messerschmitt KR200. The KR200 had an unusual layout that included a front-seated driver and a single passenger seated behind in a tandem seating arrangement. It is yet to be revealed if Elvis bought the car or if it was gifted to him. According to, The Truth About Cars, Presley decided to part ways with his canopy-style roof German microcar after nearly a year he was photographed with it in 1956. In August 1957, he gave the car to Bernard Lansky, a Memphis clothier.
FAQs
How many cars did Elvis own?
Elvis owned at least 100 cars during his lifetime, ranging from Cadillacs and Rolls Royces to Ferraris and Mercedes-Benz. Some of his most famous cars include the pink Cadillac he purchased in 1955 and the Stutz Blackhawk he bought in 1971.
What was the cause of Elvis Presley's death?
Elvis Presley's cause of death was attributed to a heart attack, specifically a cardiac arrhythmia, which occurred on August 16, 1977. Drug use and his unhealthy lifestyle are thought to have contributed to his death.
What was Elvis Presley's first car?
Elvis Presley's first car was the 1952 Lincoln Zephyr, which was gifted to him by his father. After passing high school Elvis decided that music was going to be his career and he actively started pursuing it “That's All Right” was his first hit. Elvis went on to record multiple albums and singles after that and has reportedly sold a total of 600 Million singles and records worldwide. The singer once upon a time $ 1 Million per performance and had a net worth of $ 20 Million at the time of his death. He is one of the most influential musicians of his time sharing the stage with others like Elton John, and Bruce Springsteen, among others. Elvis spent lavishly and it is reported that the King of Rock and Roll actually owned more than 200 cars in his lifetime. We are going to discuss a few rare ones here.
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Comments
Joe Marchetti
Jul 29, 2024Great taste in cars, not in women or movies.