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In the 1970s, the King of Rock and Roll shot his car—and it wasn’t a metaphor.
Elvis Presley was known for a lot of things: chart-topping hits, Hollywood movies, flashy jumpsuits, and an infamous temper. So when he bought a De Tomaso Pantera to impress his girlfriend Linda Thompson, no one could have predicted that the car would one day catch a bullet from the King himself.
The Pantera, built by Italian carmaker De Tomaso with a 351 Cleveland Ford V8, looked every bit the exotic sports car. On paper, it had independent suspension, disc brakes, power windows, and a fierce growl. But rushed development and poor reliability made it a nightmare for mechanics—and drivers.
Elvis’ 1974 Pantera was bought used for $2,500 (about $13,000 today). He wanted something flashy to match his personality, but what he got was a lemon. The car was plagued by problems: vapor lock, overheating, hard-to-reach pedals, and gauges blocked by the steering wheel.
Then came the infamous incident. After a heated argument with Linda, Elvis stormed out to leave—and the Pantera wouldn’t start. In true Presley fashion, he pulled out a pistol and fired two shots into the dash. One bullet bounced off the steering wheel and hit the windshield, leaving permanent scars.
The car was sold in 1976, just a year before Elvis’ death. By 1981, it had been traded for $300,000 worth of diamonds and later acquired by Robert Petersen, the automotive publishing legend. Today, it lives at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, bullet holes and all.
“Elvis’ tantrums are well known,” said Petersen, “and to have a vehicle associated with one of them makes our collection that much more special.”
In the end, Elvis may not have fixed the car—but he made it legendary. The Pantera may have had its flaws, but thanks to the King, it’s one of the most famous examples ever built.
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