Globally celebrated as the King of Rock and Roll, many are less aware that Elvis Presley’s love affair with cars and motorcycles was nearly as renowned and eccentric as his singing. Long before he would acquire his opulent Graceland mansion and achieve chart-topping success and Hollywood stardom, the King had begun honing an appetite for stylish, distinctive, and exhilarating machines. In fact, as his own career blossomed, so did his personal passion, and his garage grew into an unparalleled repository of American muscle and glamour, European thoroughbreds, gargantuan limousines and utterly bizarre conveyances that all spoke to his unpredictable personality.

The cars El commenced acquiring were much more than just functional items of transport; these were the tools with which he toasted achievements and expressed himself as far from the limelight and as away from the camera as humanly possible. Elvis spent large sums on his rides for several causes, some due in order to the sheer success that these cars signified to him and others for the extent to which those cars had been personalized, making them virtually unidentifiable as basic manufacturing versions. His generosity also appeared, frequently expressed in his giftings of autos in order to a vast assortment of relations, buddies, and even casual acquaintances who made his eye.

What so fascinating about Elvis Presley’s collection is the breadth of taste, the King was equally happy in a small German micro-car one minute or a large American stretch the next, as he was flying along on a powerful bike or speeding in an Italian hyper-car. Seeing these automobiles is seeing a different side to the King and seeing someone with appreciation for engineering craftsmanship, speed, luxury and the joy of sitting behind a large steering wheel.

1. 1942 Lincoln Zephyr

With regard to Elvis’s love affair with automobiles, his relationship began with this one; 1942 Lincoln Zephyr. Although Elvis would, in his lifetime own hundreds of vehicles from sports cars, to luxury Sedans and vans, his personal connection with automobiles was not on this scale, at first. Elvis had received a 1942 Lincoln Zephyr (light green) from his father Vernon, for his eighteenth birthday and was able to experience America’s unique automotive influence before he was truly a global superstar.

1942 Lincoln Zephyr:

• A Meaningful Eighteenth Birthday Gift
• An Early American Luxury Experience
• Before Fame and Extravagant Automobiles
• The Beginning of Elvis’s Passion
• A Personal Connection to Cars

This Lincoln was not a model owned from an era that would involve highly expensive customising, ‘crazy’ sports cars and ‘wacky’ stretch limos that were to become synonymous with the great man. In its day, importance was in a sign of what it was to be, ” an early, useful contribution towards one of the lifelong interests of Elvis.”: The Zephyr also poses a striking difference to the gaudy, and over the top creations that Elvis would later acquire for his personal collection. Elvis ended up with some unbelievable and outlandishly expensive machines parked outside, yet his automotive journey started with a regular production American vehicle as a family surprise. And it is that personal element which gives it its meaning in the life and story of The King.

2. 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood 60

This 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 was deeply associated with Elvis’s fast ascent to stardom and increasing notoriety as a performer. Having had his original pink Cadillac written off by a fire resulting from brake failure, Elvis took ownership of the Fleetwood and gave it a radical new look. Fresh from the factory with a blue body and a black roof, the Cadillac was sprayed in a uniquely coloured shade known to be used by Elvis and dubbed ‘Elvis Rose.’ As such, it joins the ranks of Elvis’s numerous cars to represent a milestone in his fleeting lifestyle.

1955 Cadillac Fleetwood 60:

• A Cadillac Connected with Early Success
• A Special Gift for Gladys
• The Distinctive Elvis Rose Colour
• A Car Used During Touring
• An Early Personalised Cadillac

The Cadillac was especially significant since Elvis had presented it to his mother, Gladys, when he first obtained it. She did not even have a driving licence and would therefore never have been able to drive it, hence Elvis driving the vehicle himself while touring with the band in 1955-56. It would have been a relevant souvenir of the time that Elvis’s career was really on the up and the car was part of the dramatic upheaval of his career at that time.

