An iconic 41-foot, guitar-shaped pink Cadillac once driven by Elvis Presley in the early 1970s has found its permanent home in Florida.
The King of Rock and Roll’s iconic ‘guitar car,’ which he famously drove along the Las Vegas strip before a concert, was ultimately found deteriorating in Paris, only to later reappear on eBay priced at just $11,000, as reported by the Orlando Sentinel.
Now, this unique custom 1970 Cadillac Eldorado has been purchased by esteemed car collector Michael Dezer, although the cost of his acquisition is not publicly known.
The vehicle is set to become a permanent exhibit at Dezer’s Orlando Auto Museum, the largest auto museum in the nation, situated within his extensive Dezerland Park on International Drive.
‘Few cars capture the spirit of American music and culture the way this one does,’ Dezer said, according to the outlet.
‘We are proud to bring this extraordinary piece of Elvis history back to the US and to make it available for fans to see up close,’ he added.
In the 1970s, the pink Cadillac started as a typical model until renowned car designer Jay Ohrberg, celebrated for his contributions to film and television vehicles, took over the project and reimagined its destiny.
The modification retained the engine at the front, while a long, slender extension resembling a guitar neck connected it to the car’s rear half, where a single seat is positioned, the outlet reported.
An iconic 41-foot, guitar-shaped pink Cadillac once driven by Elvis Presley in the early 1970s (pictured) has found its permanent home in Florida
The King of Rock and Roll’s (pictured) celebrated ‘guitar car,’ which he once drove down the Las Vegas strip before a concert, was eventually found decaying in Paris before appearing on eBay for only $11,000.
The one-of-a-kind custom 1970 Cadillac Eldorado has been acquired by renowned car collector Michael Dezer (pictured), though his purchase price remains undisclosed
Originally, it featured ‘strings’ running lengthwise from front to back, tuners lining the hood, and curved fiberglass extensions on the rear – hence its nickname, the ‘guitar car.’
From above, its intricate design formed the unmistakable silhouette of a giant pink version of the musical instrument.
But what happened to the car after it cruised down the lively Vegas Strip remains a mystery to this day.
When it was eventually found withering away in a French junkyard with rust, body damage, worn seats, exposed wood, and a missing hubcap, it was clear that Elvis’s iconic prop needed a serious restoration to save its fate.
‘It’s been decades overall since it’s been seen, and most of that time was actually outside in a junkyard, so it took all the elements,’ J.J. Morales, the museum curator, told Orlando Sentinel.
On Wednesday, it took 15 people to move the car backstage at Dezerland Park – its engine won’t run, with the distributor and other key parts missing under the hood.
Yet some unique features have survived the years overseas – musical notes along the sides, oversized tailfins, a cozy seat once covered by a transparent dome, no windshield, and a Tennessee license plate registered in 1977.
Naturally, the license plate proudly displays the iconic ‘1-ELVIS.’
The car will now reside at Dezer’s Orlando Auto Museum – the largest auto museum in the country – located within his sprawling Dezerland Park (pictured) on International Drive
Originally, it featured ‘strings’ running lengthwise from front to back, tuners lining the hood, and curved fiberglass extensions on the rear – hence its nickname, the ‘guitar car’
Back in the 1970s, the pink Cadillac began as a standard model – until famed car designer Jay Ohrberg (pictured), known for his work on film and television vehicles, took the reins and transformed its future
One side of the car’s body still displays its logo – a tongue symbol flanked by two women in boots and bikinis – directly under the name ‘Hollywood Star Cars.’
Dezer, also a South Florida developer, finally acquired the car – bringing it back to American soil for the first time in decades.
Although the purchase price remains undisclosed, the legendary star’s Cadillac will find its home in Dezer’s Orlando Auto Museum, which houses over 2,500 rare and famous vehicles valued at more than $200 million.
The museum is now gearing up for a full restoration – a massive project expected to take over a year and exceed $1 million in costs.
‘I don’t think Dezer is going to spare any expense in the restoration process, but there are a lot of panels and items I need to get rebuilt or made,’ Morales told Orlando Sentinel.
But the car won’t be hidden from public view – instead, the museum plans to unveil it in a month or two, allowing visitors to witness its restoration journey in real time.
‘Between having people come here during business hours and seeing all the social media posts, we’re very excited because it’s something we don’t get to do here often,’ Morales added.
Once fully restored, the car will become the centerpiece of a new exhibit dedicated to Jay Ohrberg’s creations – many of which have appeared in major Hollywood productions and prestigious private collections.
Some unique features have survived the years overseas – musical notes along the sides, oversized tailfins, a cozy seat once covered by a transparent dome, no windshield, and a Tennessee license plate registered in 1977
The legendary star’s Cadillac will find its home in Dezer’s Orlando Auto Museum (pictured), which houses over 2,500 rare and famous vehicles valued at more than $200 million
The museum is now gearing up for a full restoration of Elvis’s car – a massive project expected to take over a year and exceed $1 million in costs
Also featured in the exhibit will be Ohrberg’s ‘The American Dream,’ officially the longest limousine in the world at 100 feet and 1.5 inches, according to MotorTrend.
Though Elvis’s car is poised to steal the spotlight, Dezer’s Orlando Auto Museum already boasts a vast collection of vehicles, ranging from film-famous cars to international rarities, military vehicles, and antique treasures.
The Orlando Auto Museum is just one part of the 850,000-square-foot Dezerland Park – the largest indoor entertainment attraction in the Sunshine State.
Beyond the cars, Dezerland Park features Florida’s largest indoor go-kart track, laser tag, pinball, a 30,000-square-foot trampoline park, glow-in-the-dark mini golf, a Cinemark theater, boutique bowling, and other unique spots like the 007 Bond Bar & Restaurant and Bass Pro Shops.
For more details, fans can visit the Dezerland Park website to plan their visit and see the legendary Elvis Presley ‘guitar car’ up close for the very first time.
