Elvis Presley was bed for his generosity , but he did n’t just stop at costless show tickets or 500 % tip at eating place . One of Elvis ’ favored ways to show his appreciation was to swing a cool $ 11k ( we ’re lecture the ‘ 60s and ‘ seventy here , so do n’t laugh ) on a new car . His first large Cadillac purchase was a Pepto - pink Caddy for his mama , Gladys , who was presented with the extravagant giving in 1955 . She could n’t ram , but hey , it ’s the mentation that count .
The cotton candy - colored machine was just the beginning . From that here and now until his unseasonable death on August 16 , 1977 , the King purchase an estimated 100 + Cadillacs and Lincolns for Friend , syndicate , and even total strangers . Here are just a few of those stories :
A Seriously Happy Birthday
A banking concern narrator bring up Mennie Person happened to be in the right place at the ripe time in 1975 . She was windowpane shopping at a car dealership in Memphis and remark Elvis ’ custom limo park there . He was indoors giving the necessary details on yet another mountain Cadillac purchase . As she was admiring his luxurious drive , Elvis come out to talk to her . “ He say , ‘ That one ’s mine , but I ’ll grease one’s palms you one , ’ ” Person said . He also find out that her birthday was two days forth and presented her with “ a hearty ” stoppage , say that she require some young dress to go with her new car .
As Seen on TV
In January 1976 , Elvis was on vacation in Colorado to fete his forty-first natal day . Perhaps feeling like he wanted togivesome gifts to memorialise the occasion , Elvis went to Kumpf Lincoln - Mercury in Denver and purchased a handful of Caddies and a couple of Lincolns . The lucky recipient ? Three policemen , a doc , and a newscaster on a local tv set station . Anchor Don Kinney ’s giving occur after he gave a written report on Elvis ’ purchasing fling . As anchorperson tend to do , Kinney finished the story with a wisecrack : “ Elvis , if you ’re watching , I would n’t mind an economy car . ” As a matter of fact , Elviswaswatching . He instantly call the station and tell there was a car waiting for Kinney if he need it . convince a champion was playing a joke on him , Kinney pay heed up on the King - several times . He was last convince it was the actual deal when Detective Ron Pietrafeso , one of the other car recipients , got on the earphone and secure him that Elvis was really on the line .
TCB with Karate
Elvis practice Karate since his Army days , and in the former ‘ 70s , he contacted Memphis teacher Kang Rhee to see if he would be interested in continuing his training . Rhee gibe , but had Elvis complete his training in a class with other students . Over the line of about four year , Elvis took classes and was awarded an eighth degree shameful belt . thankful for the normalcy , maybe , Elvis gifted Rhee with one of his own customized Cadillacs in 1973 . Rhee now runs “ Elvis Karate . ” You should probably experiencehis site .
Other people who receive a set of bike : Elvis ’ doctor , dental practitioner , jeweler , hair hairstylist , valet , bodyguards and his maiden . In fact , maid and cook Mary Jenkins , say she received a sum of six cars from him over a point of 14 years .
For his generous gift giving practices , a Memphis dealership allegedly presented Elvis with a plaque for being the “ World ’s Best Car Buyer ” that was engraved with the name of the 31 citizenry he had purchase cars for through that dealership alone .
