So she'd ask for Alan and Alan would call her back, and Elvis would get on the phone." "Thumper": Ann-Margret And in that lies the key to this legend's tellability. I can only hope that somewhere there is an undiscovered Harley. It is widely known that, in her divorce from Elvis, Priscilla received quite a lot of money. The tale of the Elvis Harley continues. Val is a student and an artist, currently working as a freelance list writer, and she hopes to continue learning and growing as a writer in many ways. Elvis, taking his motorcycle out for a spin, as a crowd of fans and neighbors watch him go. She went into acting after she'd already had several successful business endeavors, and it was just as great as everything else she did. "I was still shocked. Though Elvis Presley and Priscilla Presley's marriage only lasted six years, the pair had a connection unlike any other. This is the first time the estate of Elvis has granted a vehicle to one of his former wives. Things just aren't going right. Elvis and Priscilla Presley were married for six years, from 1967 to 1973. Elvis Presley's ex-wife Priscilla Presley recently shed light on her past relationship with the signer in a new memoir and even went into candid details about the good and the bad. When Elvis died in 1977 at the age of 42, Priscilla told People, It was a shock, although I saw his health failing and even went back to Memphis once to see if there was anything I could do. In her memoir, she wrote that after learning of Elviss death she felt as if a piece of her had died with him. Steve McQueens Husqvarna 250 motorcycle was auctioned off for $230,000. In 1973, it became impossible for them to continue their marriage, and despite the bitterness of everything that had happened, they parted on relatively good terms. "He wasn't faithful, not that he had someone special, but when you're in the entertainment business there is always that and I tried to turn my back to that, but I just didn't want to share him," Priscilla told Sunday News in 2018. Priscilla Presley wasn't just a trophy wife who got money from her divorce. Alfred Wertheimer/MUUS Collection via Getty Images) View of American musician Elvis Presley as he sits his Harley . "I noticed that the less response I showed, the more he began singing just for me. I later realized he too had questions about how a baby would affect his life. All Rights Reserved. Harley-Davidson has lots of fun trying to set people straight about this legend. As an Air Force brat, she was constantly moving around, but at that point, she and her family settled in a small town in Germany. "Frightened, I called my mother in New Jersey and she suggested I ring the doctor immediately. "If there was a show, we saw it; if there was a casino, we gambled at it.". ", Rather than continue her discomfort, Priscilla moved into Elvis's Graceland home while he was away in L.A. "In the afternoons and evenings I began spending more time at Graceland with Elvis' grandma, often staying all night," she recounted to PEOPLE. She was also the executor of his will for Lisa Marie, who is his only child. "No, it's an urban legend. Richard was sure Harley-Davidson would remember this high-priced buy. The Tragically, her father was killed when she was only a few months old. Jay Leno has categorically stated his only connection with this tall tale is people asking him about it: Have you heard the story about the Rockingham County farmer who bought an old Harley-Davidson motorcycle at a yard sale and discovered "To Elvis, Love Priscilla" written under the seat? "This could only happen in America," he said. "We've received so many calls on the Elvis Harley," she said. "We never lost our friendship," Priscilla said on. ", "I don't know, and if I did, I couldn't say.". He arrived in his BMW wearing his Army uniform to impress dad, she told People in 1985. He hadn't performed in over 10 years. He lived to tell this story to Alanna Nash for her book, Elvis Aaron Presley. Hitchens said of their relationship, "Their love-making was frequently interrupted by phone calls from Elvis who, although they had been divorced for two years, still rang her at all hours of the day and night." . Toward the end of the film, Priscilla tries to get Elvis to seek treatment in San Diego for his drug dependency, but he turns her down. I'll ask Elvis, next time he's in town to see a movie. According to Priscilla, much of their evenings were spent in the company of others and the two had very little alone time. "But it belonged to a collector who knew what it