Drive like a King: Elvis Presley’s family limousine is up for auction

In 2017, a pink Cadillac once famously owned by Elvis Presley sold at an auction—along with his private jet, a boat named “Hound Dog,” and his childhood home. Now another car from Presley’s collection is up for grabs. 

The King was an avid car collector who owned more than 100 cars—including several limousines—during his lifetime. Many of those cars have been meticulously cared for or restored, and are on display at Graceland and other museums. 

However, until recently, the 1967 Lincoln Continental Executive Limousine now for sale had been largely forgotten. Presley owned the limousine when his daughter was born, and it became known as the Presley family car. In 2014, it resurfaced as part of a private car collection when its owner, James Petrozzini, passed away. Petrozzini reportedly liked to pick up his son from school in the limousine, wearing white gloves and a chauffeur’s hat.

Top quality, not top dollar

The limousine was originally a wedding present, gifted to Elvis and Priscilla Presley in 1967 by Colonel Tom Parker, Presley’s manager. It served as the family car from the wedding, through the birth of the couple’s daughter, Lisa Marie, in 1968, and into the early 1970s. 

Unlike most cars from the Presley collection, the limousine has seen better days. Built by Lehmann-Peterson, it was once a symbol of cutting-edge luxury. It came with air conditioning, power steering, power windows, and other amenities that were considered top-of-the-line at the time. The auction listing describes the 462 CI V-8 engine and automatic transmission as a “mechanical symphony” and one of the “smoothest, quietest engine combinations” produced at the time.  

After being tucked away for years, the once-regal limousine is being sold as-is: It’s missing a headlight, the interior is deteriorating, and the motor is rusty and covered in decades of grime. But it also has some undeniable highlights. The Tennessee license plate reads “1-Elvis,” and the car comes with a title application authenticating that Elvis Presley was, in fact, its previous owner. For the Elvis superfan, this is a rare opportunity to acquire something owned by The King at anything less than top dollar.  

The auction—which runs from August 15 to 17 in Monterey, California—also features a number of other showstoppers and rare finds. Don’t miss the teal 1947 Delahaye 135 Narval—one of seven ever made—originally owned by French singer-songwriter Charles Trenet, or a red 1956 Jaguar D-Type once owned by Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant. 

And if you can’t get enough of the Presleys, Elvis Week is currently happening at Graceland, The King’s Memphis home-turned-museum.