3. 1956 Harley-Davidson Model 165 ST

However, Elvis’s love for transportation was not confined to just cars. Motorbikes were a second, highly popular section of his mechanical lifestyle and he bought 22 motorcycles in his lifetime, the first of which a Harley Davidson model 165 ST of 1956 and which was purchased upon receipt of the money of the first contract. The Harley was another first step in the collection of his vehicles.

1956 Harley-Davidson Model 165 ST:

• One Of Elvis’s Earliest Motorcycles
• Purchased After His First Record
• A Symbol Of New Independence
• Smaller Than Later Harley-Davidsons
• The Start Of Motorcycle Collecting

It was at a time when he was starting to enjoy success and the trappings that came with it, and the motorcycle seemed like a way of spending his money to have a fun life on his own. Even compared to later motorcycles that Elvis would own, the Model 165 ST was quite petite and lightweight; however, that wasn’t the point. It was about owning a significant piece of motor history and demonstrating he was a music lover not solely defined by opulence. Elvis didn’t have the motorcycle for very long. Within only a few months he had traded it in to King for an 883cc Harley Davidson bike demonstrating the extent to which Elvis craved faster machines. Nevertheless, it’s value is in its significance for being one of his first two-wheel acquisition’s.

4. 1956 Messerschmitt KR200

The Messerschmitt KR200 was by far one of the weirdest automobiles ever linked with Elvis Presley. Being an American celebrity, whose personal tastes ran to vast limos and lumbering Cadillacs, the thought of the King at the wheel of a compact German bubble car appears incredibly out of character. The Messerschmitt had a unique two-passenger arrangement which put the driver, as opposed to his or her passengers, strictly behind.Elvis didn’t own it for long but this odd little three-wheeled car was part of a fascinating 1957 deal. In exchange for the KR200, the musician enjoyed two and a half hours of unlimited shopping at the Lansky Brothers menswear store in Memphis. The store owner retained the peculiar little car in his collection for years, giving Elvis’s Messerschmitt an unexpected legacy.

1956 Messerschmitt KR200:

• A Tiny German-Built Microcar
• An Unusual Three-Wheel Configuration
• Two Seats In Tandem Arrangement
• A Vehicle Unlike His Cadillacs
• A Memorable Trade In Memphis

TheKR200was a two-seater, side-by-side vehicle (or rather, one passenger, one driver). That might give it the feel of riding a motorcycle that’s built inside a car! Given how Elvis owned other wildly expensive cars, it’s a bit surprising that his collection would include such a small vehicle; it is another great reminder not everything he did was predictable.

5. 1957 BMW 507

While stationed in Germany, it was in 1958, while in the U.S. Army, that Elvis first noticed the stylish ’57 BMW 507. The clean lines of the white roadster contrasted clearly with the behemoths of American muscle cars that his image had helped create and that defined the cars he normally drove. The open-top, proportioned foreign machine gave Elvis a chance to drive something distinctly unlike a domestic car.The color scheme also helped give the automobile some uniqueness. Having finished his military duties over in Europe, Elvis had the car packed into a crate and shipped back home. Of course, his 507 also cemented him as a strong lover of the American luxury vehicle and the speed and performance they had to offer as well.

1957 BMW 507:

• A Distinctive European Roadster
• Driven During Military Service
• Fans Left Lipstick On
• Repainted From White to Red
• Eventually Shipped Back Home

In a surprisingly practical twist that, even with Elvis at the wheel, wasn’t necessarily thought of prior to delivery, the BMW quickly garnered fan mail whenever he went out. Lipstick smears and kisses appeared regularly on its white paint, making it a public display of how loved (and therefore targeted) Elvis was. Frustrated with washing off all the lipstick, he finally went ahead and had the roadster changed to red.