was. "I was never . They received rave reviews in Rolling Stone and People magazine and video airplay on MTV. 660,000), making it the third most expensive motorcycle in the world. Elvis ownership records clearly show that he owned a Harley-Davidson, as evidenced by the nine he owned at the time, but there is a possibility that another vehicle was gifted to Priscilla. "We were lying on his bed, our arms around each other," she recalled to PEOPLE. Later, they shared their first dance to "Love Me Tender" and feasted on a six-tier yellow sponge cake that reportedly cost $3,200 (roughly $22,000 with inflation). And then we'd kiss long, deep passionate kisses.". As the film shows, Elvis Presley met Priscilla Beaulieu in West Germany while he was serving in the U.S. Army. "Nobody knows his name." He never wanted to see me getting dressed, he wanted to see the end result., After seven years of dating, Elvis and Priscilla Presley tied the knot in an intimate Las Vegas civil ceremony on the morning of May 1, 1967. He had to be happy. Because when I call you, I need you to be there.' Motorcycles have been sold for large sums of money before. "'She's a lot more mature than her age and I enjoy her company. In fact, he owned several over the years and even featured them in some of his movies. After realizing that her relationship with Elvis was dwindling, Priscilla sought satisfaction elsewhere. The most expensive motorcycle in the world is Elvis Presleys 1976 Harley-Davidson FLH 1200 Electra Glide. "Finally I forced myself to go to school and found myself swamped by reporters and photographers.". "Imagine that," Richard said. "This friend of a friend of my daughter was riding along a back road, when he saw an old motorcycle for sale," Richard said. The bike was well documented. Elvis had other motorcycles too, five of which (four Harleys and one Honda) are at the Graceland Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. Along with being the King of Rock and Roll, the world's most recognizable entertainer, a movie star, and the man who put peanut butter and banana sandwiches on the map, Elvis was a huge gearhead.. He would call me at night. Think what you could get for something he'd wrapped his legs around. "Each night that I was with him he entrusted a little more of himself his doubts, his secrets and his frustrations," she told PEOPLE in a tell-all interview in 1985. . This is a movie that [Elvis] would have really loved [for] showing who he was, what he was striving for, [and] what his dreams were., Tom Hanks as Colonel Parker, Austin Butler as Elvis Presley. "Oh my gosh," she said to hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, "It's a big week that's for sure. "He couldn't get parts, the bike was so old. Then, navely assuming that nobody knew where I was headed, I'd casually proceed to his bedroom, where I'd lie on his bed, waiting for him to appear. He had a significant impact on popular music and American culture in addition to popular music. Her performance was praised, and she stayed for the next movies of the franchise. They married in Las Vegas May 1, 1967 and welcomed their first and only. He had a choice. I called Harley headquarters in Milwaukee and got transferred from person to person, just like the guy in the story. I heard the story from my friend Richard, who believes it is true. $2.99. After his 1977 death, Priscilla became the executor of his estate and opened Graceland. With the passage of time, the record will likely move on. Priscillas parents initially forbade her from seeing Elvis before softening their views on the rock star following a visit he made to her house. If you opened the seatunder it was there writing that said from Elvis to Priscilla with love? the only difference was the writing under the seat said to Elvis happy birthday from Harley Davidson. "For the next two weeks, we slept during the day and played at night," Priscilla recalled. Furthermore, PEOPLE noted in 1996 that Priscilla received $1.7 million in addition to $8,000 each month for ten years. In a 1985 interview with People, she said that Elvis introduced her to drugs when she was just a teenager, offering her white pills to help her stay awake. Magazines, Elvis and Priscilla Presley tied the knot, Or create a free account to access more articles, The True Story Behind Elvis and Priscilla Presleys Relationship. But fairly recently it came to light that she was persuaded to take that much money because Elvis was in a position to offer it and wanted to provide for their daughter. We never lost our