Elvis’s long-lost multi-million dollar BMW found rotting in San Francisco warehouse

  • Elvis Presley’s BMW 507 was found in a San Francisco warehouse
  • BMW recovered the car and decided to restore it
  • Presley owned the car while on US military duty in Germany

Published on Apr 06, 2025 at 8:24 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall

Last updated on Apr 03, 2025 at 5:05 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Henry Kelsall

The gorgeous BMW 507 Roadster once owned by Elvis Presley was found rotting in a warehouse in San Francisco.

BMW rescued the car over a decade ago and set about giving it the full restoration it deserved.

Presley himself bought the car in the late 1950s, using it in Germany before the BMW made its way back to the United States.

The car passed through several owners and slipped into obscurity before BMW rescued it and decided it was worthy of restoration.

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Elvis Presley bought the BMW 507 when in Germany

In the late 1950s, Presley was serving in the US military in Germany, and he needed a car to get around.

In 1958, Presley bought the car but by that point, it had already become quite famous.

Presley’s BMW had been shown off at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in 1957.

Racing driver Hans Stuck even used it for several events.

The car was then used for various test drives and video shots by the press, before making its way to a dealer.

That dealer in Frankfurt sold the car to Presley, who repainted it from its white color to red.

Presley finished his tour of duty in March 1960, and the car was then shipped back to the United States.

However, it then slipped into obscurity once it crossed the Atlantic.

Presley’s BMW changed hands several times

The car passed through several owners, before engineer Jack Castor bought it in 1968.

It was then put into storage and left to sit in a Half Moon Bay warehouse just south of San Francisco.

Over time, its condition had deteriorated massively, and that was when BMW found the sports car.

They bought it from Castor and then set about restoring the rare roadster.

BMW showed the car off at the Monterey Car Week in 2016.

After restoration, it had been repainted back into its original white.

Even without Presley’s ownership, the BMW 507 is a very valuable sports car.

BMW hoped to sell thousands each year but built just 252 from 1956 to 1959.

Its high price hurt sales, and with so few made the classic car with its V8 engine has become highly valuable and sought after.

Presley owning this particular one means its value is elevated even further.

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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.