Rock and roll legend Elvis Presley had a lifelong love affair with cars, beginning in the 1950s with Cadillacs and continuing to his rare 1970 Stutz Blackhawk – one of only two prototypes ever made.
Exceptionally generous, the star often gifted expensive cars to loved ones, according to Angie Marchese, of Elvis Presley Enterprises, who recalled, “One day, he bought 32 Cadillacs, and he gave them all away by that afternoon!”
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His first car was a 1942 Lincoln Zephyr, an 18th birthday gift from his father, Vernon, in January 1953. Over the years, he owned a number of notable models, especially the iconic Elvis Presley pink Cadillac, some of which have become collectors’ items today.
1954 Pink and White Cadillac
In March 1955, Elvis bought a pink and white 1954 Cadillac, which he drove to gigs with his band, the Blue Moon Boys. However, it burst into flames when a brake lining ignited in June 1955, on the road between Hope and Texarkana, Arkansas. Sadly, it was a write-off. Friends recalled the singer sitting at the side of the road, looking desolate as his dream car smouldered.
1955 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special
The most famous of Elvis Presley’s cars was a customised Pink Cadillac Fleetwood Series 60, which he had resprayed in a bespoke shade named ‘Elvis Rose’ as a gift for his mother in July 1955. Currently displayed at Graceland’s Elvis Presley car museum, it was involved in a collision with another car in September 1955, when being driven by band member Scotty Moore. Although no-one was badly injured, it cost Elvis £750 (equating to £27,000 today) to make it roadworthy again.
1956 Cadillac Eldorado
Elvis bought a white convertible Cadillac Eldorado to celebrate his first number one single, Heartbreak Hotel. He had it specially customised by designer Jimmy Sanders. On 12th June 1956, he flew to Houston with his then girlfriend June Juanico to buy the luxury car for £7,500 (around £200,000 today). Legend has it he crushed a handful of grapes on the fender and told Sanders, “This is the colour I want!”
1956 Wisteria and White Lincoln Premiere Hardtop Coupe
On the morning he picked up the Lincoln, Elvis had woken up, after the previous night’s gig, to discover fans had left racy graffiti on his existing car. He headed straight over to a Miami car dealership and bought a new one! It vanished off the radar for many years, as Elvis stopped driving it after he joined the army in 1958. It was finally unearthed again in Australia by Angie Marchese, and was most recently displayed at the 2022 New York Auto Show.
1970 Stutz Blackhawk
As the first person in America to own a Stutz Blackhawk, Elvis bought a rare pre-production model on 9th October 1970. Only two prototypes existed with the large rear window. Stutz dealer Julie Meyers said singer Frank Sinatra also wanted the car. However, Elvis promised to pose for press photos with it. As Sinatra wouldn’t agree to this, Meyers sold it to Elvis because it was great publicity. He customised it further with luxury accessories, including a mobile phone. It remained a prized possession until his untimely death in 1977.
1971 De Tomaso Pantera
Elvis bought his yellow 1971 De Tomaso Pantera Italian-American sports car as a gift for his then girlfriend Linda Thompson in 1974. His friend, singer-songwriter Myrna Smith, later spoke of a “hair-raising spin” with Elvis around Memphis. She said he was trying to scare her because it amused him. After finally screeching to a halt on the driveway of Graceland, he completed the drive by pulling out a gun and firing several bullets into the dashboard because it wasn’t running well. He sold the Pantera in 1976.
1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Panel Wagon
This plain and unassuming vehicle allowed Elvis to shop incognito, reflecting his desire for privacy. The oldest vehicle in his car collection, the battered old Chevy truck provided an escape from the spotlight. He would sneak out of Graceland in disguise to experience “normal” life outside the trappings of fame. At its heart was a 3.5-litre engine and three-speed manual transmission. It remained at Graceland after the star’s death.
1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II
A rare luxury car, Elvis owned one of only 2,550 ever manufactured. He bought his white Continental in August 1956 as a DSO (dealer special order) with bespoke features, including a unique white leather interior replacing the standard fabric and air conditioning. The two-door hardtop was the only body style made. It was bought from dealership Miami Lincoln Mercury of Florida. Elvis was on tour in Florida in early August and had specially ordered the car, knowing he’d be there to pick it up.
1957 BMW 507
While Elvis was stationed in Germany during his military service, he picked up one of the rarest and coolest cars imaginable: a BMW 507 roadster. Only 254 were ever made, and the King had to have one. In December 1958, in Frankfurt, he was adapting to military life, but was still very much a superstar. Spotting the used 507, he asked BMW to swap the race-tuned engine for a smoother, lighter V8. This gave it around 150 horsepower, which was mighty for the time. Originally, it was painted chalk white, but fans kept smothering it in lipstick kisses when it was parked, so Elvis had it painted red instead!
1967 Cadillac Coupe De Ville
Not long after tying the knot with Priscilla in 1967, Elvis bought a shiny red 1967 Cadillac Coupe de Ville. It quickly earned the nickname “Honeymoon Cadillac” and became the couple’s ride during their early days of marriage. They cruised around Memphis and frequently drove it out to their Circle G Ranch in Mississippi. The sleek two-door coupe has had its fair share of the spotlight, having been displayed in multiple museums as part of the famous Elvis Presley car collection. In 2014, it was sold at auction at Barrett-Jackson for a modest £65,000.
Jeep CJ-5
Elvis’s go-to ride for more laid back outings was his blue Jeep CJ-5. You’ll often spot it in old photos, with the King cruising around, enjoying his leisure time. You might also recognise it from the 1962 film Blue Hawaii, where Elvis drove a 1960 Surrey model, with a customised striped canopy and fringe. The exact model has been turned into a diecast replica by Greenlight, often in signature Sierra Blue with Elvis Presley branding.
1977 Cadillac Seville
One of Elvis’s final cars, customised to his specifications by General Motors’ famous Fisher design team, was a 1977 Cadillac that was part of the collection at Graceland for many years. Bought shortly before the star’s death, it features custom bodywork and a 5.7-litre V8 engine. It was also fitted with a CB radio so he could keep in touch with the estate’s staff while on the road. In November 2024, the Cadillac was sold by Bonhams auction house for an undisclosed amount.
Today, Elvis Presley’s incredible collection of cars keeps his legacy alive. It wasn’t just about style – it was a reflection of the King’s personality and generosity.
