The great Elvis Presley is known as the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and his car collection was certainly fit for royalty. He owned quite a number of cars in his extraordinary life. Some of the cars you would expect of a rock n’ roll legend, others showed how much of a motor-head Presley truly was. Below we look at the cars that were a big part of Presley’s life, from his first car to his big buys during his heyday.
1941 Lincoln
Every car collection needs to start somewhere, and Presley’s began when he purchased a 1941 Lincoln sometime in the early 1950s. This was The King’s first ever ride, and it wasn’t exactly what you’d expect for rock royalty. But then again, Presley was not yet the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll then, so he had to settle for a car that he more than often had to push.
Cadillacs
One of Presley’s go-to cars was the Cadillac, and he purchased quite a few of them, including a pink 1954 sedan, a yellow 1954 convertible, a pink and white 1955 Fleetwood, and a black 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 limousine, which was originally blue, but was repainted according to The King’s liking. He also owned a 1956 Eldorado
1959 BMW 507
Throughout his career, Presley earned a reputation as someone who truly appreciated expensive and luxurious vehicles, and this was clearly shown with the 1959 BMW 507. Presley bought one while on tour in West Germany. It was tracked down by BMW years later and ultimately restored in 2016 to its original glory of yesteryear (it was originally white, but Presley had it repainted red).
1960 Lincoln Continental Mark V
Presley ordered this beauty while he was still stationed in Germany during the summer of 1959, and it was absolutely perfect for The King. Stylish and sophisticated, this 1960 Lincoln Continental Mark V was one of the finest of that era, and it definitely added much prestige to Presley’s then-expanding collection of cars.
1961 Rolls-Royce Phantom V
From 1959 to 1968, only 500 Rolls-Royce Phantom Vs were ever manufactured, and Elvis was one of the select few who owned one. It was rare, expensive, and extravagant. It was fit for a king, indeed.
1970 Mercedes-Benz 600
Luminaries like John Lennon, George Harrison, Hugh Hefner, and Elizabeth Taylor each owned this “King of Benzes,” so you know that the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll would want one, too. The King did indeed purchase this beauty.
1973 Stutz Blackhawk
Cars built in Torino, Italy with lots of chrome, leather, and gold accents were, ultimately, for rich people, and by the 1970s, Presley was already one of the biggest stars in the industry. How did he cement his reputation? He purchased a 1973 Stutz Blackhawk, which was just one of five Stutzes that he would own.
The aforementioned cars are just some of the numerous vehicles that the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll owned during his lifetime. Some of them have been auctioned off already, while others are still on display in Graceland, which now serves as a museum for everything Presley-related.
Despite dying at the age of 42, Elvis Presley made his mark on the world in a way that only a few musicians have managed. Like his car collection, every aspect of Elvis has been studied and honoured by his fans. Even today he continues to find new audiences, as his music and life are promoted through various entertainment outlets. In film Elvis’ songs have been immortalised in many different genres ranging from science fiction thrillers (Passengers) to horror (The Conjuring 2). Like all pop culture icons you will be hard pressed to find a place Elvis can’t be found in one form or another, including the gaming industry. Foxy Casino has a roster of games based on global superstar musicians, such as Elvis The King, which appears alongside other games based on famous luminaries including Jimi Hendrix Online Slot and Michael Jackson King of Pop. As the continued presence of Presley in the entertainment industry, along with the devotion to his lifestyle, show, The King is far from dead.
Much has been said about Presley the artist and his life. Alongside his famous voice and Tennessee charm, the man deserves props for his taste in cars, which was also world-class.