friendship and our care for each other, Priscilla told Sunday Night. "It was Elvis' Harley-Davidson, a gift from somebody. In 1977, Elvis Presley purchased a Harley-Davidson Sportster 1000. The motorcycle collection that the King of Rock and Roll amassed over his lifetime included some of the worlds most prestigious models. That is 100 percent what I wanted to convey.. The bike showcased a peanut tank, narrow extended front forks, and a ridiculously tall rear seat with a sissy bar so that Priscilla could ride along with him. Elvis Presley. The Naked Gun star claimed that Elvis also introduced her to amphetamines and sleeping pills during this time to help her keep up with him. The two moved in together when Elvis returned home to Memphis and they eventually married in 1967. The Fascinating Tale Of John Lennons Duel Citizenship. In the images, Elordi dressed as the king of rock 'n roll in a white blazer, black dress shirt, dark pants and sunglasses was seen wrapping his arm around Spaeny, who channeled Priscilla in a two-piece blue dress with white polka dots and large sunglasses. He described the Harley. ", She and Elvis even developed their own lingo. "I spotted Elvis immediately," she would later tell PEOPLE. He lived to tell this story to Alanna Nash for her book, Elvis Aaron Presley. Its just about keeping his legacy true to who he was and I do feel a big responsibility to that., During a recent appearance on Good Morning America, Priscilla Presley admitted that it was so strange to see someone playing her on the big screen, but she was pleasantly surprised by Olivia DeJonges performance. Michael Ochs Archives // Getty Images. We want to believe in the legendary However, these two women's amazing talents and careers should not be overlooked. The real Priscilla told Good Morning America that watching that scene brought back memories of the calls she had with Elvis father, Vernon, about what they could do to help the singer. Elvis proposed to Priscilla when she was 21. That was Elvis preference. One bargain hunter struck pay dirt when he bought a painting for $4 at the local flea market. inscribed in the rim. Ben Vaughn grew up in the Philadelphia area on the New Jersey side of the river. the post by Brad is not accurate the vin number has no P. the owner plans on putting it on display this year and has contacted EPE of the bike thats what I know for facts not fiction. Two years after leaving Germany, Elvis arranged for his long-distance love to visit him in Los Angeles following what Priscilla told PEOPLE were several convincing phone calls to both her mother and father. "He was the friend of other friends," Richard said. The Indian motorcycle was a popular choice for celebrity riders in the 1950s, and Presley was no exception. Fans got their first look at the film in November 2022 with photos of Elordi and Spaeny re-creating a specific moment from Elvis and Priscilla's life. "It was perfection. Here's another one that some websites call a police mugshot. The motorcycle, which only had 126 miles on it when purchased, has now been on display at the Pioneer Auto Museum in Murdo, South Dakota. Watch. Elvis Presley's last ever motorcycle sold at the weekend for a whopping $800,000 (approx. Mary, was a dancer and singer at the Whirlaway Club. RELATED: What Will Happen To Elvis Presley's Graceland After Lisa Marie Presley's Death? That number is confirmed by the Harley-Davidson folks. ", After "calmly" applying her makeup (and making a trip to the wrong hospital), the couple arrived at the right location just in time to welcome their new baby at 5:01 p.m. "Elvis came into the room and kissed me, thrilled that we had a perfectly normal, healthy baby. The King's hog brings fabulous wealth to the fan who finds it. I gently woke Elvis and told him the big day had arrived. Despite his fame as a musician and performer, Elvis was not a millionaire when he died in 1977. A Graceland source said that Keough doesn't . Harley Davidson Elvis could stroll to the garage and decide which motorbike to fire up for a ride. But it was a very innocent time," she told Good Morning America in 2017. Harley offered him $4 million for it. "We've received so many calls on the Elvis Harley," she said. They were married for 11 years and had two children before splitting up in 1977. Elvis Presley's Graceland. Tuesday, December 13th, 2011, at an auction in Texas, the official 1972 divorce papers between Elvis and Pricilla Presley hidden away for nearly 20 years, came to the block and were purchased by an unnamed buyer for $8,963. By 1972, they had called it quits. "Elvis would call after 7 to let me know that I'd be picked up at 8. PEOPLE reported in 1996 that Priscilla had entered into a romantic relationship with her karate teacher Mike Stone in the early '70s and told Elvis she was leaving him in 1972. Their nuptials took place in a private suite of the now-defunct Aladdin Hotel. (Elvis and Wood reportedly dated briefly in 1956. She revealed that she had affairs with a karate expert named Mike Stone and a dance instructor named Mark. Yes, Elvis Presley gave his wife, Priscilla, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle as a gift in 1967. He only lost some leather off his jacket. In 2014, the Vincent Black Shadow sold for $929,000. Elviss bike is in Australia fixed up and the owner was offered 5million dollars for it and wont part with it.. he went into a big bike shop in Sydney and wanted missing parts, they asked for the bikes serial number and the parts required and when they looked it up the owner of the bike was offered $250,000 for the bike to which he said no as it was a bike he had always wanted. Is the story true? Most often this legend is told about a machine inscribed "To Elvis, Love, Priscilla," but sometimes the bike is said to have been a gift. She had always wanted to make it on her own, and had she not fallen in love with an extremely rich celebrity, she would have started much sooner. FALSE Origins: This is a windfall legend, pure. How's my little girl?". He wasn't even sure whether his fans had adapted to his becoming a husband. The legendary Elvis deserves better. "When I told Elvis about my job, he said, 'Youre gonna have to give it up,'" she shared in her memoir. I called Harley headquarters in Milwaukee and got transferred from person to person, just like the guy in the story. ELVIS PRESLEY SIGNED AUTOGRAPH YOUNG KING 8.5 X . Elvis had been loaned Frank Sinatras private jet for the occasion. Despite Sinatras initial dislike of rock and roll, he warmed up to Elvis, inviting him to perform with him on the 1960 TV special, The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: Welcome Home Elvis. The actress and business mogul recently suffered an unimaginable loss: her and Elvis' daughter Lisa Marie Presley, passed away. May 1967: Elvis and Priscilla Presley go on a honeymoon Following their nuptials, the pair spent a full month at a five-bedroom, five-bathroom estate in Palm Springs, California, called the. He only lost some leather off his jacket. We even talked of one day And now he was gone., Over the last 45 years, Priscilla has made it her duty to help preserve Elvis legacy and take care of his estate, which is worth an estimated $300 million. "Despite whatever misgivings I had about pills, I took them," she said. Kenn, thanks for the update! Lisa Marie with her Twin Girls : Finley & Harper. Because of the distance, both of them apparently began having affairs; some were just flings, and some were meaningful relationships. The Harley-Davidson FLH with Priscilla, Elvis and entourage at Perugia Way - April 1965 . The 1976 Harley-Davidson FLH. $22.88 50% off. The last motorcycle Elvis rode was a 1976 Harley-Davidson 1200 Electra Glide that was to be auctioned off. It marked Elvis first TV appearance in three years and led to a lifelong friendship between the two crooners. Elvis and Ann-Margret would ride motorcycles and go partying together on weekends in Vegas. One of the most important things was to just strip that away and just sort of play a girl and a boy that were in love, DeJonge told Good Morning America in June. If not Leno, maybe the Harley-Davidson Company bought the bike? We didnt want a fan club. "Then, two weeks ago, Texas Monthly magazine called because I'd bought it from a farmer (there). What was Elvis first motorcycle? You don't have to worry about her, Captain," he promised. That's where he found an inscription beginning, 'To Elvis '. According to the auction house, the motorcycle ended up at a local dealership. His 1969 American Express card was auctioned for $41,400. Old habits died hard for the former lovers despite their split. I quit the modeling job the next day, which left me with very little to do.". Showing who he was, what he was striving for, what his dreams were.". How many motorcycles did Elvis Presley have? Nola laughed and laughed, which I took for a no. The Harley bike story does skid by the truth. If I just got $4 million, I'd keep my name quiet, too. "21 days after he left, the phone rang at 3 o'clock in the morning," she recounted to PEOPLE