The Classic Car In The Movie Elvis That Everyone Wants To Own

For all his big hair, baritone voice, and love for flashy cars, Elvis Presley was gone too soon from the Earth. The eponymously named Baz Luhrmann biopic brings back Elvis for the world to rediscover the man, his music, and his love for everything Cadillac. So okay, we fudged on the car bit. The movie does not talk about cars, but it certainly brings back the spotlight on the cars that Elvis liked, and the classic Cadillac market is seeing a bright spot because of this.

Elvis movie is storming the box office, having already collected $130 million, and still going strong. The biopic passed the $75 million mark at the box office within 12 days and because of it, interest in one particular brand of classic cars has skyrocketed.

In the movie, Austin Butler essays the role of Elvis and the movie chronicles the life, career, and ultimate downfall, but the highlight of the movie, for any autophile, is the cars. The Cadillac classic market in the meantime is appreciating, because after watching the movie, suddenly more people want to bask in the glory of Elvis’ cars, or at least the namesakes.

Elvis had not just one Cadillac, but rather, he had them all. So when it comes to the newfound appreciation for Cadillacs in the classic car bazaar, is it just one, or many that have fans lining up for a buy?

How Many Cadillacs Did Elvis Own?

No one can quite say, exactly how many cars Elvis had in his 42 years. It was rumored that Elvis had at least 200 Cadillacs and he not only left them strewn all over his lawns at his magnificent property, Neverland but also loved to give them away. One he got the Cadillac, or even other cars, and had a few drives in them, Elvis it was time to move own to the next so he would make a gift of the car, sometimes to friends and family and sometimes, just to acquaintances.

Elvis gifted the second Caddie he ever bought, a pink 1955 Fleetwood Series 60 to his mother. This car is on permanent display at the Graceland Museum in Memphis, Tennessee, and a replica can often be spotted at breast cancer awareness events.

Then there was a custom solid gold 1960 Cadillac Series 75 Fleetwood limo. This was a custom car for Elvis, featuring a turntable stereo and TV, a full bar, and diamond dust Pearl paint. If Elvis were to buy it today, it would be a $500,000, minimum, and not as a classic car but instead adjusted for inflation. You can see this car at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee.

The One Car Elvis Shot

Elvis may have loved his Cadillacs but when it came to the one car that he bought to impress his girlfriend, Linda Thompson, Presley could not stand it. When he bought the Ford-powered DeTomaso Pantera, he was a hothead with a sliding career and a reputation for shooting things he did not like, including his TV.

After an argument with Howard, Elvis tried to storm out but the Pantera would not start, and so he shot it, with one bullet ricocheting off the steering wheel. In 1976, Elvis sold the car, and the next year, he passed. By 1981, the Pantera was traded for $300,000 worth of diamonds before finding its forever home at the Petersen Museum.

The Cadillacs are lucky Elvis did not have a tantrum around them, or should we say, they were simply the better cars.