Despite being extremely rare, the Stutz Blackhawk has become an important part of American pop culture due to Elvis Presley’s love for his own 1970s Stutz Blackhawk. It became his favorite car and was featured in many photographs, including the final photo taken before his untimely death.
A 1978 Stutz Blackhawk IV recently appeared on Bring a Trailer, reminding classic car fans of Presley and his beloved car. There are still a few days to go, but it’s expected to fetch a pretty hefty final bid due to its pristine condition, rarity, and significance in pop culture. It could even reach over six figures, according to Hagerty, which will make the next two days pretty exciting to watch.
Only 600 Blackhawks were built between 1971 and 1987. This particular model was owned by a single person for nearly four decades. Painted solid black, with side exhaust pipes and chrome wire wheels, auction viewers have noted its classy look. Under the hood, it’s powered by a 403ci Oldsmobile V8 and has a General Motors TH400 three-speed automatic transmission. The interior features power-adjustable black leather seats, gold-plated interior trim, air conditioning, and a Nardi wood-rimmed steering wheel. It all exudes that classic old-Hollywood feel.
Elvis Presley’s history with the Stutz Blackhawk
Elvis Presley had a collection of cars, as most Hollywood celebrities do, but his prized possession was his 1973 Stutz Blackhawk III. However, this wasn’t his first Blackhawk — his first Blackhawk was actually a prototype that wasn’t meant to be sold. It was a prototype car that was originally flown to the United States for display at car shows.
The story goes that a Stutz dealer visited Presley’s Hillcrest home with the Blackhawk prototype, telling the rockstar that they’d build him one in the coming months if he was interested. Apparently, Presley didn’t want to wait: he wanted the car that was right in front of him. When dealer Jules Meyers told Presley that it was an early prototype and needed to be shown around to attract buyers, Presley apparently said they’d sell more cars if people saw him driving it around.
Presley immediately had the car customized by his friend, George Barris, known as the “King of Customizers” at the time. It arrived at the International Hotel in Las Vegas by 1970, ready for Presley to drive. However, the vehicle was involved in a pretty bad accident a year later, leaving the front quite damaged. Repairs took almost a decade to complete, with partial restoration by the founder of the new Stutz company himself. Unfortunately, many parts were not original since it was a prototype with limited parts available.
Presley purchased his second Blackhawk later in 1971, but later showed up at the dealership in 1973 to order a Blackhawk in Pearl White. This was delivered to his home in Los Angeles from Italy.
However, Presley’s most famous and favored Blackhawk was the Stutz Blackhawk III he purchased in 1974. The interior featured red leather and 18-karat gold-plated trim. Presley was known to go for rides around Sunset Boulevard in that car by himself. Said long-time friend Marty Lacker: I think he just liked the kick of driving around in that unusual car and showing it off. Especially with the horn. He used to come by and say everybody recognized him in that car because the horn played ‘Never on Sunday.’ And he’d ride down Sunset and blow the horn.”
This was the vehicle featured in the last known photograph of Presley, taken as he drove through the Graceland Gates around midnight.
Elvis Presley’s own Blackhawk goes to auction
In 2022, Presley’s 1971 Stutz Blackhawk sold at auction for $297,000. It may not sound that high considering Presley’s importance in American culture, but it’s currently the highest-ever price for this model.
When Presley moved on to his Pearl White Blackhawk, he gave this 1971 model to his doctor, Elias Ghanem. He was known for gifting cars to his friends, and this one became a token of appreciation after Ghanem helped him get through a tough battle with pneumonia. A plaque on the dash reads: “Elias Ghanem | A True Friend | Elvis Presley.” Over time, Presley also bought his doctor a Mercedes, a diamond ring, two watches, and a gold medallion.
On top of its interesting history, this particular model was also quite rare — only 20-ish were ever made. Along with Presley, this unique vehicle was also owned by Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, and Lucile Ball, making it a favorite amongst Hollywood’s biggest celebrities of the time.
The owner of the interesting piece had originally hoped to get $400,000, and a reserve wasn’t met at a previous auction. While having a celebrity’s name attached can add prestige and intrigue to a vehicle, it’s one of those cases where it all comes down to what collectors are willing to pay at the time. Hagerty pointed out that Presley is known for giving away cars, so an “Elvis-owned vehicle” isn’t an extreme rarity. Having his name attached doesn’t hurt, however. And the wholesome story behind it also helped.
The current Blackhawk at auction wasn’t owned by Presley, but those who want a piece of American culture will still find it to be quite valuable due to its old-school looks.