in 1985. Theres one thing in all this that you cant help but wonder about. Snoopes contacted Jay Leno PR person he does NOT have it. "Even though we were perfectly content the way we were, at thattime it wasn't nice for people to live together, [without being married]," she later explained to Ladies Home Journal. Elvis and Priscilla met for the first time in 1959 after the then-teenager attended a party on a military base where both her father and Elvis were stationed in Germany. We knew the relationship had to end, that Elvis had to fulfill his commitment.". By the time Priscilla and Elvis divorced, she was not even 30, and she was determined not to live in her ex-husband's shadow. Priscilla and Elvis met back in 1959. Her TV debut was as co-host of Those Amazing Animals in 1980, and in 1982 she appeared in the movie Love is Forever, starring alongside Michael Landon. Any piece is worth big bucks because of the story. He was frequently photographed riding his Indian, and it even made an appearance in one of his movies. But, while Presley was immediately taken with. In an exclusive new . She also launched her own fragrance, produced several albums and films, and was elected to the board of directors at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Getty. GWS Auctions is auctioning three vehicles that once belonged to Elvis Presley. The bike was a source of great joy for Elvis, who enjoyed the wind blowing through his hair. We didnt want a circus.. the bike was found in a barn when some guys grandpa died and eventuall it was bought by jay leno. Harley offered him $4 million for it. Furthermore, it is clear that he loved motorcycles and cars, so this gift ensures that her passion for them will continue for the rest of her life. Presley will work alongside Matthew McConaughey, who will be voicing Elvis Presley on the show. from Elvis to James Dean. Moto Logo. "We did purchase Elvis' very own personal Harley," Nola said. Luhrmanns decision to revisit Elvis legacy has also led some to call into question (not for the first time) the very fundamentals of their unionnamely the fact that, at 14, she was underage and a decade his junior when their courtship began. "He was in awe, saying, 'I can't believe that I made part of this beautiful child.' For the next several months, the pair settled into a comfortable routine. After spending a few months back home in Germany, Priscilla traveled to Tennessee once more to see Elvis. The. Priscilla's parents insisted on meeting Elvis, so on their fourth encounter, he came to her family's home. Despite his poverty, Elvis legacy lives on, and his music continues to be popular despite his status as a forgotten man. "When it was time for me to go, he kissed me goodbye my first real kiss," she told PEOPLE in 1985. "We would baby talk, because you have to have your own language when you have that many people around. Then he sold it to Jay Leno, late-night talk show host, who handed over $1 million for the bike? Of which I did and then told me to open them and he presented me with a beautiful engagement ring.". Would his public accept him as a father? Here is Richard's story: "Then, two weeks ago, Texas Monthly magazine called because I'd bought it from a farmer (there)." According to auction officials, The 12-page agreement signed by both Elvis and Pricilla, granted Priscilla ownership of a 1971 Mercedes Benz, a '69 Cadillac El Dorado and a '71 Harley-Davidson motorcycle in addition to $100,000 in cash and half the income from the sale of their three houses in California. A similar tale circulates concerning country singer Hank Williams, who died of a heart attack on New Years Day of 1953 while sleeping in the back seat of his Cadillac: A guy is walking alone one night and sees a parked car with a man passed out in the backseat. However, its unclear if he actually rode them very often, as he was also known to be a bit of a daredevil when it came to cars and bikes. According to reports, the motorcycle was only used for 2,000 miles when it was new. November 1, 1956 Elvis bought a new Harley then later in the day Natalie Wood, clad in jeans, climbed up on the seat behind Elvis and they gunned out from the Audubon Drive driveway and roared around the Memphis streets for three hours accompanied by a motorcycle policeman and Nick Adams, who was riding Elvis' old Harley Davidson. Seller 99.2% positive. Elvis lived in Los Angeles at the time, and choppers had experienced a surge in popularity durirng the late 1960s. Following his split from Thompson, and a brief relationship