6. 1960 Cadillac Series 75 Fleetwood Limousine

No vehicle better illustrates the outrageous extent to which Elvis Presley went for customisation than his 1960 Cadillac Series 75 Fleetwood Limousine, with the King of Rock and Roll taking this monster luxury car and giving it the full ‘Graceland’ treatment, giving the imposing Cadillac more ornamentation and flash than a Mardi Gras float. Some reports claimed the white exterior was 40 coats of paint mixed with genuine diamond dust. Additionally, the Caddy featured trim all blinged up with 24-karat gold.It wasn’t just transport between venues though. It was a luxury afforded to a man who had achieved the pinnacle of a profession. Among the fleet of vehicles connected to the King, the modified Caddy is perhaps one of the strongest testaments to the Kings love of excess, luxury and individualism.

1960 Cadillac Series 75 Fleetwood Limousine:

• Forty Coats of Custom White Paint
• Real Diamond Dust in Exterior
• Twenty-Four-Karat Gold Trim
• An Exceptionally Luxurious Interior
• A Rolling Palace for Elvis

Equally pampered was the interior of the car. You were treated to things such as the luxury of having fur seating, not to mention a gold-plated phone, a TV set and not only that, a food fridge and a show shiner too. This was really beyond and standard limo for sure and spoke volumes as to Elvis and his ever-increasing fortunes and his love for what he thought was flashy to the public.

7. 1963 Rolls-Royce Phantom V

To mark his 1963 movie deal with United Artists, Elvis bought another luxury British limousine; the Rolls-Royce Phantom V. A massive vehicle with enormous presence and the height of decadence the Phantom was perfect for the superstar rock-and-roller who had by then established himself as a leading Hollywood actor. The acquisition was also the last major purchase for his already swelling vehicle fleet. Even so, this factory-made monster wasn’t special enough for Elvis. He had it repainted from the original midnight blue to silver, and had the interior fitted with a number of personal luxuries, such as a phone, microphone and electric windows, to make the already rather extravagant limo feel a bit more his own.

1963 Rolls-Royce Phantom V:

• Purchased After a Major Movie Contract
• A British Symbol of Prestige
• Changed From Blue to Silver
• Added Personalised Interior Features
• European Luxury Entered His Collection

The Phantom V revealed Elvis’s accumulation of cars had come a long way from the family Lincoln Zephyr and early Cadillac to a veritable European sports car wonderland. But Elvis’s fascination with Rolls Royce hinted his automotive preferences were becoming much wider in range. While the American cars were by no means unimportant, the European marques certainly had now earned their rightful places in the collection.

8. 1969 Mercedes-Benz 600 Limousine

Another extremely special item found in Elvis Presley’s garage is a 1969 Mercedes-Benz 600 Limousine. This car embodied the pinnacle of German luxury manufacturing at the time and this particular 600 limousine Elvis owned was quite unusual. He owned a black six-door version which sat parked in his Los Angeles house and completed an already amazing roster of cars owned by the King.Mercedes limousines 2 The Mercedes limousines also displayed Eliv’s taste for privacy and customization. The 600 was a huge luxury car to start with, but with customizations that related them all back to their owner. Elvis not only acquired luxus cars, but continued to make each his in the smallest detail.

1969 Mercedes-Benz 600 Limousine:

• An Exceptionally Exclusive German Limousine
• A Distinctive Six-Door Black Version
• Another Mercedes Kept at Graceland
• Personalised TCB Door Markings
• Luxury Combined with Personal Identity

However, his love for the 600 Mercedes did not end with that one purchase. Elvis had also obtained the more economical version of it, that is, the four-door with no stretch in length, which was kept on the grounds of Graceland. It has been painted silver and adorned, without a trace of a doubt of the famous style of Elvis’s, to begin with: the “TCB” logo, on the doors, as well as a lightning bolt, on each side.

9. 1971 De Tomaso Pantera

Different car, another dimension of Elvis Presley’s persona This car was for his then girlfriend, Linda Thompson, a bright yellow 1971 De Tomaso Pantera bought from Italy in 1974 and it’s a radically different machine from the vast, American luxury cruisers that accounted for most of his other vehicles. Built as a mid-engined exotic sports car, the lowered stance and svelte Italian shape did little to align it with cars like Cadillacs and Lincolns.

