It’s common knowledge that iconic crooner Elvis Presley was a huge car guy, not just one of the most popular musicians of all-time. Presley was perhaps most known for his affinity for Cadillacs, but his extensive collection contained everything from pickups to European sports cars. And, of course, a few Lincolns.
Lincoln Zephyr
In fact, Presley’s very first car was a 1952 Lincoln Zephyr gifted to him by his father. That car must have left a bit of an impression on the young man, because when it came time to purchase a vehicle with his own, hard-earned money, Presley chose a 1941 Lincoln. That particular car, like most first vehicles, was cheap, but also reportedly quite unreliable. But those are the breaks for someone trying to make it in the music biz, right?
In 1958, Presley was drafted into the U.S. Army and wound up being stationed at a base in Germany. But the world’s most popular musician needed something to tool around overseas, and wound up buying a couple of different cars to fulfill that purpose.
1941 Lincoln
One of them was a 1960 Lincoln Continental Mark 5, one of just 83 produced. Presley didn’t drive that limo, of course, but rather was chauffeured around in the giant, plush machine, which cost a whopping $10,200 new.
Once Elvis Presley finished up his military service and came back home to Memphis, he also managed to get his hands on one of the first 1962 Ford Thunderbirds in existence after leaning on his childhood friend, who also so happened to be a local car salesman.
1962 Ford Thunderbird
Clearly, the King of Rock and Roll wasn’t just a talented musician with a knack for making ladies swoon – he was also a car guy, through and through. One with great taste, we might add. And it’s certainly worth noting that Elvis wasn’t just a Cadillac fan, but also had a taste for Lincoln, which appeared to be his first love in the automotive world, too.
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Comments
Very interesting article. I toured GRACELAND in 2014. Not really a fan but a very interesting and beautiful house.
The article has a few errors, The Lincoln Mark V was bought AFTER his Army stint in Germany and he drove it, just like he drove the 4 Rolls Royces, 3 Mercedes 600s and every other limousine he ever had, at different times of his public life. Two cars he owned are so above the rest that it is incredible that the writer did not mentiin them. One os the Linclon Continental Mark II he bought in 1956 and the other is the actualy priceless BMW 507 which BMW Classic Group found after 50 years and then restored for what is believed to be US$6m, if not more, and which is currently hosued at the BMW Museum in Munich, One des not have t be an Elvis fa to just be in total awe at this car. When Jerry Seinfeld worth US$700m by Forbes, asked BMW to borrow it for a two hour use in his TV series “Comedians in car gettin coffee” they toild him that thay coyud not lend tit, as the car is PRICELESS. This is the mother of all Elvis cars… https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcQGqere8g3–CpafROB2qsFoDoVk_dmlLGFKA&usqp=CAU
Great article which has a few errors, The Lincoln Mark V was bought AFTER his Army stint in Germany and he drove it, just like he drove the 4 Rolls Royces, 3 Mercedes 600s and every other limousine he ever had, at different times of his public life. It sold at a 2006 bheld Barrett-Jackson auction in Londres for US$566,000. Now, two cars he owned, other than the Pink Caddy, are so above the rest that it is incredible that the writer did not mention them. One os the Linclon Continental Mark II he bought in 1956 and the other is the actualy priceless 1957 BMW 507 which BMW Classic Group found after 50 years and then restored for what is believed to be US$ 6m, if not more, and which is currently housed at the BMW Museum in Munich, One does not have to be an Elvis fan to just be in total awe at this car. When Jerry Seinfeld worth US$700m as per Forbes, asked BMW to borrow it for a two hour use in his TV series “Comedians in car getting coffee” they told him that thay could not lend it, as the car is PRICELESS. This is the mother of all Elvis cars… https://brusworld.com/motor/elvis-507-restauriert-bmw-museum/?lang=de
Great article which has a few errors, The Lincoln Mark V was bought AFTER his Army stint in Germany and he drove it, just like he drove the 4 Rolls Royces, 3 Mercedes 600s and every other limousine he ever had, at different times of his public life. It sold at a 2006 held Barrett-Jackson auction in London for US$566,000. Now, two cars he owned, other than the Pink Caddy, are so above the rest that it is incredible that the writer did not mention them. One is the Continental Mark II he bought in 1956 and the other is the actually priceless 1957 BMW 507 (chassis 70079) which the BMW Classic Group found after 50 years and then restored it for what is believed to be US$ 6m, if not more, and which is currently housed at the BMW Museum in Munich, One does not have to be an Elvis fan to just be in total awe at this car. When Jerry Seinfeld (worth US$700m as per Forbes) requested BMW Classic to borrow it for a two hour use in his TV series “Comedians in car getting coffee” they told him that thay could not lend it, as the car is PRICELESS. This is the mother of all Elvis cars… https://brusworld.com/motor/elvis-507-restauriert-bmw-museum/?lang=de
F.Y.I. Lincoln did not build the Zephyr model in 1952. they did how ever build the Capri and the Cosmopolitan models. It would have been cool if they did build the Zephyr model as it would have been a FAST car with the new 317 Y-block engine. My daily driver is a Lincoln Town Car Signature series that i enjoy driving very much. I love all the older Lincolns from the 50’s-60’s and on as well as the Edsel’s and Mercury’s from the same period.
I am going to guess the author meant Elvis’s father gave him a 1942 Zephyr instead of 1952. More likely a typing error. Elvis had some cool cars.