Elvis Presley Bought This 1976 Cadillac Seville as a Gift to a Police Officer

Besides music, the King of Rock'n'Roll loved anything with an engine and is known to have had a soft spot for Cadillacs. During his short yet eventful life, he amassed an impressive collection of cars and motorcycles, and he would often buy vehicles on a whim as treats to himself or his friends. As a result, the American singer and actor left behind countless pieces of auto memorabilia. One of them is this 1976 Cadillac Seville, which is said to be among the last Caddys he purchased before his death.

Considering Presley's lifelong love of cars and motos, there are plenty of stories about him and his vehicles. One of these stories involves a late-night car shopping spree in Denver, Colorado. The artist had spent his 41st birthday at the winter sports resort of Vail in Colorado, and as he often did when he traveled, he hired a couple of local police officers to be his security.

As a thank-you gesture for their services, Elvis is said to have purchased two Lincolns and three Cadillacs in January of 1976, one of which is possibly the vehicle you see in this article.

Denver Police Captain Jerry Kennedy, Officer Robert Cantwell, and Detective Ron Pietrafeso are the men who ensured Presley's security during that trip. They reportedly gave Elvis his own badge and uniform, and the singer returned the gesture by gifting them new cars. He bought a Lincoln for Kennedy and one for Dr. Gerald Starkey, the medical coordinator for the Denver police and fire departments, and an ice-blue Cadillac for Pietrafeso. Two other Cadillacs were reportedly bought the same night for Linda Thompson and his road manager Joe Esposito's girlfriend. In total, Presley is said to have spent around $70,000 on the cars.

The 1976 Cadillac Seville shown here might be the unit that was gifted to Detective Pietrafeso. It was bought new from Jack Kent Cadillac in Denver and comes with a slew of documents that prove the veracity of the above story and the link to Elvis Presley, including a cheque signed by King of Rock'n'Roll himself in payment for the car, original dealership letters, and a Bill of Sale from the Elvis Presley Museum.

Introduced in 1975 as a 1976 model, the Cadillac Seville is a mid-size luxury car developed as a response to the increasingly popular luxury European cars in the US, coming from established brands like Mercedes, Audi, and BMW, and was aimed at the younger generations of car buyers.

It was the American marque's first small car and blended traditional Cadillac styling with design cues from the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. It featured a unibody construction with a bolt-on subframe and rear suspension based on the rear-wheel drive 1968–74 X-body platform. Though the car was endowed with a more angular body and a wider track stance, it maintained the premium appearance and comfort that Cadillac fans were accustomed to.

The new model stood out thanks to its advanced technical features. For instance, it was one of the first Caddys to be fitted with electronic fuel injection, and it also featured a sophisticated electronic level control system and a computerized engine management system. Moreover, the Seville was remarkably well appointed by mid-70s standards, boasting plenty of luxury amenities such as power windows, power locks, remote-controlled side-view mirrors, automatic climate control, a power antenna, and an AM/FM stereo.

Notably, since it was smaller, it was also nearly 1,000 pounds (450 kg) lighter than the full-sized Cadillac Deville. Its more compact size made it easier to park and maneuver. A total of 43,772 units of the 1976 Seville were produced.

The Cadillac Seville bought by Presley for his friend in the force is finished in two-tone Crystal Blue Firemist paint with a light blue semi-gloss trim and is fitted with a custom grille and gold emblems. It rides on a set of tires with wire hubcaps and white and gold stripes.

Under the hood, the Seville still has the original 350 cubic inch Oldsmobile V8 engine coupled to a three-speed TH-400 Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission. The mill was fitted with a Bendix/Bosch electronic fuel injection system that gave the car smooth drivability and performance and produced 180 hp (183 ps).

The interior of the car boasts gray leather upholstery with blue carpeting and trim, a split bench seat, a three-spoke steering wheel, and wood trim on the vintage dashboard. The odometer read 54,684 miles.

Just like any other item once bought, owned, or signed by Elvis Presley, this Cadillac Seville is bound to command a lot of attention. The car is set to go under the hammer in early January through Mecum and is offered with no reserve and no price guide.