1971 De Tomaso Pantera:

• A Dramatic Italian Mid-Engine Sports Car
• Purchased For Linda Thompson
• A Major Change from Limousines
• Distinctive Low-Slung Italian Styling
• A Car with Famous History

The Pantera’s outrageous design and performance made a bold, sensual mark on the King’s collection. The exotic, low-profile Italian made for a stunning contrast among his fleet of Cadillacs, Rolls-Royces, and Mercedes-Benz stretch limos, and it demonstrated that his fascination for cars extended beyond plush American road cruisers toward more visceral European performance machines.

10. 1973 Stutz Blackhawk III

However, Elvis formed a somewhat unusual special bond with the revived Stutz Motor Car Company. He is said to have been so enamoured with the beautifully, bespoke crafted, luxury sports car he bought in 1971 (an early prototype) he subsequently bought three Blackhawks more, the look of them fulfilling his desire to own cars that seemed special from a million miles away and like a one-off at first glimpse, just as that other particular car mentioned previously would!

1973 Stutz Blackhawk III:

• A Strong Connection with Stutz
• Multiple Blackhawks Joined His Collection
• Distinctive Handcrafted Luxury Design
• Black Exterior with Red Interior
• A Particularly Theatrical Personal Vehicle

His favourite was one black 1973 Stutz Blackhawk III. The vehicle had a striking look and luxurious red interior-the sort of clashing look that was perfect for Elvis. This was not just another expensive car: it had the sort of showman-like feel about it for perhaps the biggest entertainer in the world. This gave the Blackhawk a unique place in Elvis’s possession, luxurious yet individual and styled more dramatically than the norm of Cadillac and Rolls-Royce, It felt completely in keeping with the flamboyant personality Elvis had acquired throughout the 1970s, when his vehicles were all highly personalised and totally unique.

11. 1974 Cadillac DeVille Station Wagon

You probably wouldn’t have picked a station wagon as vehicle for the King. But even for Elvis Presley, the king of all things extravagant gigantic Bentleys, exotic Ferraris sometimes the practical took hold. He owned a bright white 1974 Cadillac DeVille station wagon.Things get even more entertaining when you factor in Elvis’s generosity. He simultaneously ordered four more station wagons and donated them to friends and family. This fits with a more general idea about Elvis and cars they weren’t just objects he owned, but things he used to share his good fortune.

1974 Cadillac DeVille Station Wagon:

• A Surprisingly Practical Cadillac Choice
• White Exterior With Pink Details
• Custom Pink Pinstripe Alongside
• Matching Pink Vinyl Roof
• Additional Wagons Given As Gifts

Even this otherwise sensible, family vehicle wasn’t entirely conventional. Elvis had the wagon modified to include a pink pinstripe along its length as well as an all-pink vinyl roof! These subtle, eccentric additions set the car off wonderfully and added to Elvis’ history of using unusual colours and unique Cadillacs.

12. 1975 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4

By the mid-1970s, Elvis’s interest in automobiles reached into highly desirable European performance cars. This black 1975 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4 was privately sold in 1976 from Elvezio D’Augosto, and joined a group of luxurious American and elite European automobiles with the addition of a small, exotic Italian sports car that reflected Elvis’ interest in unique performance machines. One of the classic anecdotes attributed to the Ferrari is of Elvis driving himse1f in the machine all the way from Los Angeles to Memphis. When one takes an exotic, multi-thousand-dollar vehicle out into the American expanse on one’s own-when one has servants to do this if need be-one shows one is still having fun.

1975 Ferrari Dino 308 GT4:

• A Compact Italian Performance Car
• Purchased As a Used Ferrari
• Black Exterior with Sporty Character
• Different From His Large Limousines
• A Memorable Cross-Country Drive

The Dino proved to be entirely unlike the hulking luxury of the limousines Elvis usually slid himself behind. Small and sport-oriented, the Italian-born machine was built to be driven in a way the hulks he previously favoured could only dream of. It’s clear that by this stage in his life, Elvis still had interests beyond the plush decadence.