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What kind of car would Elvis drive?

BY BILL VANCE When a shy young man named Elvis Aaron Presley escaped the poverty of northeastern Mississippi's hill country, and gyrated onto the music scene in the mid-1950s, he was part of a revolution in music and in culture.

BY BILL VANCE

When a shy young man named Elvis Aaron Presley escaped the poverty of northeastern Mississippi's hill country, and gyrated onto the music scene in the mid-1950s, he was part of a revolution in music and in culture. His "rock-a-billy," a unique blend of black blues, gospel and country music went mainstream, a revelation to youth in a soon to be unsegregated South. It epitomized a changing society.


With the Depression a bad memory and the Second World War over, it was an optimistic time, and no one was more optimistic than General Motors. It bestrode the industry like a colossus, selling every second car in America and Canada. And standing atop its automotive hierarchy was the undisputed pinnacle of automobile luxury: Cadillac, the King of Cars and symbol of success. It is only fitting then that Elvis, "The King", would aspire to a Cadillac to tell the world that this poor Mississippi boy had arrived.

And tell it he did. Over the years he owned more than 100 Cadillacs, including sedans, convertibles and coupes, from his first 1954 model to a 1977 Seville.

If Elvis were here today what would he drive? No doubt it would be a Cadillac, likely an XLR-V, Cadillac's range-topping, high performance, hardtop convertible. It would appeal to his patriotism because it, and the CTS and others, exemplifies GM's and Cadillac's resurgence.

Elvis liked flash and style, and none has it more than the low-slung, high powered XLR-V. From its polished wire-mesh grille to its sterling silver finished wheels, it would have said Elvis.

And he would have loved it.

Elvis fans relive their memories each year at Collingwood's Elvis Festival. This year's the festival will be held from July 26 to 30.

The Elvis Festival in Downtown Collingwood has become the largest festival of its kind world-wide.  Tens of thousands of visitors from across North America make the trip to Collingwood to enjoy a weekend of music and the popular Saturday morning Elvis Classic Car Parade. For more information, phone 1-877-446-0824.

Bill Vance is an automotive journalist and historian.  News Canada


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