Elvis Presley: These were the dream cars of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll

One of the King’s favorite models shines in powerful green, has only one seat and a movable shovel at the front. The John Deere 4010 was the benchmark tractor in the United States in the 1960s. The commercial vehicle, now on display in the Elvis vehicle collection at Elvis Presley’s estate in Graceland, was used for many years at the Circle G Ranch in Walls (Mississippi). When it was sold, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll had one of his favorite vehicles brought to Graceland, just as it was used in everyday operations on the grounds – with Elvis or garden staff at the large steering wheel.

Elvis Presley was equally into opulent luxury models and wiry sports cars. One of his favorites, especially in the 1950s and 60s, was the 325 hp Cadillac Eldorado, which the US singer bought in 1956 as the so-called Biarritz Convertible Coupé. Over the years, the massive colossus, at the time one of the largest car models ever, was repainted from white to purple and extensively modified according to the King’s wishes.

Elvis Presley was particularly enthusiastic about Mercedes vehicles. His collection included various luxury sedans, coupes and convertibles over the decades. His saying is still known today: “Nobody is perfect, but if you drive a Mercedes you’re pretty close” – no marketing department could have thought of that better. Elvis Presley particularly enjoyed traveling in one of his Mercedes 600s from the W100 series. This applied to the light blue-metallic-colored version with a normal wheelbase as well as to the midnight blue Pullman state limousine with six doors, a sunroof and a partition window, with which he particularly enjoyed being chauffeured around Las Vegas after he bought it from Mercedes in 1970. Benz of Beverly Hills had bought – radio telephone included.

His wife Priscilla also loved driving a Mercedes model, but she liked it a few sizes smaller. In December 1970, Elvis Presley purchased a white Mercedes 280 SL from the Pagoda series for Priscilla. The red EP Special from the Solar Aircraft Company monoposto was even smaller. Powered by a flathead V8, the micro model was a dangerous joker on race tracks, with which Elvis had several accidents.

Elvis’ parents eventually made sure that this late 1940s model was sold before something worse happened to their son behind the wheel. Elvis was not only enthusiastic about opulent luxury models, but also loved his numerous motorcycles in addition to his red MGB. For example, something fun like the Rupp Centaur Trike or the Harley Davidson golf carts that family, friends and guests used to drive around the Graceland property in south Memphis.

Also in everyday use on the site and the surrounding streets: the yellow 1974 International Scout or the Jeep Surey. During his time as a soldier in Germany, Elvis Presley bought a white BMW 507 at the end of 1958 and later took it back to the United States. In the 2000s, the BMW 507 was rediscovered in San Francisco at classic car collector Jack Castor’s pumpkin farm. The vehicle has now been restored true to the original by BMW.

From 1970 onwards, Elvis Presley presented himself more luxuriously and impressively in his 5.80 meter long Stutz Blackhawk, which, according to legend, he talked the dealer into buying, even though the US coupe had been ordered by entertainer and singer Frank Sinatra. The first US model with side pipes and its never-ending hood was delivered in Las Vegas. The luxury vehicle with Italian genes was then extensively modified by car specialist George Barris, who, among other things, created the Batmobile. The Lincoln Mark IV Coupé from 1975, which the singer also had extensively customized, was in the same league. The luxury version of the Ford Thunderbird was powered by an eight-cylinder 385 series, which made the two-door car reach around 200 km/h with its three-speed automatic transmission.

Elvis Presley without his Rolls-Royce collection? Unthinkable! During his career, the King bought numerous models from various series of the British automobile manufacturer, mostly on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. Particularly popular with the US star: a black Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud from 1960 or the white Silver Cloud, which was added to the Graceland fleet in 1966 with its blue leather interior. The British luxury model later became the property of US actor Michael Landon and then musician Charlie Rich.