- King of Rock's old limousine will go under the hammer during a Bonhams auction in California next month
- Icon bought the luxury car in 1963 and had it sent to coachbuilder James Young who fitted it with new accessories
- Memphis's most famous son held on to the car for five years before donating it to charity, where it sold for $35,000
- Elvis was a renowned car fan - owning a number of Cadillacs, Jaguars and a BMW
A prized possession of one music's biggest petrolheads, Elvis Presley, is set to fetch up to $300,000 at auction next month.
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.
Rock and rolls: Elvis's 1963 Royals
Royce Phantom will go under the hammer next month and is expected to
fetch between $200,000 and $300,000
Luxurious: He bought the car in 1963
and sent it to a coach builder to have it equipped with the latest
gadgets. The car was initially midnight blue, but he was forced to
repaint it light silver because his mother's chickens kept pecking at it
Elvis was renowned for his love of
cars, especially Rolls Royces. He is pictured here with another Phantom
he bought in 1961 outside his Graceland mansion
When
his new purchase arrived, he sent it to Britain where coachbuilder
James Young installed the newest gadgets including a Blaupunkt Koln
radio, parking and flashing lights and air conditioning.
The
car will go under the hammer next month at a Bonhams sale in The Quail,
California and is expected to sell for between $200,000 and $300,000.
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 Rolls-Royce for five years before
donating it to charity, where it sold for $35,000 (£20,500).
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
yesterday 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.'
Steering wheel: After the car was
given a makeover, with new seating and radio put in place, it was
shipped to his home in Bel Air, Los Angeles
Grey interior: Memphis's most famous
son held on to the Rolls-Royce for five years before donating it to
charity, where it sold for $35,000.
Innovative: Elvis had the car fitted
with all the latest gadgets of the time including a telephone, electric
windows and air conditioning
Proof: The car comes with its original
documents. The form states that the owner is 'Elvis Presley' and the
coach builder who designed the interior is Briton, James Young
