Elvis’s made De Tomaso Pantera infamous with odd act
- Elvis Presley is a big fan of cars
- But his De Tomaso Pantera has a very unusual backstory to it
- Let’s just say, it’s a classic story from the life of the King of Rock and Roll
Published on Oct 13, 2024 at 10:00 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Oct 11, 2024 at 6:04 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Elvis Presley was known for his love of cars, but his De Tomaso Pantera was notorious even by his standards of fame.
In fact, his 1971 yellow Pantera went down in music history thanks to an extremely bizarre incident involving the King.
Elvis’ name is often associated with oddity – just look at the unusual story of how he got his Lincoln Continental.
But even by the Hound Dog singer’s eccentric standards, the story surrounding his Pantera is odd.
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Why did this De Tomaso Pantera become so infamous?
To go back to the start, the Pantera itself was powered by an American engine but had the look of an Italian supercar.
In the US, they were sold through Ford dealerships which is where Elvis picked one up.
It was a present for his girlfriend at the time, Linda Thompson, whom he dated from 1972 to 1976.
Despite the car’s sleek looks, they weren’t known to be the most reliable.
That’s where Elvis’ unusual act comes in.
Elvis and Linda had a big argument, and Linda stormed out.
Wanting to make a point, Elvis tried to start up the Pantera to blast it up the road, but it wouldn’t start.
Already angry from his row with Linda, Elvis pulled out a Colt 45 Pistol and shot the car’s steering wheel and floors.
Talk about road rage.
It’s not clear whether or not the Pantera started after the fact, but it makes for a cool story.
The car is currently stored as part of a collection of famous cars at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.
Yes, the bullet holes are still there.
What other vehicles did Elvis own?
It’s not the only car of the King of Rock and Roll’s to end up on display.
Over at the New York International Auto Show, his 1971 Stutz Blackhawk went on display.
It was good company as far as fame was concerned, with Grace Kelly’s car also being featured.
Elvis wasn’t just into cars – he also owned a private jet.
What did we say?
Mention Elvis’ name and some eccentric isn’t too far behind.
