Elvis Presley was more than just a singer and actor. He was a sensation. People, especially young, impressionable women would flock to see him, arriving hours before the show started just to catch a glimpse of him when he alighted from his fantastic cars. The craze was such that Elvis was often whisked away even before the shows were over, to make sure he stayed safe and away from the clutches of his over-enthusiastic fans.
Of course, the man had more than enough money and mostly didn’t know what to do with his wealth either, because, at heart, he was a simple and down-to-earth person. Still, he did have good taste and often spent mini fortunes on the cars that he liked, along with getting the sprawling Graceland built.
Here are 15 of the coolest cars Elvis Presley once owned, and the stories behind why The King got them…
15 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 60: The Second One
Elvis’ first Fleetwood Series 60 in pink was destroyed in a roadside fire when the brake linings sparked. So he bought another one and got it repainted pink. Since the car was huge, it easily took him and his band members wherever they wanted to go, though he later turned it into a gift for his mother, Gladys.
14 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II: Bespoke Luxury
When Lincoln brought in the Continental and put a spotlight on luxury, Presley queued up for one. In the ‘50s, he had already brought plenty Fleetwoods and even gotten himself a Lincoln Premier sedan, but he splurged for a Mark II as well, and it soon became his personal favorite.
13 1971 De Tomaso Pantera: The Car That Got Elvis Mad
Elvis had a yellow De Tomaso Pantera that he loved for its nippy ride. However, the story goes that, when the car didn’t start one fine morning, The King got so mad, he shot the car. Later, this very car, with bullet holes intact, was sold off to a private collection where it remains.
12 1957 Cadillac Eldorado: A Longtime Fan
Despite his penchant for pink Fleetwood limos, Elvis liked the Cadillac Eldorado as well. And since he liked them a bit much, he tended to get another one every time a new model came out. So not only did he have a 1956 Eldorado, but when the 1957 model came out, he got another one for himself.
11 1958 BMW 507 Roadster: For The Soldier In Presley
Unlike many celebrities who tried not to enlist, Elvis Presley happily marched off to Germany as an enlisted Army soldier. Of course, the man had money and fame, so even there, he managed to get his hands on a cool car. Notably a white BMW 507 Roadster. Later, he got a red one, with automatic transmission since driving a manual wasn’t his thing.
10 1960 Rolls Royce Phantom V: Back From The Army Buy
Once back from the army with a discharge, Elvis Presley was back in business with a brand new contract. With more money coming in, he decided to splurge even bigger and got himself a Rolls Royce Phantom V that was delivered straight to Graceland. He liked it so much, he bought a Silver Cloud soon after.
9 1962 Ford Thunderbird: Bought For Its Engine
Presley had enough money to buy a hundred cars and still have a tidy sum left over. So his buys were mostly impulse-based, like the time he spotted a Ford Thunderbird at the Ford dealership in Memphis and decided to go for one. Of course, he was bowled over by that powerful Ford V8 under the hood, so the man was a motorhead for sure.
8 1967 Lincoln Continental Lehmann-Peterson Limousine: A Custom Beauty
Whenever a car came out that dripped pure luxury and style, the King of Rock and Roll had to get it for himself. The Lincoln Continental’s Executive model in the late ‘60s came with a Lehmann-Peterson custom-built trim. So Elvis got himself one of these beauties and used it whilst he was in LA.
7 1969 Mercedes 600: The Best For The Best
When it came to luxury, Elvis did not stick to only the American brands but embraced Europe with open arms. By the late ‘60s, the Mercedes 600 began to be associated with power, money and of course, rockstars – so Elvis went ahead and got himself one of these as well. The man thought cars were candy, we guess.
6 1971 Stutz Blackhawk: Love At First Sight
The Stutz Blackhawk revival in the early ‘70s bore no resemblance to the original one of the ‘30s. This time, these were ultra-luxury coupes built on a Pontiac Grand Prix base and looked as grand as ever. Elvis was so floored, he didn’t just buy one, it is said he bought a total of five.
5 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4: Too Late A Buy
By the time Elvis Presley had bought a Ferrari Dino 308 GT4, he had already expanded. His burgeoning weight made it difficult for him to use this sports car and he much preferred bigger and more comfortable cars to drive. The Ferrari remained his first and only one and was rarely used by The King.
4 1977 Cadillac Seville: A Strange Choice
The Cadillac Seville was a smaller Caddy, aimed at the younger generation. Since the price was still sky-high for most youngsters, it lacked appeal for them. Meanwhile, the Caddy purists didn’t like its small size. So, for someone who loved large cars that dripped luxury, the Seville made for a strange choice. But Elvis loved it till the very end.
3 1960 “Gold Cadillac” Fleetwood Limousine: Move Aside Pink, This Is Gold
Considering the man had a penchant for buying Fleetwoods like they were paper planes, and still had money oozing out of his pores, why not get a Fleetwood engraved in gold? And so he did, and the Gold Cadillac is still a huge head-turner wherever it goes for sheer opulence.
2 1957 Imperial Crown Convertible: Luxury With The Top Down
If you wanted to ride in an opulent convertible, and it’s the ‘50s, you went for the Imperial Crown Convertible. At least you did if you had the deep pockets of Elvis Presley. This was the car Elvis zipped around in when he wanted the wind in his hair, and the screams of fans ringing in his ears.
1 1960 Lincoln Continental Mark V: To Be Chauffeured Behind Enemy Lines
While Elvis was in the army, he was still chauffeured around even when stationed in Germany. The man couldn’t just ride in any car, so he got in a Lincoln Continental Mark V to do the job, with privacy glass and two separate air-conditioning units. This car was something special, but then again, so was Elvis.