Elvis’s Cadillac is for sale

The King’s ride

Yes, you read that right.

A 1975 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham bought new by Elvis Presley is for sale on online auction site Car & Classic – and bidding opens on Saturday 8 January, which would have been the American singer’s 87th birthday.

So, of course, we had to find out more…

Big spender

Of course, this wasn’t the only Cadillac Elvis bought. In fact, he’s thought to have purchased in excess of 200 of them in his life, which is an incredible figure.

Most he enjoyed for a while before giving them away to friends and family members, but this car, according to the auction house, is the only car ever known to be registered in his name.

Time to surrender

Elvis paid $12,512 for this 1975 model year Caddy, which he bought himself from Madison Cadillac Inc on 26 September 1974, as verified in the accompanying paperwork.

He drove it until 1976, when he gifted it to his doctor, Dr G Nichopoulos.

Sitting pretty

When Elvis selected this car, he specified it with a few options, including five Vogue tyres, a sunroof and a bonnet-mounted ‘Goddess’.

And, as you can see, even after 48 years, the latter is still proudly in place.

The last farewell

Dr G Nichopoulos owned this Cadillac from 1976, the year before Elvis died, until 1985, at which point its current custodian bought it.

He sold it in 1990 but clearly regretted that decision, and later bought it back.

Separate ways

But now he feels the time has come to properly say goodbye to his classic Cadillac.

However, as you can see from this image, it is not pristine and will need some recommissioning before being returned to the road.

That said, it is thought to be complete, which is not a bad place to start.

An acquired taste

This car’s new owner will also have to be a fan of ’70s style, because this superstar’s car doesn’t hold back on the decade’s distinctive designs.

But if it is all original – and it is thought it is – then reviving what’s there as far as possible is surely preferable to ripping it out and starting again.

Power player

Of course, a big, colourful slice of Americana like this needs a sizeable engine and this does not disappoint.

Under the Cadillac’s long bonnet sits a 500cu in – that’s a whopping 8.2-litre – V8.

Paper trail

Any suspicious minds (sorry, we couldn’t resist!) should be put at rest by the paperwork that comes with this Cadillac.

For example, there is a copy of the original order form, signed by Mr Elvis Presley, as well as a delivery sheet – and according to this classic’s current owner, none of the cars in the Elvis museum have such supporting paperwork.

Picture perfect

The one chap who owned this Cadillac during the period between its current keeper’s two stints has, frustratingly, lost a lot of the material he had relating to the car’s post-Elvis life, in terms of servicing and general maintenance.

However, the paper trail is at least in part made up for by the photographs it is being sold with.

Globetrotter

Included are photos of this car showing Elvis’s Graceland home in the background, plus images of it with his best friend George Klein and with his road manager Joe Esposito.

There are also photos of it around the world.

Some extra bling

And there is more. This car’s winning bidder won’t ‘just’ get Elvis’s Cadillac, with paperwork and photographs.

It comes with a Graceland-style backdrop, which could be handy if you wanted to display it, as well as, wait for it… A framed 14k gold key for the car. Fancy.

A big project

From the very period velour trim to the impressive equipment list that includes electric seats and windows, cruise control and rear footrests, and even the original radio, there isn’t just a lot to take in outside this huge classic, there’s lots inside, too.

It has never been restored, so is more of a ‘survivor’ – but if you want to check it out before bidding, you will have to get yourself to Sweden…

The clock is ticking

Rock and roll memorabilia doesn’t come much bigger than this, in terms of the sheer size of the car and of how famous its first owner is.

It is being sold here on Car & Classic in a week-long online auction that opens on 8 January 2022 and closes on 15 January 2022 at 6:30pm (GMT).