with a woman named Mindi Miller, Elvis began dating Ginger Alden who he . Priscilla Presley revealed Elvis Presley had a notorious temper while discussing challenges in the couple's marriage in a recent interview. It's been such a special weekend, I couldn't think of a better place to Premiere ELVIS in America.". ", She was also admittedly attracted by his boyish good looks. Nola laughed and laughed, which I took for a no. My problems were secondary. In her 1985 autobiography, Elvis and Me, Priscilla wrote that her relationship with Elvis did not become sexual until they tied the knot in 1967 when she was 21 years old. He was just a man, my husband. The pair first crossed paths when Priscilla was in the ninth grade. ), Still, DeJonge believes that Elvis and Priscillas relationship, which ended in 1973 after six years of marriage, is at the heart of this rather Shakespearean tale. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2022 Dennis Kirk, Inc. - All Rights Reserved. Elvis was not arrested but rather was taking a photo for his badge. My problems were secondary. In her 1985 autobiography, Priscilla said her feelings of neglect and loneliness drove her to have an affair and leaving Elvis resulted in her finding myself for the first time. In 2016, she told ITVs Loose Women that she did not divorce him because I didnt love him. Priscilla Presley, Elvis in police uniform, Elvis with sandy-brown hair, Linda thompson. Elvis was cleared in city court of misconduct. Richard was sure Harley-Davidson would remember this high-priced buy. It goes like this: Some geezer is clearing out his shed, finds an old Harley and discovers an inscription on the mudguard or under the seat saying either 'To Elvis from Priscilla' or 'To James Dean from Elvis.'. Origins: This is a windfall legend, pure and simple, a tale of an ordinary Joe's being in the right place at the right time to have good fortune handed to him. "I was always ready to greet him at the door and pamper him," she said. Elvis convinced Priscilla's father to let her finish out her senior year at Immaculate Conception High School in Memphis, Tennessee, on the condition that she live with his parents, Vernon and Dee Presley. Today. The bike is owned by a car dealer in Sarasota Florida, Bike is at Classic cars and cycles in Sarasota Florida, Your email address will not be published. So his '68 special was now the opportunity for touring again. The Pioneer Auto Museum in Murdo, South Dakota, has had a Harley Davidson on display there for more than 30 years. After Elvis death, the motorcycles were sold at auction and disappeared from public view. The buyer is either said to be the Harley-Davidson Company or Jay Leno (of "Tonight Show" fame). On August 31, the Harley sold for only $800k, bringing its expected price down to about $2 million. After Elvis died in 1977, Priscilla took on the responsibility of protecting his legacy. The motorcycle was set to be the most expensive in the world with a $2,000,000 and $1,750,000 purchase price. While there was obviously a lot of love between them, things quickly went downhill for the Presleys. Their 12-page agreement, which they signed in 1971, entitles her to an additional $100,000 in cash plus half of their income from the sale of their three California homes, as well as a 1971 Mercedes Benz, a 1969 Cadillac El Dorado, and a 71 Harley-Davidson motorcycle. After watching the film, Priscilla wished that Elvis could have seen it. A few years after Elvis' death, she became the executor of his estate. The house will most likely sell for between $200,000 and $300,000. Then he told him to go out and check under the rear fender. . Many fans have questioned whether or not Elvis ever gifted Priscilla Presley a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Priscilla told PEOPLE in 2021 that she took to the role of a wife quite readily. REUTERS. Shortly thereafter, on May 1, 1967, Elvis and Priscilla were married in Las Vegas. The wedding took place in Las Vegas in 1967, and their only daughter, Lisa Marie, was born exactly nine months after. Lisa Marie Presley. and if Priscilla got it during the divorce why would Elvis sign it to her with love. Elvis Presley on a Harley Davidson motorcycle in 1961. You came up with the most money. His 1969 American Express card was auctioned for $41,400. Because he was such a towering figure in American culture, it is most likely due to his influence. It didn't make him immune from examination, however, with Priscilla's father inquiring as to his intentions for his daughter.