Everything To Know About The Famous Elvis Pink Cadillac (2024)

March 25, 2024

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Rumors of Elvis somehow still being alive are a testament to the king's enduring popularity. They're probably helped by the fact that once in a while in Las Vegas, you'll see an Elvis impersonator driving down the road in a pink Cadillac, and do a double take. No car is more associated with the pop star, which was as flamboyant as his outfits. That's not something just anyone can pull off. According to the Graceland Museum , the notorious pink and white 1955 Cadillac was not Elvis' first or only car. Like any proper rock star, it took a few versions to get it right. He began his career as a traveling musician with a 1951 Lincoln, which his bass player totaled shortly thereafter. A used pink 1954 Cadillac – which by all rights should count as one of the the greatest Cadillacs of all time — took its place, but a few months later it caught fire at the side of the road after a brake line failure. So his manager stepped in and helped Elvis buy a new 1955 Cadillac Series 60 Fleetwood Special. That one lasted a bit longer. It initially came in blue and black, and it's believed that Elvis had it repainted pink and white — not just to go along with a few of his similarly themed flamboyant suits, but because his chart-topping song at the time, "Baby Let's Play House," contained the line, "You may go to college, you may go to school, you may have a pink Cadillac, but don't you be nobody's fool." It provided transportation for Elvis and the Blue moon Boys between gigs, and they often slept inside when they weren't driving. This was part of the reason they opted for a large classic Cadillac , as opposed to something like a VW Beetle. The four-door Cadillac featured a 331-ci, 250-hp V8 and HydraMatic automatic transmission, and came with accoutrements that are commonplace today, but were considered luxury additions at the time. These included: power windows, a power-adjustable driver's seat, and Cadillac's high-tech Autronic-Eye sensor, which dimmed the headlights when oncoming traffic approached (still a bit of a luxury feature today). As is fitting, further accidents and models followed, and Elvis wound up owning several pink Cadillacs over the course of his career. But the 1955 Cadillac is the iconic model that's inspired numerous copycat versions around the world. It currently resides at the entertainment and exhibit complex across the street from Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee, where it hasn't had an accident since.

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FAQs

What is the story behind Elvis Pink Cadillac? ›

History. In early 1955, Elvis bought his first Cadillac, a 1954 Fleetwood Series 60, which was the color pink. The car provided transport for Elvis and the Blue Moon Boys, but after the failure of a brake lining, was destroyed in a roadside fire between Hope and Texarkana, Arkansas, on June 5, 1955.

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What is the significance of Pink Cadillac? ›

The Pink Cadillac has become an enduring symbol of style, glamour, and American automotive history. Originating with Elvis Presley's iconic purchase of a pink Cadillac in the 1950s, this vibrant automobile quickly became a cultural phenomenon.

What color was Elvis Pink Cadillac? ›

In early March, 1955 Elvis bought his first Pink Cadillac. It was a pink and white 1954 Cadillac and provided transportation for Elvis and the Blue Moon Boys for about three months.

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Can you still get a Pink Cadillac? ›

General Motors limits the purchase of the custom colour to Mary Kay Inc. consultants. “When the pink Cadillac is put back into market and resold as a pre-owned vehicle, it is repainted back to the original color. You can't go to a Cadillac dealer and buy a used vehicle that's painted Mary Kay pink.

What is the Pink Cadillac reference? ›

The auto imagery was inspired by Elvis Presley's 1954 rendition of "Baby Let's Play House" in which Presley replaced the original lyric: "You may get religion" with: "You may have a pink Cadillac", a reference to the custom painted Cadillac that was then Presley's touring vehicle.

What did Elvis name his Cadillac? ›

The Pink Cadillac | Fleetwood Series 60

Elvis had the car repainted by a neighbor who designed a pink colour for Elvis and named the colour 'Elvis Rose'. This is the one that he gave to his mother, probably the most famous car in the world.

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Who started Pink Cadillac? ›

In 1967, Mary Kay purchased her first Cadillac and had the dealer paint it the same color as the hot pink lipstick and eye liner in her purse. In 1969 she awarded the top 5 sales women in the company a 1970 pink Cadillac Coupe DeVille and the start of the Mary Kay Career Car program was started.

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Who made Pink Cadillac famous? ›

In 1968, Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, bought a Cadillac and had it custom painted to match the blush in her signature makeup compact, “Mountain Laurel Blush.” Her pink Cadillac became so distinctive that she decided to reward her top five sales people every year with their own pink Cadillacs.

Who gave away pink Cadillacs? ›

Mary Kay Ash ordered her first pink Cadillac Coupe DeVille in 1967, asking the Dallas dealership to paint it pale pink to match the makeup in her purse; two years later, she rewarded the top five independent sales force members with their own 1970 models, kicking off the Mary Kay Career Car Program.