Driven by Elvis, this 'strikingly beautiful' Duesenberg car rolls into Phoenix

If there's anyone who knows how to rock an auction from beyond the grave, then it's Elvis Presley. And, interestingly, classic car auctions seem to have become the King of Rock 'n' Roll's posthumous venue of choice in recent times.

Elvis's next big show will be in Phoenix, Arizona, on January 21. The Thursday (January 20) night of RM Auctions' two-day sale will focus on British automobiles before the US classics are unleashed on the Friday.

Among the head-turning US autos will be this stunning 1929 Duesenberg, J116 - remarkable not only for being one of only two short wheelbase Model J Dual Cowl Phaetons ever built by Derham, but also because it was driven by Elvis himself.


The 1929 Duesenberg J116 driven by Elvis in the 1966 film, Spinout

Presley can be seen driving the car in his 1966 movie Spinout. Elvis's character, Mike McCoy, uses the car to tow around his race car in several scenes. What's more, says RM, Elvis even made an offer to buy the car from its owner after the movie was over.

The King didn't get a chance to own this automobile - but now you can. According to the lot notes, it has been fully restored and was shown at the world-renowned Pebble Beach exhibition.

Billed as "surely one of the most strikingly beautiful iterations of Derham coachwork on the Model J chassis," Chassis No J116 will be offered without reserve at RM's January 21.


Elvis was so taken with the J116 that he offered to buy it after filming

Meanwhile, collectors eager to hold onto a steering wheel once clutched by Elvis will have another chance prior to RM's January auction. A Mercedes-Benz 600 owned - rather than simply driven - by Elvis, will star in Bonhams' end of year Important Motor Cars and Fine Automobilia sale on December 6.

 

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