Elvis Presley’s taste in machines ran to the flashy, and much of what he owned still survives. Some pieces sit in museums, others were restored after turning up in unlikely places, and a few come with stories that show the man behind the fame. Here are nine of his cars and aircraft, and what became of them.
1. Pink Cadillac (1955 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 60): A Gift for Gladys
Elvis bought the 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 60 blue on July 5, 1955, then had it repainted Elvis Rose and gave it to his mother, Gladys, who had no driver’s license. According to Wikipedia, the original pink Cadillac remains on permanent display at Graceland.
The car shows the gesture behind the fame, a young star buying his mother a showpiece she could not drive herself. It also remains the machine most closely tied to his early success. Because it was a gift to his mother, it is more than a car on display.
2. BMW 507: The Army Roadster
Elvis drove his BMW 507 between his home in Bad Nauheim and the US Army base in Friedberg, and only 254 BMW 507s were built between 1955 and 1959, according to BMW Group.
He took delivery on December 20, 1958. BMW later restored his car for Pebble Beach in 2016 after it turned up in a California pumpkin warehouse, giving a rare roadster a second public life. The rediscovery in a warehouse turned an Army-era commuter into a headline restoration project. BMW’s press release ties the car directly to his time stationed in Germany.
3. De Tomaso Pantera: The Car He Shot
When his yellow 1971 De Tomaso Pantera would not start after an argument with Linda Thompson, Elvis pulled out a revolver and fired at it, leaving two holes in the steering wheel and one in the floor, according to Jalopnik.
The incident is a blunt reminder of his temper, and the damage is part of the car’s story today. The Pantera is now at the Petersen Automotive Museum, where visitors can see the evidence. The episode was an act of temper, and the car is remembered chiefly for it.
4. Stutz Blackhawk: The First Blackhawk
Elvis bought the first Stutz Blackhawk ever sold, on October 9, 1970, for $26,500, according to Wikipedia, and he went on to buy at least four.
Returning for more suggests the luxury coupe suited his taste for statement pieces. Being first in line for a new model made him a fitting face for the Stutz revival. The purchase also shows how quickly he moved on a new car when it caught his eye. The model’s Wikipedia entry records him as the buyer of that first car.
5. Convair 880 ‘Lisa Marie’: Lisa Marie in the Sky
Elvis bought a 1958 Convair 880 in April 1975, named it Lisa Marie for his daughter and spent more than $800,000 on a remodel that included gold-plated seat belts, according to Graceland.
The jet became a flying symbol of his excess. Part of the story lives on at Graceland, where the aircraft can be viewed by visitors. The cost of the remodel is a figure that still surprises visitors who tour the aircraft. The plane’s name honors his daughter, and Graceland presents its history alongside the JetStar.
6. Lockheed JetStar: The Tour Jet
His Lockheed JetStar was customized with a yellow and green interior and, according to Graceland, was used primarily to take his manager and staff from city to city on concert tours.
Where the Convair was a personal showpiece, the JetStar was more of a working plane. It moved the people behind the shows, a reminder that an Elvis tour ran on logistics as well as music. Graceland’s description notes the customized interior, a personal touch on a plane that otherwise served business needs. Graceland covers both aircraft on its airplanes page.
7. Ferrari Dino (1975): A Dino at Graceland
A 1975 Dino Ferrari is among the more than 20 cars shown at Graceland’s car museum, which opened on June 12, 1989, according to a Graceland anniversary post.
The Italian sports car sits among American luxury cars and other pieces, showing how wide his tastes ran. The museum lets fans compare many of his choices in a single visit. That gives the Ferrari a public home, which is not true of every celebrity car. The Graceland post marks the museum’s 25th anniversary and lists the Dino among the cars on view.
8. 1956 Cadillac Eldorado convertible: Eldorado Beside the Pink One
A 1956 Cadillac Eldorado convertible is displayed alongside the pink Cadillac at Graceland, according to the museum’s own anniversary post.
Two Cadillacs from the mid-1950s make a natural pairing. Together they recall the years when his fame was rising and the brand was the standard for the successful. Graceland lists it among the notable pieces, so visitors can spot it without hunting. The same Graceland anniversary post that marks the museum’s 25th year lists the Eldorado among the cars on view. The museum opened on June 12, 1989, and shows more than 20 cars owned by the king.
9. MG from ‘Blue Hawaii’: The Blue Hawaii MG
The red MG that Elvis drove in the 1961 film Blue Hawaii is part of Graceland’s car collection, according to the same anniversary post.
A small British roadster is a change of pace next to the jets and big Cadillacs. The car ties the collection to his movie career, and fans can still see it on display. Graceland lists the MG among the collection’s notable pieces, which speaks to how the museum tries to cover the full range of his driving life. It is a modest piece next to the jets, yet it is a genuine link to the screen.
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