Elvis bought the Rolls-Royce Phantom V brand new in 1963 and had it custom-fitted with the latest gadgets including a telephone, electric windows and a microphone. The car was initially midnight blue, but he was forced to have it re-painted a lighter silver because his mother's chickens would repeatedly peck at their reflections when he visited her.
The centre rear armrest featured a writing pad, mirror and clothes brush while a fitted cabinet contained cut glass decanters and crystal glasses. Under the bonnet was a 6.2-litre, V8 engine which gave the 2.6-ton car 200bhp and a top speed of around 100mph. Elvis, then a 28-year-old global sensation, had the 20-foot long car shipped out to his home in Bel Air, Los Angeles, where he entertained the likes of The Beatles.
Memphis's most famous son held on to the car for five years before donating it to charity, where it sold for $35,000. It then disappeared for the next 20 years until it was bought by its current owner at a memorabilia auction in London. They have kept it in a private museum and used it sparingly, with the car regularly maintained by English Rolls-Royce restorers Frank Dale and Stepsons. Bonhams described the Rolls-Royce as 'one of the more significant Phantom V's to have come up for sale in recent years'. The auction house added: 'It is a most interesting model of this highly desirable motorcar complete with undisputed Elvis provenance. 'It is offered with copy of its original chassis card confirming the original owner as well as his exacting specifications. 'This important and significant Rolls-Royce Phantom V, with its undisputed place in pop culture history, will surely be jewel in the crown for any Elvis collector.'
Weekend Charts
The 1995 compilation "Heart & Soul" dropped from #177 to #184 on the US Album chart. It also dropped from #44 to #46 on the Catalog Album Chart for the week ending August 02, 2014.
(Source: Daily Mail / The King's World)