Elvis Presley’s final ever automobile – and the one he drove the night time earlier than he died – is on the market
- The 1977 Cadillac Seville is believed to be the last car the singer ever bought
- He was pictured at the wheel on 15 August 1977 – the day before he passed away
The last ever car owned by Elvis Presley is currently up for sale.
The King of Rock ‘N’ Roll’s 1977 Cadillac Seville was the singer’s final ever ride, with Elvis being photographed behind the wheel the night before his death.
Auction house Bonhams has taken responsibility for finding its next owner in an online auction that runs for the best part of November.
It’s a sealed bid only sale, though experts believe it will be snapped up for more than $100,000.
The King’s last ride: This 1977 Cadillac Seville is believed to be the last car Elvis Presley purchased before his untimely death that year. It is now being offered to the highest bidder
Presley, pictured in 1975, drove this very car the day before he passed away in August 1977
Elvis Cadillacs aren’t in short supply.
It is believed the Suspicious Minds singer purchased at least 200 during his lifetime, with examples popping up for sale in the US relatively frequently.
But none with the provenance of this example.
This is understood to be the last version he purchased before his untimely passing on 16 August 1977.
Not only that, he was photographed driving the ’77 Caddy just hours before he died.
And the vehicle’s history since then has been pretty storied.
Elvis was a big Cadillac fan. He purchased more than 200 during his lifetime. As such, examples pop up for sale in the US relatively frequently. The King pictured getting into another Cadillac outside his Graceland home in the early 1960s
Just nine days after Elvis was found dead in his Graceland home at the tender age of 42, his father, Vernon, transferred ownership of this motor to the singer’s fiance at the time – Ginger Alden
Over the years, the car has passed through many owners, including Jimmy Velvet, who ran the Elvis Presley Museum on the Graceland Estate in Memphis, Tennessee, in the US
In 1994, it was acquired by collector Greg Page for $101,500 at an auction in Las Vegas. The current vendors purchased the vehicle two decades later in 2014 at a Graceland auction of the singer’s personal items and memorabilia
The 1977 Cadillac Seville’s bodywork was also custom made by specialist company Fisher
Just nine days after Elvis was found dead in his Graceland home at the tender age of 42, his father, Vernon, transferred ownership of this motor to the singer’s fiance at the time – Ginger Alden.
Over the years, the car has passed through many owners, including Jimmy Velvet, who ran the Elvis Presley Museum on the Graceland Estate in Memphis, Tennessee, in the US.
In 1994, it was acquired by collector Greg Page for $101,500 at an auction in Las Vegas.
The current vendors purchased the vehicle two decades later in 2014 at a Graceland auction of the singer’s personal items and memorabilia.
Elvis custom ordered the car’s colour scheme, which is a distinctive maroon and burgundy combination over silver
The iconic performer also had a custom CB radio fitted to the car, which he used to contact the guard house and the kitchen at Graceland
Given its incredible provenance, the vehicle has remained relatively untouched
The King’s seat: The online auction, running from 4-25 November, offers a unique opportunity to car collectors and Elvis enthusiasts alike
Given this is the last Caddy purchased and driven by Elvis, expect the car to generate a lot of bidding interest
Elvis chose the car’s colour scheme – a maroon and burgundy combination over silver.
The iconic performer also had a custom CB radio fitted to the car, which he used to contact the guard house and the kitchen at Graceland.
The motor is kitted out with a powerful 5.7-litre V8 engine and has just 57,998 miles on the clock.
The bodywork is custom made by Fisher.
The vehicle is now up for online auction with the closing date for bids set for 25 November.
Police officers on motorcycles escort a white hearse containing the body of the American rock and roll singer as it heads towards the funeral past crowds of people in Memphis, Tennessee on 18 August 1977
Bonhams said: ‘When he died in 1977 Elvis was just 42-years-old and had been behind the wheel of this very Cadillac Seville only a few hours beforehand.’ Pictured: Fans line the streets to pay respect to Elvis Presley
The auction house describes the sale as ‘a rare opportunity for collectors to own a piece of music and cultural history as unique and unforgettable as Elvis himself’
The highest price this car sold for was in 1994 when it changed hands for $101k
The motor is kitted out with a powerful 5.7-litre V8 engine and has just 57,998 miles on the clock
Bonhams, who is listing the car, stated: ‘On the afternoon of August 16th 1977, the legend that was Elvis Aaron Presley permanently left the building.
‘It’s thought that Elvis bought at least 200 Cadillacs over the years, with nearly all of them gifted to friends, relations or sometimes just strangers who’d been particularly helpful, friendly or kind.
‘But the day before he died he wasn’t driving just another of the many Cadillacs he’d owned. He was driving this particular car.
‘It was the last car he purchased for his own personal use.
‘When he died in 1977 Elvis was just 42-years-old and had been behind the wheel of this very Cadillac Seville only a few hours beforehand.
‘All of us here at Bonhams Cars Online who were lucky enough to sit in the driver’s seat, gently hold the steering wheel and look in the rear-view mirror felt some sort of visceral connection with his presence, his life story, and his indelible mark on popular culture and human history.
‘How do you put a price on that?’
The car comes with plenty of documents to verify it was originally purchased by Elvis
This image shows a letter of authenticity provided when the car was last sold at auction in 2014
The car even has a certificate of authenticity from the Elvis Presley Museum
The auction house describes the sale as ‘a rare opportunity for collectors to own a piece of music and cultural history as unique and unforgettable as Elvis himself’.
The online auction is live now (starting on 4 November) and runs until 25 November.
Because it is a sealed auction, there is no pre-sale guide price of the Caddy. However, Bonhams is confident it will exceed its previous recorded sale price of $100,000 (approx £77,500) from 30 years ago.
